The rate at which your body metabolizes food can have a significant impact on your ability to gain or lose weight. Genetics often dictates the metabolic rate, but a number of other factors can lead to an increased metabolism. Conducting daily exercise will boost your metabolism as will increasing your intake of certain foods.
Green Tea
Green tea boosts the metabolism. Green tea contains a catechin known as epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, which increases brain and nervous system function that cause the metabolism to speed up.
Spinach
Spinach is a good source of vital minerals and nutrients, including antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, iron and vitamin C, plus it helps raise overall metabolic function.
Lean Meat
Lean meats such as turkey, beef and poultry contain significant amounts of protein. Protein helps to build, repair and maintain muscle mass. Muscle increases the metabolism, as muscle burns significantly more calories than fat.
Grapefruit
Researchers at Scripps Clinic found that grapefruit can significantly increase the metabolism. Subjects who ate half a grapefruit with every meal for 12 weeks lost an average 3.6 pounds. The chemicals contained in grapefruit reduce insulin levels and in turn can cause weight loss and increased metabolism.
Blueberries
Antioxidants prevent oxidation of the cells, which can cause inhibited muscle growth, fat loss and disease, and, in turn, inhibit metabolic function. By increasing the amount of antioxidants you consume, you can also increase your metabolic rate.
Coffee
Coffee contains high quantities of caffeine, which causes a rise in heart rate and metabolic rate. Do not, however, drink more than two or three cups per day to avoid irritability or jitters.
Beans
Beans are high in both protein and fiber. Protein helps build and maintain muscle mass, helping to raise the metabolic rate. Fiber makes your metabolism rise, because your body takes a long time to break it down.
Broccoli
Broccoli contains high amounts of calcium, which is known to increase the metabolic rate and help burn fat. It also contains vitamin C, which helps the body to absorb more calcium, further increasing the effectiveness of broccoli as a metabolizing food.
Oatmeal
The body takes a long time to break down oatmeal, which is converted into energy over a matter of hours. This causes the body to have increased insulin levels and a higher metabolic rate.
Hot Peppers
The capsaicin in peppers is an effective metabolic booster, raising the body's metabolism and heart rate for hours after ingesting. Consuming peppers on a regular basis can help keep your metabolism at a higher rate.
Member Comments