Scientist reveals the five foods to eat that burn fat better than Ozempic

Daily Mail​

25-04-2025

Want to lose weight but looking for an alternative to Ozempic?
A top doctor has now revealed five foods that could burn fat like the blockbuster weight-loss drugs but without the needles and harmful side effects.
Dr William Li, whose book Eat to Beat Your Diet is a New York Times bestseller, says the most dangerous type of fat is visceral fat - also known as belly fat - which is stored deep inside the abdomen, surrounding vital organs like the liver, intestines, and kidneys.
The diet expert reveals: 'The more that fat grows, it starts to strangle your organs... and when it becomes inflamed, it's really dangerous.
'So you want to burn that fat down.'
Dr Li says the best way of burning visceral 'wiggly jiggly' fat is by activating brown fat, which is a type of fat that burns calories to generate heat.
There is a smaller percentage of brown fat in the body compared to visceral fat and it is typically found in the neck and upper back as well as around the kidneys and spinal cord.
To activate the brown fat, Dr Li recommends five key foods.
The first item to add to your grocery list is apples.
He reveals that apples - which have around 95 calories per fruit - have something called chlorogenic acid inside their flesh, which 'turns on your brown fat' to burn down your white fat.
A review of the health benefits of apples conducted by food scientists at Cornell University also praises the fruit as a weight loss aid.
After reviewing research, they concluded: 'Based on these epidemiological studies, it appears that apples may play a large role in reducing the risk of a wide variety of chronic disease and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in general.
'Of the papers reviewed, apples were most consistently associated with reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and type II diabetes when compared to other fruits and vegetables and other sources of flavonoids.
'Apple consumption was also positively associated with increased lung function and increased weight loss.'
Dr Li's second and third food recommendations to slim down are broccoli and kale.
These contain a phytochemical called sulforaphane, which also helps to activate brown fat cells.
They are also low in calories, with both providing around 30 calories per cup.
The expert's fourth favorite food to promote weight loss is bok choy.
Due to its low calorie content (just 9 calories per cup), high fiber and nutrient density, Di Li says it is a great vegetable for dieters.
Fiber helps maintain a healthy weight, as it makes you feel fuller for longer and therefore reduces the likelihood of overeating.
Touching on the best way to prepare the bok choy, he says: 'You cut off the bottoms, you wash the leaves, take a wok or a skillet, a little extra virgin olive oil, a little garlic, [and] sauté that up.'
He highlights that instead of butter, he recommends using olive oil, with this being his fifth fat-reducing superfood.
While it is calorie-rich - with around 120 calories per tablespoon - it provides numerous health benefits due to its nutritional content, especially extra virgin olive oil.
The two ingredients Di Li points to in olive oil for their health boosting properties are hydroxytyrosol and oleocanthal.
Studies suggest hydroxytyrosol can increase fatty acid oxidation, potentially boosting the body's ability to burn fat, and it may also help reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity, further contributing to weight management.
Meanwhile, studies have shown oleocanthal may contribute to weight loss and improved heart health due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
It reduces inflammation in a way similar to ibuprofen, by blocking inflammatory enzymes.