burn fat

About 46 percent of women and 33 percent of men are trying to lose weight, according to a study published in Obesity Research.

Whether you are consciously trying to shed some pounds, or are hoping to tone up before warm weather comes, there are certain techniques that can help you do so faster.

We've all heard about the importance of eating fewer calories and exercising more -- surely an important facet of any weight-loss strategy. However, the following little-known techniques will support that strategy to help you burn even more fat and calories.

1. Eat hot peppers

Adding red chilli peppers to your food "could contribute to the dietary management of obesity," said Angelo Tremblay, a Universite Laval obesity nutrition professor.

That's because capsaicin, the active component in chilli peppers, is thought to play a role in curbing appetite and boosting metabolic activity.

"Maybe you can have the same effect with curry, so go to your favourite Indian restaurant," Tremblay continued. However, researchers are still trying to determine if this effect, noted in animal studies, applies to humans.

2. Eat smaller meals more often

By breaking up your meals into four or five (or six or seven) small meals, instead of the typical three, you are keeping your insulin levels under control for the entire day. Out-of-control insulin levels can lead to fat accumulation.

Not only that, but your body burns calories while it digests food. So, the more often you digest, the more calories you will burn.

3. Drink lots of water ... preferably cold

If your body is dehydrated, it will not burn fat efficiently and it could lead to sugar cravings and fatigue. The typical recommendation is to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day ... but according to some experts you should make sure it's cold water.

"Drinking eight ounces of cold water can burn off an additional 9.25 calories as compared to room-temperature water," says J T Kearney, Ph.D., an exercise physiologist.