Many people consider themselves to have either a fast or slow metabolism. While they might be right in their characterization of their metabolism, what some don't realize is that the metabolism can be influenced. Your diet, including what you eat and when you eat it, has a significant effect on how efficiently your metabolism works. If you are trying to boost your metabolism to help your body process foods and nutrients with greater efficiency, there are numerous foods to consider.
Grapefruit
According to EcoSalon.com, grapefruit is considered a superfood for anyone looking to boost their metabolism. Eating grapefruit helps lower your body's insulin levels. These levels cue the body to store sugars and carbohydrates as fats when raised, so lowering insulin levels combats fat storage. Additionally, grapefruit is high in fiber, helping to pass fats and other unwanted products safely through your system. Fiber is also tougher for your body to break down and requires a lot of calories to do so.
Green Tea
Green tea contains a chemical known as a catechin. This chemical helps speed up the brain and nervous system, causing an increased workload that requires more calories to maintain. This, in turn, causes more calories to be burned in your body and helps boost metabolism.
Coffee
Coffee--as well as any other caffeinated drink--can help boost the metabolism by increasing the activity of your muscles and nervous system. But coffee is preferred to other forms of caffeinated beverages that are loaded with sugars and high fructose corn syrup. EcoSalon.com recommends limiting your coffee consumption to two or three cups per day.
Cold Water
Water itself has zero calories, and the process of breaking down water to absorb into the body is a streamlined process that requires little effort by the body. The difference with cold water is that it must be warmed up before it can be absorbed into the body and used. The process of heating up the water requires calories, and though this caloric output may be minimal with a single glass, over time it can add up and lead to an increased metabolism requiring almost no effort on your part.
Peppers
According to ShapeFit.com, various types of peppers help your body boost its metabolism. Many peppers also have cleansing effects that can improve the digestive tract. EcoSalon.com reports that in the case of jalapenos, the capcaisin chemical found in the pepper accelerates both your heart rate and metabolism while boosting your calories burned for hours after consumption of the pepper.
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