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Last Updated on February 14, 2020 by Tracy
Your metabolism can be every changing, making it hard to keep up with. Here are the Best Foods To Boost Your Metabolism to help you keep your body running at it’s best.
10 Best Foods To Boost Metabolism
Metabolism is the body’s way to produce energy and as you know, most of that energy is found in the foods that we eat. In order to stay healthy and keep the body running at it’s best sometimes, you need to give your metabolism a little boost, especially if you are hoping to drop a few pounds.
Your rate of metabolism changes as you age, and it can also be affected by hormonal changes, and your current level of health and stress. So, basically my metabolism changes constantly! When your metabolism is slow it can lead to weight gain, tiredness, and fatigue, and may even contribute to preventable conditions such as type 2 diabetes.
The good news is there are ways to boost your metabolism and help your body run more efficiently. One of the easiest ways to boost your metabolism is to make smart choices about the foods that you eat and drink every day.
Here are the Best Foods To Boost Your Metabolism:
Cold Water
Can boosting your metabolism get any easier than pouring yourself a nice cold glass of water? Drinking cold water boosts your metabolism because your body has to expend energy to warm it to your body temperature. Drinking cold water also prevents you from getting dehydrated and helps to make you feel full so that you aren’t as tempted to overeat at meals.
Green Tea
Studies have shown that drinking 24 ounces of green tea each day can boost your metabolism and help you lose weight. Green tea contains antioxidants which may provide health benefits outside of boosting your metabolism such as lowering blood pressure, increasing mental function, and lowering your cancer risks.
Coffee
Not only can coffee help get you going in the mornings but it can also help to boost your metabolism too. Just drinking one cup of coffee can increase your metabolism by as much as 15% for a short period of time. Keep in mind though that the coffee is what increases metabolism, so try to avoid adding too much sugar or other high-calorie additives to your cup.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon, is, of course, a spice and not a food, but it has been proven very effective in not only boosting metabolism but also as a weight-loss tool. This is because cinnamon increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin and helps to lower blood sugar. This can be particularly helpful to type 2 diabetics who are trying to boost their metabolism and want to lose weight. You can add a little cinnamon to your morning tea, coffee or smoothie, or if you don’t like the taste you can take it in supplement form and still get the results that you are looking for.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is full of fiber which means that it is going to keep you feeling full and satisfied for longer, in addition to helping increase your metabolism. Oatmeal has also been proven to lower bad cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Oatmeal can also prevent bloating which may make you look and feel heavier than you are. Make sure that you are avoiding the flavored, processed oatmeal packets because they are often full of sugar.
Berries
Berries have very few calories and they are bursting with flavor, fiber, and antioxidants. They are also known to help rev up your metabolism which will help you to burn more calories faster. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries can all help to give your metabolism a kick start and they have been found to reduce your risks of heart disease and work to stabilize blood sugar levels as well. Try enjoying them as a snack or adding them to your favorite salad.
Lean Protein
Lean proteins such as those found in chicken, turkey, or lean beef also help to boost your metabolism. Digesting lean proteins burns excess calories and fat because it takes a while for proteins to become fully digested. Lean proteins are also an important part of any diet for those who want to lose weight because it prevents the loss of muscle mass. The more muscle mass you have the faster your metabolism will be even when your body is at rest.
Cruciferous Vegetables
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that eating vegetables is good for your health, but did you know that certain veggies can help boost your metabolism along with their other health benefits? Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts are full of fiber and a handful of other essential vitamins that your body needs. These delicious veggies can also reduce inflammation throughout the body and work to detoxify it too.
Beans and legumes
Beans and legumes are packed full of protein and fiber that will keep you feeling full well after you have finished your meal. In addition to boosting your metabolism, they have also been proven to help lower cholesterol levels and increase your body’s sensitivity to insulin which can make it easier to lose weight.
Hot peppers
Hot peppers are another food that have been proven to boost your metabolism and help you to lose weight. The compound known as capsaicin is what gives peppers their heat, and it is the element of hot peppers that kicks your metabolism into overdrive.
It doesn’t take a large of amount of hot peppers for you to get the metabolism boost that you are looking for and studies have shown the results can last for hours. Which is great news for me, as my whole family loves spicy foods so I make them a lot! Would you like the beneficial effects of hot peppers but can’t take the heat? Not to worry, studies have shown that nutritional supplements of cayenne pepper have the same fat-burning effects as actually eating the peppers themselves.
If you combine these foods, drinks, and spices with other metabolism-boosting activities such as physical activity and getting an adequate amount of sleep each night you will start to lose weight. Your metabolism will pick-up, your muscle mass will increase, and soon you will be burning calories even when you are sleeping. Try adding some of these foods to your diet and see if you can get your metabolism burning faster than it was before!
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