Walking down the beverage aisle in a supermarket might lead you to believe that the answer to losing weight and boosting your metabolism could be in a powdered beverage or special shake. However, you need not look any further than the produce section to find all the items you need to amp up your metabolism and aid you in your efforts to maintain a healthy weight.
Next time you’re stocking up on food for the week, look out for these items if you want to improve your metabolism.
1. Power in High-Protein Foods
It requires much more energy for your body to digest protein than it does with fat or carbohydrates. Cut back on fatty foods and carbs by replacing them with protein-rich foods. Lean meats are a great choice, whether it is white meat chicken, organic grass-fed beef, or turkey. There are also many other sources of protein that your body will have to work hard to burn like nuts, eggs, beans, and tofu. A bonus to adding more protein to your diet is the help it provides with muscle gains, which will in turn aid your efforts in maintaining a high metabolism.
2. Heat it Up with Chili Pepper
Chili pepper contains a chemical called capsaicin. Studies have proven that capsaicin assists the body in burning calories, which has a direct effect on improving metabolism. Not only that, but this unique chemical also has appetite suppressing qualities to promote weight loss. Spice up your meals with a bit of chili pepper to support a high metabolism.
3. Legumes are Love
Everyone loves feeling that sense of satisfaction that comes from being full after a meal. Legumes like lentils, chickpeas, and a diverse selection of beans are sure to bring you the same cozy feeling as many of your favorite comfort foods. But most importantly, legumes are chock full of fiber, which kicks your body’s digestive processes into action. As previously mentioned, anything that causes your digestive system to work harder is sure to boost metabolism. The fullness you experience when eating these delicious pellets of fiber will be accomplished without consuming that many calories.
4. Fruits for Your Sweet Tooth
With dessert being a pillar of what people consider a full-course meal, cutting back on sugary foods that have negative effects on metabolism can be a challenge. Nevertheless, if revving up your metabolism is a goal for you, then it is vital to cut back on sugary sweets. Replacing your typical dessert with citrus fruits like grapefruit, oranges, and lemons are sure to spur along digestion, and the vitamin C they contain specifically assists your body in quickly metabolizing fats. Pineapple is another fruit that has shown fantastic metabolic benefits as it contains vitamin C, B-vitamins, and fiber. Berries too have revealed a staggering effect on metabolism as they stabilize glucose levels. So, go ahead and kick your cookie habit, and whip up a bowl of fruit to stand in for dessert.
5. Greatness in Whole Grains
Substitute refined grains with whole grains, and your metabolism will thank you. Whole grains bump up calorie loss, which means fewer calories are gained in meals. These whole grains will also provide you with extra fiber, and said fiber will allow greater digestibility with other foods you consume. Grab some brown rice or whole-grain oats next time you’re browsing the grains and granola aisle—but steer clear of sugary granola that comes with a lot of sweetened dried fruits!
6. Fish for the Win
Foods like salmon, tuna, and herring are full of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids help with inflammation and balancing blood sugar, both of which control metabolism. If you’re looking for a healthy alternative to high-protein meat, then oily fish will certainly function perfectly in its place.
7. Simple Addition of Seeds
Seeds are an often forgotten part of the food groups that work wonders with metabolism. Alongside their fish friends, flaxseeds and hemp seeds are high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. An important part of any athlete’s diet, these grains of joy assist in reducing inflammation and charging up your metabolism. Sprinkle these little guys on top of some yogurt and oats and put your metabolism to work.
There are many fast weight-loss schemes and dietary supplement ads bombarding us in magazines and television, but the key to having a healthy metabolism remains primarily in the foods we consume. Organic foods listed above, and many more, in fact, are certain to provide you with much-needed nutrients and metabolic elevation. As the saying goes, what you put in determines what you get out. So, make sure you always supply your body with these nutrient-rich organic foods to keep your metabolism up to speed.
