Many people become discouraged after a few weeks on a diet because they fail to burn fat. In fact, when they measure their body mass index (BMI) sometimes they find that it may increase contrary to their expectation. This, in many cases, is due to the fact that we fail to eliminate the fat stored in our body.

Most of the excess weight we carry around is from fat the body has stored in places like the belly, thighs, and arms; and wherever there is space for fat storage. The daily energy requirements for the body to function efficiently as a biochemical machine are about 1500 – 2000 calories. We get calories from the foods we eat – breakfast, lunch, dinner and any other in between snacks. When we consume calories in excess of the required amount, the body must find a way to rid itself of the additional calories. This can be done by engaging in some form of exercise, working physically for longer periods or by inducing vomiting. Some people even use supplements and medication to use up the extra calories.

When we are not successful at getting rid of the excess calories, the body stores them as fat in adipose tissue throughout the body and if this natural process is not minimized, overt indications in the form of bulging bellies and other unsightly bodily formations appear. When this happens people are urged to curb their intake of calories and reduce the amount of stored fat. But this is easier said than done because once the fat is stored the brain thinks that it is necessary for survival and any effort to eliminate it will be thwarted.

This action on the part of the brain to preserve fat is one of the reasons people who diet fail in their efforts to lose weight. Once the body feels threatened in any way the natural response is preservation. If there is a perception of a threatened food crisis through dieting the brain springs into action and tells the body to conserve energy and fat. Conserving fat defeats the whole purpose of dieting. How then can we get rid of fat?

One way is to trick the brain. Continue to eat as normal but eat those foods that are effective in burning fat. Consider for example adding more hot pepper to your meals, either raw or processed. Add it to soups, eggs, gravies, meats, cold cuts, or if you prefer try a pepper supplement. Hot pepper heats up your body and burns away those extra calories before they can be stored as fat. But more importantly, the body uses additional calories when it is hot. These calories can come from fat stored in your tummy and other areas of your body.

So go ahead, add some hot pepper to your diet today. This can help you eliminated fat and of course eliminating fat means that you are reducing the risk of falling victim to many common health problems like diabetes and hypertension. If you are already experiencing health problems associated with carrying around extra fat consult your doctor for advice regarding incorporating hot pepper in your diet.