Foods To Boost Your Metabolism
Being comfortable in your body is essential to living a happy life. This doesn’t mean you have to lose weight but it does mean that you want to feed your body amazing, healthy foods that help you operate at your maximum potential. Your metabolism is what burns the energy you ingest through food. The more exercise you do, the higher your metabolism is.
This is not the only factor that affects how high your metabolism is. The foods you eat can also improve your metabolism if eaten regularly. You won’t be able to eat fish just once and notice a change in your metabolism, however, if you incorporate all kinds of healthy foods into your diet, then you will definitely notice a difference long-term.
1. Fish
My personal favorite fish to eat is salmon because it is so tender and flavorful while not being too fishy in flavor. If you’re new to eating fish, starting with high quality, wild-caught salmon is a great option. You can marinate it in a combination of olive oil, maple syrup, dijon mustard, and salt and pepper for a sweet and salty flavor.
The reason why fish is such a fantastic food for boosting your metabolism is that it is packed with Omega-3 Fatty Acids. These fatty acids resist something called leptin which has a big impact on how fast fat is burned. Not only is it good for boosting your metabolism, but the omega-3 fatty acids are also fantastic for your brain function.
Source: Shutterstock2. Nuts
Whenever you need a quick snack on the go that doesn’t need to be prepped in any way, nuts are a fantastic option. They are jam-packed with nutrients that help promote the health of your thyroid gland which is actually what regulates your metabolism.
If you weren’t already on board with snacking on some nuts, the high protein content of nuts actually requires your body to burn fat in order to digest them. Meanwhile, they can also keep your blood sugar stable which is never a bad thing!
Source: Shutterstock
3. Seeds
Much like fish, seeds contain tons of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. As we talked about before, these healthy fats are excellent for boosting your metabolism and reducing any bloating in your body.
You can add them to your smoothies or even your cereal in the morning. They don’t have tons of flavor so it’s easy to incorporate them into your daily routine without noticing a difference in flavor.
Source: Shutterstock4. Chili Peppers
Did you know that spicy food isn’t just delicious to eat but can be beneficial for your body too? These spicy foods help boost that pesky metabolism because your body has to burn more energy in order to digest them. WHAT!? I know, it’s insane.
Next time you’re making chili or tacos, add a little more chili powder into the mix for an extra kick that will get your body burning some energy!
Source: Shutterstock5. Coffee
Did you know that coffee is not only essential to your daily functioning at work (okay, maybe essential is a stretch) but it can actually boost your metabolism by 11%? That is quite significant for just one food.
The catch is, you have to drink quite a lot of coffee to experience the benefits – around three cups of coffee a day. This may boost your metabolism but it may also make you a little overstimulated, so you decide which is more important – metabolism or sanity.
Source: Shutterstock6. Oolong Tea
Oolong tea isn’t just for sipping pretty. It’s a powerhouse of nutrients and health benefits that can assist you with boosting your metabolism if you enjoy this hot cup of goodness every day.
Oolong tea contains something called polyphenols which can increase how many calories you burn and how much fat you burn by up to 43%! Isn’t that insane? Excuse me while I go and buy all the Oolong tea in town.
Source: Shutterstock7. Ginger
Ginger is one of those spices that actually makes you feel better after consuming it. It has a very renewing effect on your body, including the way your body digests and processes food.
Ginger can help your body burn more calories when you add it to hot water and it can help you feel more full. Further, if you’re trying to cut down on snacking, ginger will help to reduce your cravings.
Source: Shutterstock8. Cacao & Cocoa
Cacao and cocoa are two fascinating foods that can help with your body’s metabolism. It is said that these two forms of the cocoa plant can actually stimulate the genes in your body which stimulate the use of lipids for energy.
In simpler terms, this means that it can actually prevent your body from absorbing as many calories as it normally would when consumed in it’s most natural form. An example of this would be cacoa nibs or 95% dark chocolate. So no, milk chocolate does not count. Sorry.
Source: Shutterstock9. Apple Cider Vinegar
Have you heard of the AMPK enzyme? Of course, you have! Just kidding, I definitely didn’t know what that was until I was researching for this article. It’s basically an enzyme that helps your body decrease the amount of fat you store in your body and rather starts burning it instead!
There are a few ways to enjoy (or survive) apple cider vinegar but be sure not to just take a shot of it. It’s highly acidic and can burn your throat if you aren’t careful. If you want to experience its benefits, you can make salad dressing out of it or dilute it in water and mix it in with your smoothie to consume.
Source: Shutterstock10. Water
Water is obviously a really amazing liquid for the body because it not only hydrates the body, but it cleanses it as well. I can always tell when I’ve been drinking a lot of water because I definitely have more energy throughout the day.
Water cools down the body’s internal temperature so the body needs to expend more calories to warm up again. In this process, your metabolism is temporarily boosted as your body burns energy to get back to a healthy internal temperature.
Source: Shutterstock11. Coconut Oil
You’re going to hear about fat way more than you’d expect in connection to boosting your metabolism. But it’s not just any type of fat. It’s the high-quality fatty acids that are amazing for your body as a whole and also excellent at reducing your appetite. This isn’t about starving your body of food, but rather giving your body the quality energy it needs so you don’t desire snacks when you don’t need them.
Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids that help you feel full. Check out this Energy-Boosting Bulletproof Coffee recipe if you’re looking for an easy way to incorporate more coconut oil into your diet. This amazing oil helps to burn more calories in your body. How incredible is that!?
Source: Shutterstock12. Legumes
Legumes are exploding with protein from every angle. Protein is powerful when it comes to boosting your metabolism because your body needs to expend more energy to digest it. This means that your metabolism is getting boosted as you are eating protein-rich foods.
An easy way to incorporate more legumes into your diet is by adding a couple of new items into your grocery cart next time you go grocery shopping. Hummus is available at almost every store and is extremely tasty. Dip some veggies in and enjoy this fantastic high protein snack.
Source: Shutterstock13. Seaweed
Seaweed certainly is not for the faint of heart. I’ve been told I’m the odd one out when it comes to this food, but I find it very fishy. However, if you are a fan of seaweed, you’ll be happy to know that this food is going to help your body when it comes to improving your metabolic rate.
Seaweed contains iodine which helps foster the health of the thyroid. Your thyroid is in control of your metabolism, so the healthier your thyroid, the healthier your metabolism!
Source: Shutterstock14. Eggs
Eggs are a fantastic food to eat when trying to improve your metabolism because it is rich in good fats and high in protein. Much like legumes, they take more energy to digest, so your body is already expending more calories just to eat it!
Add eggs to your diet by enjoying a breakfast sandwich in the morning, or an omelet that you can top off with guacamole and salsa for a Mexican twist.
Source: Shutterstock15. Leafy Vegetables
Iron is something that doesn’t just exist in steak, it is present in leafy greens as well. I bet you can guess what fact is coming next – if you guessed that it helps improve your metabolic function in your body, you are correct!
If you aren’t the biggest fan of spinach, kale, and lettuce, there are some simple ways to sneak it into your meals. When you’re making a smoothie, you can add spinach to it without changing the taste. Your neutral-colored smoothie may turn bright green but that’s the only evidence of it that you will notice.
Source: Shutterstock16. Green Tea
If there’s one amazing source of nutrients, I think green tea would be it. I know when I drink it I notice an improvement in how I feel within half an hour of consuming it.
It has been suggested that if you drink four cups of green tea a day, it can help your body lose weight while also being anti-inflammatory and a great source of antioxidants.
Source: Shutterstock17. Berries
Mmmm berries. Who doesn’t love some fresh, juicy berries to enjoy in a smoothie, on yogurt or with granola? These little treats are exploding with benefits for your body that you may not even be aware of.
Berries offer anti-inflammatory benefits which help to reduce bloating in your body. Additionally, berries help with the regulation of your insulin levels which have a connection to the health of your metabolism.
Source: Shutterstock18. Oats
How many of us grew up eating oatmeal? I know that was a special treat my mother would make with cinnamon and apple cubes and I always enjoyed it. You can now enjoy it again knowing how amazing it is for your metabolism!
Oats are fantastic because they actually help you feel full longer than processed foods. Enjoying this meal for breakfast is one way to make sure you are getting a lot of great nutrients while not overeating. They cause your metabolism to increase because, much like eggs, they take more energy for your body to break down.
Source: Shutterstock19. Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits are a great way to boost your metabolism with effects that are very similar to that of oats. While they don’t boost your metabolism directly, they do help you feel satisfied and satiated for longer periods of time. This means that you won’t eat as many extra meals and snacks, thus improving your metabolism.
While orange juice is technically just juice from the fruit, it is better to enjoy citrus fruits in their most naturally occurring form which is by eating it whole.
Source: Shutterstock20. Cinnamon
Have you ever noticed that cinnamon makes your food taste sweeter without adding any extra calories? Cinnamon boosts your metabolism because your body has to work harder to break it down, but it also can serve as a natural sweetener for your foods.
Add cinnamon to your oats and top it off with some berries if you want a superfood meal that is sure to assist with the improvement of your metabolism.
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