Take control of your health and feel better than ever by fueling your body with metabolism-boosting foods.
A higher metabolic rate helps you burn more calories without lifting a finger. Accelerating your metabolism can help you achieve your weight loss goals by encouraging the breakdown of excess fat.
Enhance your diet with these ideal foods to boost your metabolism and support overall health.
Coffee
Caffeine raises your metabolic rate, making it easier to lose weight. Drinking coffee encourages fat reduction by increasing the calories you burn while resting. Fire up the automatic espresso machine and start your day with a cup of joe to boost energy levels and fitness performance.
Green Tea
If you aren’t a fan of coffee, try green tea for a daily caffeine kick. In addition to caffeine, green tea contains a substance called catechin.
Catechins benefit your health in many ways, from supplying antioxidants to reducing the likelihood of various cancer forms. These compounds also speed up your metabolism, helping the body break down excess fat.
Fish
Fish and shellfish are cornerstones of a metabolism-boosting diet. A fish like salmon or tuna is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that help you burn more calories.
A fish-based meal will keep you full longer, thanks to the protein content. If you don’t enjoy seafood, add a fish oil supplement to your daily routine for similar health benefits.
Eggs
Despite being low-calorie, eggs contain impressive amounts of protein and healthy fats. They can improve metabolic activity, aiding weight loss.
The yolk is somewhat high in cholesterol, so if you’re at risk for heart disease, stick to egg whites. A breakfast of eggs cooked in minimal butter and oil will satisfy you until lunchtime.
Legumes
Beans, lentils, and peas fall in the legume family. Legumes are essential for weight loss because they’re low in fat but high in fiber.
The plant fiber found in legumes makes your body work harder to digest them, helping you feel satiated. Aside from improving metabolism, legumes can prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Lean Meats
To accelerate your metabolism, consider eating lean meats like chicken and turkey. These foods are protein-packed, so your body works extra hard to process them during digestion.
Grass-fed beef and pork tenderloin also benefit your metabolic functioning and are rich in nutrients like iron and vitamin B12. Trim any excess fat or skin from the meat to capitalize on its leanness.
Oats
Oatmeal is an excellent food for supporting metabolism. Its B vitamins and fiber combat hunger and slow the rate of sugar release into the bloodstream. Adding oats to your diet may help your body burn calories more efficiently, resulting in lower cholesterol levels and a leaner figure.
Cacao
Though many associate chocolate with weight gain, raw cacao is a surprisingly effective fat burner. This powerhouse food has naturally occurring monounsaturated fatty acids, promoting heart health.
Enhance your smoothie and oatmeal bowls with cacao nibs to reap the benefits. Raw cacao encourages your body to turn fat into energy, boosting metabolism and reducing hunger.
Broccoli
Broccoli will be your new best friend if you want to improve your metabolic rate. It’s a cruciferous vegetable, which means it’s high in calcium, B vitamins, and vitamin C.
Broccoli also contains glucoraphanin. This anti-inflammatory compound helps your metabolism operate at its peak.
Nuts
Despite being fatty and calorie-dense, nuts are a healthy addition to most diets. They have essential micronutrients that can increase your resting calorie expenditure.
Nuts are a fantastic snack because their fiber content keeps you satisfied. Walnuts, which contain cholesterol-lowering polyunsaturated fats, are especially beneficial for metabolic functions.
Chili Peppers
Spice up your eating habits by adding chili peppers. Jalapeno, cayenne, and habanero peppers, among others, are potent sources of capsaicin.
This compound makes peppers spicy and jumpstarts your metabolic activity. Supplementing your diet with hot peppers encourages your body to burn more fat and energy, even while resting.
Ginger
Ginger is an incredible dietary aid that many attribute to successful weight loss. It’s a top food for calorie burning and positively affects blood sugar and pressure.
Eating or drinking ginger can regulate body weight by decreasing appetite. It will make you feel full and encourage your body to expend more energy throughout the day.
Berries
Low-calorie, high-fiber berries are essential for boosting metabolic rates. Consume strawberries, blueberries, and goji berries to support your metabolism. Eating berries such as these on a daily basis can improve your body’s ability to convert fat to energy while exercising.
Low-Fat Dairy
Reduced-fat dairy could be the key to metabolic health. Milk, cheese, and yogurt that are low in fat can help you build muscle mass.
Foods like low-fat milk and cottage cheese are calcium and protein-rich, forcing your body to work harder for digestion. Incorporating these products into your grocery list keeps your metabolism up and running.
Seaweed
Enhance your metabolic health by regularly eating seaweed. Vitamins and minerals in seaweed signal your body to begin spending energy, resulting in fat-burning.
Iodine and magnesium naturally occur in seaweed and are essential to a properly functioning metabolism. It’s also an excellent source of fucoxanthin, which stops your body from storing unnecessary fat in the abdomen and liver.
Diet is only one component of a healthy lifestyle
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Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
