Some foods speed up your metabolism more than others or keep your appetite under control so that you can more easily lose weight and body fat. However, experts point out that these super foods should always be consumed as part of a healthy overall diet.

According to Medical News Today, here are the 8 top fat-burning foods:

1. Chili peppers. If you like your food spicy you are on your way to burning fat effectively. Chili peppers and jalapeños contain the chemical capsaicin which, according to a 2012 study published in the journal Appetite, increases your metabolic resting rate. The higher your rate, the more fat you will burn even while resting. Peppers also heat up your body, so you burn more calories. They reduce your appetite, too, making you feel fuller longer.
2. Coconut oil. Despite the controversy over its overall health benefits, a meta-analysis which appeared in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that the medium-chain triglycerides in coconut oil increase energy consumption and reduce fat storage.
3. Green tea. Green tea is a beneficial source of antioxidants and may have several other health benefits including weight loss, according to a 2015 study. The study, published in the Cochrane Data Base of Systematic Reviews, found that people who were overweight or obese and drank green tea lost weight. Green tea works by raising your metabolism, making you burn fat faster. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that folks who consumed four cups of green tea daily lost more than 6 pounds in an eight-week period.
4. Eggs. The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that eggs are rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. They are also an excellent source of protein which helps control your appetite. In fact, a study published in the journal Nutrition Research found that people who ate eggs for breakfast had a greater control over their appetite throughout the day.
5. Split peas. For vegans and others who shun animal protein, eating peas which are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber can help offset hunger. They also contain complex carbohydrates, which are a good source of energy.
6. Yogurt. Plain yogurt, such as Greek yogurt, is chock full of vitamins, minerals, and probiotics. Yogurt is also rich in protein and, according to a study published in the Nutrition Journal, eating high protein yogurt helps curb your appetite and lowers overall food intake.
7. Fatty fish. Fish like salmon, mackerel, and herring are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are extremely beneficial to overall health. Because fish is also high in protein, it helps curb hunger which is an important tool for weight loss. A 2011 Canadian study found that people who ate salmon regularly gained significantly less weight over the years and had fewer rates of insulin resistance which can lead to diabetes compared to other fish-eating groups.
8. Nuts. Nuts are high in protein and healthy fats which are both beneficial in quelling hunger for long periods of time. People can incorporate nuts into a healthful diet without weight gain. For example, a 2011 study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism found that including nuts in the diet for over 12 weeks led to health benefits without weight gain. According to experts, your best bet is walnuts because they have the highest amount of omega-3 fatty acids which can reduce muscle inflammation and increase your metabolism.

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These days, it seems like there’s a new beauty oil being sworn in as the next big thing every few days (hello coconut oil, rosehip oil, and tea tree oil). The problem? It’s becoming increasingly difficult to decide which one you should welcome into the fold as your skin’s latest partner-in-crime.

This is where grapeseed oil, an oil that’s extracted from the seeds of wine grapes, sets itself apart from the competition. Unlike other oils that may only suit certain skin types or clog pores, grapeseed oil is a lightweight oil that’s noncomedogenic, making it suitable for most skin types—including sensitive and acne-prone.

And because it contains ingredients that can help to improve a variety of skin concerns, those with multiple issues to tackle may be able to streamline the number of products they’re currently using by making the switch to grapeseed oil. Here’s everything you need to know about this multitalented beauty product.

What is grapeseed oil, exactly?

Getty Imagessasimoto

Technically, grapeseed oil is a byproduct of winemaking—once the grapes are pressed, the seeds are left over, says Los Angeles-based board-certified dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse, MD. There are different methods of extracting the oil from the seeds, but for cosmetic purposes, cold-pressed is best.

“Cold-pressed oils may have more active potential, since they haven’t been heated, distilled, or processed,” says Dr. Shainhouse. This helps to keep its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties intact.

Currently, there are no large-scale studies that prove the skin benefits of grapeseed oil, so the perks, for the moment, are considered theoretical. However, the individual ingredients that grapeseed oil contains—such as omega fatty acids and vitamin E—are well-studied, so the assumption is that grapeseed oil can provide similar benefits to the skin, says NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Susan Bard, MD.

How grapeseed oil benefits your skin

Manages acne

Grapeseed oil contains high levels of linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid that can help control acne by decreasing clogged pores. “Acne-prone skin has been found to be deficient in linoleic acid, making the sebum (oil) thick and sticky, leading to clogged pores,” says Dr. Bard.

It’s also anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial, making it an ideal sidekick in your fight against breakouts, and can be used as a carrier oil for tea tree oil, another potential acne fighter. Bonus: The vitamin E in grapeseed oil may help lessen the appearance of acne scarring, says Debra Jaliman, MD, author of Skin Rules.

Sky Organics 100% Pure & Natural Grapeseed Oil

Protects against free radicals

The antioxidants found in grapeseed oil, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and proanthrocyanidin (phew), can help to prevent—and undo—pollution- and UV-induced free radical damage to the skin, says Dr. Shainhouse. The result? Skin that’s smooth and firm—and better protected against more serious issues too, such as skin cancer. (Remember: Free radicals are unstable molecules that can wreak havoc on your body’s cells.)

Moisturizes and balances the skin

Back to the fatty acids, which can help improve your skin’s moisture level by reducing transepidermal water loss (where the skin loses water to the surrounding environment via evaporation): “Linoleic acid integrates into the cell membranes to fortify the skin barrier and smooth and soften skin,” says Dr. Shainhouse.

Meanwhile, vitamin E replenishes lipids that have been lost (the skin’s natural fats that help to maintain a protective barrier and hold onto moisture). If your skin is on the oily side, this moisture boost will also help slow oil production, which tends to strike because your skin thinks it’s too dry.

Reduces inflammation

Some studies show that linoleic acid also has anti-inflammatory properties, says Dr. Jaliman, and may reduce inflammation in the skin’s epidermal (top) and dermal (middle) layers. Plus, the phytosterols (a type of molecule found in plants) in grape seeds may help control the skin’s inflammatory response, according to a review published in the Molecular Journal of International Sciences. This may make it a handy oil to have around if you have an inflammatory disorder like eczema or rosacea.

Minimizes fine lines and wrinkles

Besides fatty acids, grapeseed oil contains polyphenols, which help fight premature aging. “Polyphenols have been known to not just slow the aging process, but reverse signs of aging, like sun spots, fine lines, and wrinkles,” says Dr. Jaliman. The oil contains natural astringent properties too, resulting in firmer-looking skin.

How to choose the best bottle of grapeseed oil

Dr. Shainhouse recommends going with a grapeseed oil that’s cold-pressed to ensure that the active ingredients—and the oil itself—haven’t been chemically altered. Experts also agree that the grapeseed oil you choose be certified organic. “This way, you know that it’s pure, without pesticide and herbicide residues that may be present in conventional oils,” says Anthony Youn, MD, anti-aging expert and author of The Age Fix.

When you’re ready to introduce your face to some stellar grapeseed oil, consider taking one of the following for a spin:

How to use grapeseed oil on your face

Because grapeseed oil absorbs easily, it makes for a convenient addition to your beauty routine. It’s also uber-versatile: Use it by itself, mix it into your go-to lotions or serums, or use it as a carrier oil. (Though you should do a spot test first to ensure you don’t have a reaction to the stuff.)

“Frequency of application depends on the issue you’re targeting and its severity,” says Dr. Bard, who recommends starting with a once-daily application and bumping up your application quota as needed. Start with a few drops on clean, pre-product skin or mixed into your moisturizer or night cream. If irritation strikes, nix grapeseed oil from your repertoire.

Editor’s Note: This whisky was provided to us as a review sample by Brown Forman. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review.

The storied GlenDronach distillery had some big shoes to fill with the supply-depleted departure of its 15 year old, sherried expression from the market in 2015. Locals and critics alike bemoaned the fate of that bottling, with secondary market prices quickly tripling. It appears their voices were heard, and with great trumpetting from the whisky community around the world.  

With The GlenDronach 15 Year Old Revival, the cult favorite, sherry-happy distillery has reintroduced its decade and a half old, single malt expression that’s been aged in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía, Spain, to the market to much acclaim.  The winner of a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco Spirits Awards in 2018, it seems that the guidance of master blender Rachel Barrie and new ownership blood has paid off.  

The GlenDronach is one of the more beloved, though still relatively unfamiliar, names in Scotch whisky. Nearing its 200th anniversary, the distillery has suffered some of the more common indignities in recent whisky history.  Mothballed in 1996, it was renovated and resumed a full production schedule in 2002. In the last 20 years the property has changed hands multiple times, most recently falling under the ownership of the American bourbon titan Brown-Forman and its first foray into the realm of Scotland’s whisky scene.

Brown-Forman and I are in the same boat on this count, as this will be my first taste of GlenDronach as well. As a big fan of sherried malts I’m quite excited for the return of this cult favorite.  

The GlenDronach 15 Year Old Revival (image via Brown-Forman)

Tasting Notes: The GlenDronach 15 Year Old Revival

Vital Stats: 15 years old, matured in PX and oloroso butts, 46.5% ABV, $89.99 MSRP.

Appearance: Dusty amber with minimal sheeting.

Nose: Beautifully bright cassis, pomander, dark woods and palm sugar.  Light ethanol heat.

Palate:  Rich and deep, with surprisingly bright and welcome fruit notes.  Persimmon gingerbread, raisins, brown butter, roasted stone fruit, marzipan and clove accentuated by high notes of honeydew, lime zest, cedar bough and mint stem, held together with a toasted coconut oil viscosity.  A beautifully Christmas appropriate profile.

With a bit of water added it thinned out and turned, not unpleasantly, slightly prickly and towards an herbaceous melon Hi-Chu candy. It finishes with lingering Zante currants, light menthol notes and the pleasant bitterness of burnt sugar.