Metabolic rate is a procedure that breaks down carbs, fats and proteins from the foods you consume to generate the energy your body needs to function properly. Balanced eating habits keep your body in good shape; however, the right foods may accelerate your metabolism. Other factors that determine metabolic rate include the number of calories you consume, genetics and physical activity levels.
Calcium
Drinking milk and incorporating other dairy foods into your eating plan may increase your basal metabolic rate -- the number of calories your body burns at rest. Milk contains calcium that may increase your metabolism, according to a study at the University of Tennessee. This research found that dieters who consumed 1,200 mg of calcium daily during the study lost double the amount of weight as subjects with insufficient calcium intake.
Capsaicin
Capsaicin, often found in spicy vegetables like jalapenos and red peppers, can help increase your metabolism. According to the New York Daily News, subjects who drank coffee and meals with red peppers burned up to 1,000 more calories daily than the group that did not. Having one spicy meal a day, may help to increase your metabolic rate up to 25 percent for three hours after eating.
Caffeine
Coffee and green tea are both rich sources of caffeine and antioxidants with few calories. Green tea in particular contains a compound called EGCG, a natural stimulant for the body. It speeds up the central nervous system. Do not use energy drinks as a source of caffeine, because most contain a lot of sugar and calories. The excess sugar and calories will cancel out the metabolic increase the caffeine provides.
Seafood
Seafood provides a high protein source with the additional benefit of omega-3 fats. These fats improve your metabolism by decreasing the levels of leptin hormone in your body. Trout, salmon, tuna, herring and mackerel are all excellent sources of omega-3. If you don't like seafood you can obtain omega-3s from walnuts, flaxseed oil and fish oil supplements.
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