The audiobook, "How to Lose 30lbs in 30 Days" by Kevin Trudeau had been a great eye opener for me. It has been in my mp4 for 2 years and I never had the drive to listen to it until a month ago when the urgency to lose weight emerged. I have to admit that I am desperate to lose weight, but I am assured that I am not alone in this feat.  Many sane men and women are in this journey all their life and they do everything and anything to achieve this goal. Many of you must have tried everything to lose weight: all kinds of diets (low carb, atkins, beach, water therapy), herbs, exercise, pills and still nothing helps. We've been yoyo dieting, losing the fats and gaining it back; the idea is appalling. If you are in the same situation as mine, it's time to consider some serious thinking and venture on more effective approach. Our goal will be to lose weight and to lose it forever!

I hope you are still with me because from this day on I am dedicating this health column for all the persons determined to lose weight the healthy and positive way.  My countdown starts on the publication of this article and I hope you'll join me in this quest. And just for the records, I weigh 65 kilos now (height: 155cm), and my goal is to lose 10 kg in 6 months.  So let's begin!

The first thing I learned was that, people are fat because of slow metabolism. This means that fat people burns calories slower than thin individuals. We don't need scientists to tell us that our metabolism slows with age (OUCH!). But do you know that an average woman gains 1 1/2 pounds a year during her adult life--enough to pack on 40-plus pounds by her 50s, if she doesn't combat the roller coaster of hormones, muscle loss, and stress that conspires to slow her fat-burning engine. That is a bitter fact, but there is good news! There are foods that could boost up your metabolism.

1. Water

Drinking water actually speeds up weight loss and is a great way to body detoxification. Many people have been interchanging sense of thirst with hunger. Drinking a glass of water will greatly reduce any false hunger pangs. The recommendation is to drink water upon waking up and to drink more consistently during the day.

In a research conducted in Seattle, it was found that women who drink more than five glasses of water a day have a 45 percent reduced risk of colon cancer compared with women who drink two or fewer glasses of water a day.

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Many doctors believe that proper hydration can help prevent chronic joint diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, because water reduces inflammation and promotes cartilage health. It also slow the signs of aging and improve conditions such as constipation, diabetes, hypoglycemia, obesity, arthritis, kidney stones, dry skin, and wrinkles.

2. Grapefruit

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The study indicates that the unique chemical properties in this vitamin C-packed citrus fruit reduce insulin levels, which promotes weight loss and boost metabolism. It is also a storehouse of powerful phytochemicals such as flavonoids, terpenes, and limonoids, which naturally have cancer-preventing properties.

3. Green Tea

The researchers found that over a 24-hour period, green tea extract intake increases the metabolic rate by 4%. These effects are probably due to the high concentrations of catechin polyphenols found in green tea. These work to help intensify levels of fat oxidation and thermogenesis (the rate at which your body burns calories).

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It acts as a glucose regulator. It helps to slow the rise in blood sugar after a meal and prevents high insulin spikes (lots of insulin promotes fat storage).

Take precautions when you take high amounts of green tea because it contains caffeine.

3. Oatmeals

These whole grains have fiber, various minerals (iron, magnesium and thiamin) and phytonutrients. These phytonutrients include lignans, plant sterols and stanols and antioxidants. The lignans are helpful in protecting your heart while stanols help in normalizing blood cholesterol levels. Eating about two bowls of oatmeal a day helps to reduce your cholesterol levels by six points in three months.

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Just be sure to choose steel cut or rolled oats, not instant oatmeal. Instant oatmeal usually has added sodium, and comes in the unsweetened, sweetened, flavored and unflavored form. The sweetened and flavored varieties have sugar, and so are not advisable in your goal to lose weight.

If you get bored cooking oatmeal as a hot cereal with cinnamon or milk, you could also bake oat brain using a low fat muffin recipe. This brings some variety in your diet and makes you feel better eating instant oatmeal while trying to reduce weight.

4. Hot Peppers

All peppers, specially the red ones are rich in vitamins A, and C that helps prevent cell damage, cancer, and diseases related to aging. They also reduce inflammation like that found in arthritis and asthma. It has Vitamin K that promotes proper blood clotting, strengthens bones, and helps protect cells from oxidative damage.

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Red peppers are a good source of the carotenoid called lycopene, which is earning a reputation for helping to prevent prostate cancer as well as cancer of the bladder, cervix, and pancreas.

Beta-cryptoxanthin, another carotenoid in red peppers, is holding promise for helping to prevent lung cancer related to smoking.

They contain capsaicin, which predominates in the white membranes of peppers, that helps decrease blood cholesterol and triglycerides, boost immunity, and reduce the risk of stomach ulcers. It used to be thought that hot peppers aggravated ulcers. Instead, they may help kill bacteria in the stomach that can lead to ulcers.

Both hot and sweet peppers contain substances that have been shown to increase the body's heat production and oxygen consumption for about 20 minutes after eating. In effect it burns extra calories, which helps weight loss.

5. Cinnamon

It is known as an "insulin mimicker", meaning it reduces the amount of insulin your body produces after a meal, by transporting sugar molecules into cells within the body. It also works on reducing the blood cholesterol, thus causing "thermogenic burns". It burns the bad cholesterol in the body and increases the good one.

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It usually comes in sticks or powdered form. For some variety, you could add cinnamon to your breakfast cereal or oatmeal, tea, unsweetened applesauce, toast, butter or cream cheese and coffee.

6. Apple cider vinegar (acv)

Apple cider vinegar have been utilized for centuries as a traditional concoction for losing weight. It is made from the double fermentation of whole apples, keeping organic acids and enymes (pectin) that aids in weight reduction by acting as an appetite suppressant. This substance mixes with the water and expands in the stomach, which causes appetite to be decreased.

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It does have a high amount of potassium in it. When taking apple cider vinegar, the potassium helps to flush the sodium content out of the body. This in turn can lead to less retained water and a loss of weight.

It contains acetic acid. When acetic acid comes in contact with foods, it helps promote the absorption of iron. High iron absorption leads to a high oxygen utilization, which ends up raising the metabolic rate. When the metabolic rate is high, a lot of calories are burned, which causes weight loss.

Many people don't know this but another way apple cider vinegar helps with weight loss is through the release of proteins during the digestive process. Tryptophan is a key amino acid that is released through this process and it is in turn responsible for the release of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter and natural tranquilizer. When serotonin is produced, the body is less likely to feel stress, which can lead to overeating.

Apple cider vinegar improves the elimination process in the body. It helps reduce the transit time of fats in the stomach because it improves digestion. This in turn leads to weight loss as less fat can be absorbed by the body.

Intake of this vinegar may not illicit fast results, process is slow but the outcome is permanent weight loss. As recommended by experts, 1 to 2 tsp. of apple cider vinegar should be taken with water or honey right before a meal.

7. Green leafy vegetable

It is a MUST to eat green leafy vegetables in every meal. People have often known how nutritious leafy greens (consider kale, spinach, Swiss chard and lettuce -the darker the better because it is high in magnesium) are, but still choose to exclude them from their diet (I am one of them). It does take time to  recondition the subconscious mind to accept the tons of health benefits these vegetables contribute to optimum health (I am still in the process but I know soon I will be vegetable friendly).

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What makes leafy greens so incredible is the extraordinary amount of antioxidants and health promoting nutrients they manage to pack inside of so few calories. Eating dark green leafy vegetables on a regular basis can provide anti-aging benefits (Folate prevents Alzeimher's disease), cancer and disease prevention and improve heart health.

Dark green leafy vegetables are very high in fiber. Fiber helps make you feel fuller more quickly. Therefore, adding vegetables to your diet is a great way to help you decrease calories without feeling deprived.

8. Yogurt

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Yogurt is made through the fermentation of milk and adds bacteria cultures into the milk. The process causes the transformation of sugar and lactose into lactic acid. It carries healthy bacteria called "probiotics". It is beneficial for those with gastrointestinal problems like lactose intolerant, constipation, diarrhea, colon cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease. These healthy bacterias helps fast easy digestion on the body thus making absorption and metabolism faster.

9. Apples

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. There's truth in this saying because apples have tons of benefits for your health. To mention a few of them, apples help in lowering cholesterol. It has pectin, that  helps  lower LDL (bad cholesterol). People who eat two or more apples a day can possibly lower their cholesterol by as much as 10%.

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It helps sthrengthen your bones. It is found to be the only fruit in the world that contains flavanoid phloridzin. Studies suggest that phloridzin protects post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and increases their bone density.

Apples have a high concentration of water, fiber and are low in calories. The fiber helps you feel full longer because it expands in your stomach so it takes less food to satisfy your hunger.

10. Nuts and Grains

Most nuts and seeds have high fat content, but don't get alarmed because they are the unsaturated. It means that they are healthy fats and could easily be digested in the body. Macadamia, the gourmet of nuts, is the highest in fat. Walnuts and Brazil nuts are highly recommended because they're rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

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Of all the nuts, peanuts provide the most complete protein. Other nuts are missing the amino acid lysine, which help reduce cholesterol, repair of tissue and calcium absorption. Peanuts are rich in antioxidant polyphenols like those found in berries. Studies indicate that roasting actually increases the amount of polyphenol called p-coumaric, making roasted peanuts a true protector of cells.

11. Beans

Both beans and meat have comparable amounts of protein. It is a great choice for vegetarians, looking an alternative to meat. It does provide tons of fiber that makes you feel fuller longer.

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They are excellent sources of energy because they are high in complex carbohydrates, characterize as good carbs that provide the energy necessary to get you through the day.