What Vegetables Boost the Metabolism?

What Vegetables Boost the Metabolism?
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All vegetables are low in calories yet high in fiber that makes you feel full, making them effective diet foods. Certain vegetables contain nutrients that boost your metabolism, helping you convert food to energy efficiently. The more you boost your metabolism, the more weight you can lose. Include metabolism-boosting vegetables in your diet regularly to help you lose weight and keep it off.

Leafy Greens

Leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, turnip greens and collard greens are rich in iron, which helps boost your metabolism by supporting your red blood cells' ability to transport nutrients throughout your body. The American Diabetes Association recommends eating leafy green vegetables to boost your metabolism, noting that they have beneficial nutrients like iron, yet are low in carbohydrates and calories. If you don't enjoy leafy green vegetables by themselves, be creative about ways to include them with other foods in your regular meals. For instance, replace half of the cheese or one of the eggs with spinach when making an omelet.

Beans

Beans are high in protein, which boosts your metabolism by helping your body convert food to energy efficiently. A 1/2-cup serving of beans will give you about as much protein as an ounce of meat, but without the saturated fat that meat contains. Beans are also low in fat. Prepare beans and other vegetables you eat in ways that don't add fat, such as steaming rather than frying, and limit the amount you eat to appropriate portion sizes. Bean varieties include lentils, black beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans and kidney beans.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are high in fiber and vitamins that can boost your metabolism by helping your body get rid of waste efficiently, while also supporting your cells as they convert food to energy. The American Diabetes Association recommends eating sweet potatoes when trying to lose weight. Sweet potatoes, along with other orange vegetables such as carrots and pumpkin, can help you achieve a healthy metabolism and weight.

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Article reviewed by Teresa Mullins Last updated on: Dec 1, 2010

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