The metabolism is the internal machine that burns calories -- a dieter's friend or foe. In technical terms, TeensHealth website describes the metabolism as a collection of chemical reactions that convert fuel in your food to energy for living. Becoming physically fit boosts your basal metabolic rate -- your body's burning power. Your choice of foods and beverages may also have a slight impact on your metabolic rate.
Water
Water is an essential fluid for hydration and the body's principal chemical component, making up approximately 60 percent of your body weight, according to MayoClinic website. Water assists the body by flushing toxins from vital organs, carrying nutrients to cells and offering moisture to the tissues. Water is an important fluid for those who desire to lose weight and increase their metabolic rate because a lack of water can lead to fatigue, leaving you too tired to workout. In addition, a study performed by "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism" showed that subjects who drank 500 mL of water increased their metabolic rate 30 percent, although the increase reached a maximum after 30 to 40 minutes.
Coffee
A famous American pick-me-up, coffee is often the first beverage sipped upon rising. Coffee is an appetite suppressant, able to reduce your desire to eat for a short time and increase the metabolism, if only slightly. According to MayoClinic online, the process is called thermogenesis, which occurs when the body generates heat and energy during digestion. Because of its caffeine content, coffee is considered a stimulant drug and should be limited to a few cups daily to avoid side effects.
Green Tea
Green tea, made from unfermented leaves, contains the highest concentration of polyphenols -- potent antioxidants. For this reason, green tea has gained popularity, becoming the most widely consumed beverage in the world, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. As a weight loss aid the tea boosts metabolism and promotes fat burning. Researchers assume the polyphenols in the tea are responsible for its fat-burning effects, notes the UMMC.
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