A morning drink can help you burn fat - but expert shares 'important' warning

"The main food or drink that shows a benefit for fat burning is coffee," said a registered sports nutritionist, healthcare professional and triathlon coach at Hurry The Food Up James LeBaigue MSc.

Studies show caffeine can boost the metabolic rate by three to 11 per cent. The higher the metabolism, the quicker the body burns fat.

Caffeine will help the body burn more calories meaning it will be easier for slimmers to stick to a calorie deficit (eating fewer calories than you are burning off).

However, James warned against relying on coffee for weight loss results as, on their own, the effects of the drink are "still minor".

He added: "It's important to note that for this benefit to occur, the individual still has to exercise. In other words, they cannot sit on the sofa, drink coffee, and expect to burn fat."

When it comes to food, spicy meals have been found to have similar fat-burning effects, although again, eating spicy food alone is not enough.

James continued: "There are very few foods that genuinely affect someone's metabolic rate or ability to burn fat. Spicy foods can subtly increase metabolism, but the amount of calories this changes it by is negligible."

One of the main things to consider when trying to lose weight or burn fat is how many calories you are consuming.

No matter how healthy your diet is, if you eat more calories than you burn during the day when resting and exercising, you will not be able to lose weight.

James explained: "It's important to highlight that the type of food you eat - whether it is fat, carbohydrate, or protein - has very little direct impact on weight loss or gain.

"Instead, it is the overall amount of calories consumed that is more significant.

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"This is why studies comparing high-fat to low-fat diets show similar results when calories are equated."

Despite some foods and drinking showing to boost the metabolism or help with fat-burning, he added focusing on a "balanced diet with adequate protein" and tracking calories are the key strategies for "effective weight loss".

This comes as a mother-of-four shared how she lost 6st 7lb with a few lifestyle changes.

She swapped unhealthy meals for smaller portions packed full of protein and enlisted the help of a personal trainer.