Whenever you decide to lose weight or reduce your body's fat stores, the first thing you will hear is that you need to adopt a healthy diet plan. You've probably read plenty of articles already that tell you to eat a diet rich in natural and fresh foods. But what foods burn fat? Do these actually exist? Yes and no. While there are no foods that attack fat cells or absorb fat out of the body, there are certain vitamins and minerals that make fat more soluble and change its makeup, which makes it easier for you to burn off.

Here are some of the foods that will help you "burn fat."

Vitamin C

Vitamin C dilutes fat, which reduces its effectiveness and makes it easier to burn. Citrus fruits are the best source of vitamin C. Oranges are the most popular citrus fruits but lemons and limes are also fantastic sources of vitamin C as is watermelon. Green vegetables like broccoli, celery and cabbage also contain high levels of vitamin C.

Pectin

Pectin is thought to be able to limit your body's cells from being able to absorb fat in the first place. Pectin also helps absorb watery materials--these watery materials, when they come into contact with fat cells, make the cells release their deposits of fat. Foods that are rich in pectin include most fresh fruit--the best of which is apples.

Calcium

Recent studies have shown that the calcium found in dairy products is able to increase the fat breakdown that happens in your body's fat cells. Milk is the most obvious source of dairy based calcium as are yogurt and cheese. Make sure you are taking in the daily recommended allowance of dairy products each day and you will be able to make it easier for your body to burn fat.

Cayenne Pepper and Spices

Many experts agree that cayenne pepper is one of the best natural fat burning foods available. This food works by instigating a thermodynamic burn that can last for hours after you've finished eating. Of course, this doesn't mean that you should start downing cayenne pepper capsules. Instead increase your intake of spicy foods. Most spicy foods include cayenne pepper as an ingredient. The spice found in peppers can also increase the body's stress hormones which will raise your metabolism and help you burn more calories.

Soy

Soy is often thought to be the best food available for burning fat--except that it doesn't actually burn fat. Instead soy can help keep the fat from being deposited into the fat cells in the first place. Soy will also help your body break down the fat deposits that are already in place. Look for foods that include soybeans as ingredients. Most natural food and health food stores will have plenty of foods that are soy-based.

These are just a few of the foods that are known for their fat burning properties and will help answer the question of what foods burn fat. Garlic, black tea and coffee are a few other foods that are popular fat burners.