Do Clementines Speed Up Metabolism?

If you are among the more than two-thirds of adult Americans who are overweight or obese, you may be looking for an easy way to boost your metabolism and lose weight. Your basal metabolic rate is controlled by a complex interplay of many different factors, and there is no single food you can eat, such as Clementine tangerines, that will significantly boost your long-term metabolism and help you lose weight. Consult your doctor or a nutritionist to devise a safe plan for boosting your metabolism and losing weight.

Clementine Tangerines

You may have heard rumors that Clementine tangerines are the next "super food" that will boost your metabolism and help you lose weight. Unfortunately, there is no one food that will boost your metabolism and cause you to burn fat, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Clementines are the latest in a series of health-food fads that have included celery, grapefruit and cabbage soup. There is no evidence indicating that consuming more of these foods will boost your metabolism and help you lose weight.

Stimulants

Certain foods contain stimulants, such as caffeine, that may cause a temporary increase in your metabolism. Caffeine and other stimulants cause your body to generate more heat, a process known as thermogenesis, which burns extra calories. However, this short-term effect is unlikely to cause permanent changes in your metabolism or weight, explains the Mayo Clinic. Similarly, caffeine acts a short-term appetite suppressant, but this will likely not increase your metabolism, and may actually have the opposite effect.

Eating

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to increase your metabolism and lose weight, and your dietary habits play an important role. Ironically, one step you can take to boost your metabolism is to make sure you eat consistently throughout the day, starting with breakfast. When you do not eat for long periods of time, such as during sleep or on a restrictive diet, your metabolism slows down to conserve energy, explains KidsHealth.org. When you begin the day with breakfast and eat small meals consistently throughout the day, your metabolism stays higher.

Exercise

Physical activity increases your metabolism, both while you are exercising and for awhile after you stop, according to Illinois State University. While aerobic exercise, such as running, walking or biking, is an important part of physical activity, all of your day-to-day activities may also contribute. Simple things like parking at the back of the parking lot and always using the stairs can have a cumulative effect that increases your metabolism and the number of calories you burn each day.