Metabolism is part of the process in which your body converts the foods you eat into readily used or stored energy. The more frequently you eat, the more energy you have during the day. Metabolism accounts for 60 to 75 percent of the calories you burn daily, says MayoClinic.com. The primary factors involved in the rate of your metabolism and calories burned include your level of daily activity and the way your body digests foods in a process called thermogenesis, or the creation of heat to burn calories. Certain foods induce thermogenesis, which burns calories and prompts your appetite for more energy from food.
Step 1
Peel and eat a grapefruit for breakfast. Grapefruit lowers your natural insulin levels and induces thermogenesis to burn calories. Eat a grapefruit daily with breakfast to energize your body and rev up your metabolism. Do not add sugar or sweetener to your grapefruit. Cut a medium fruit in half and eat part for breakfast and the rest for a snack later or peel a whole grapefruit and eat the wedges.
Step 2
Mix berries together for a mid-day snack. Blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are natural antioxidant fruits that promote digestive health and prevent oxidation of your cells. Create a snack mix with berries and eat them in between meals for an energy boost.
Step 3
Drink green tea and water throughout the day. Green tea is a natural nervous system stimulant that boosts your metabolism and may also help you with weight loss. Drink one or two 8-oz. glasses of green tea per day. Consume eight to 12 glasses of water to further promote your metabolism.
Step 4
Add chopped chili peppers or cayenne powder to your salad. Chili or cayenne peppers contain the active ingredient capsaicin which induces thermogenesis. Chop two to three peppers and sprinkle into a salad or use as flavoring for side dishes.
Step 5
Eat baked or grilled fish for dinner. Fish varieties such as salmon, tuna or mackerel contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy fats that aid in metabolism. Choose fish two or three times a week as an alternative to unhealthy fatty red meat.
Step 6
Grab a handful of almonds or unsalted soy nuts for an afternoon snack. Nuts are a heart healthy snack that also promote metabolism. Eat a small handful of nuts once a day.
Tips and Warnings
- Choose healthy, low-calorie foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains to eat with each meal. Plan five to six small meals each day to boost your metabolism. Add daily exercise to your healthy eating plan to maximize your metabolic rate.
- Grapefruit can interfere with certain blood pressure medications. Consult your physician before eating grapefruit if you are on medications. Green tea can contain caffeine but there are caffeine-free options.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Green Tea
- MayoClinic.com: Metabolism and Weight Loss; How You Burn Calories
- BodyBuilding.com: Ten Amazing Metabolism-Boosting Foods for Health
- American Journal of Physiology; Obesity and Thermogenesis Related to the Consumption of Caffeine, Ephedrine, Capsaicin and Green Tea; Kristel Diepvens et al; January 2007
- Shapefit.com: Foods to Boost Your Metabolism
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