If your metabolism sputters and stalls like a used 1967 Chevy, you may be looking for natural ways to boost your sagging metabolic rate. Metabolic rate is an important facet of weight control. A speedy metabolic rate allows you to burn off more calories at rest -- promoting weight control. To quicken your metabolism, stay physically active and build muscle mass through strength training. Additionally, consider eating these foods that increase metabolic rate.
Green Tea
Green tea is naturally abundant in a unique class of compounds known as catechin polyphenols. Catechin polyphenols have a number of potential health benefits such as cardiovascular disease reduction, reports Abdul G. Dulloo of the University of Geneva. Dullooo adds that green tea consumption can boost metabolic rate and increase the body's fat burning. In an article published in the December 1999 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," Dulloo gave catechin polyphenols derived from green tea to a group of 10 men. Green tea increased the volunteer's 24-hour metabolic rate and promoted the burning of body fat.
Coffee
Many people know that coffee gives them the jolt that they need to start their day. Caffeine is abundant in coffee and is largely responsible for the increases in focus and alertness attributed to coffee, Coffee Science reports. All of that caffeine also bumps up metabolic rate, according to K.J. Acheson of Research Department at Nestle. Acheson published research in the June 1980 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," which found that drinking coffee with a meal increased metabolism and fat burning more than eating the meal without coffee. To ensure that coffee burns more calories than you get from drinking it, choose black coffee or espresso instead of sugary drinks like cappuccinos and mocha lattes.
Chili Pepper
Hot chili peppers are rich in a capsaicin -- the chemical responsible for making them spicy. Eating lots of chili peppers can naturally increase metabolism, reports Kristel Diepvens of Maastricht University. In an article published in the January 2007 issue of "Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology," Diepvens states that eating spicy chili peppers regularly can help with weight and body fat loss. However, chili pepper isn't well tolerated some people. Diepvens states that the amount of chili pepper required for a significant benefit causes discomfort for most people. Chili pepper can be used to add flavor to chilis, soups and grilled dishes.
References
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition": Efficacy of a green tea extract rich in catechin polyphenols and caffeine in increasing 24-h energy expenditure and fat oxidation in humans
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition": Caffeine and coffee: Their influence on metabolic rate and substrate utilization in normal weight and obese individuals
- Coffee Science: Mental Alertness
- "Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology": Obesity and thermogenesis related to the consumption of caffeine, ephedrine, capsaicin, and green tea
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