With the number of overweight or obese Americans surpassing two-thirds of the population, more and more people are searching for ways to increase their metabolism and lose weight. Unfortunately, there is no quick-fix solution; no single food or type of food, such as vegetables, will safely and permanently boost metabolism. However, if you are serious about losing weight, there are steps you can take to increase your metabolism and shed those extra pounds.
Vegetables and Metabolism
No type of food will permanently boost your metabolism and cause you to start burning fat, advises the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While any type of food causes a small, temporary increase in metabolism as the body digests and absorbs food, the calories burned by this "thermic effect" of food accounts for only one-10th of all the calories consumed in a typical day, explains the Student Nutrition and Body Awareness campaign at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Vegetables and Weight Loss
Although vegetables do not boost your metabolism, vegetables, as well as fruits, can play an important role in weight loss or weight management. Fruits and vegetables are known as low energy density foods, meaning they contain fewer calories in the same volume of food as other types of high energy density foods, such as meat and dairy. Eating low energy density foods can help you feel full without consuming as many calories, leading you to eat fewer calories each day than if you ate more calorie-rich foods, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
Food and Metabolism
While no single food will magically boost your metabolism, your eating habits do have an important effect on your metabolism. Skipping meals, especially breakfast, makes your body think food supplies are scarce and that it needs to go into starvation mode and decrease metabolism to save energy, according to the Student Nutrition and Body Awareness Campaign. By eating smaller meals consistently throughout the day, you can keep your metabolism from slowing down. For best results, eat plenty of low energy density foods, like fruits and vegetables, to avoid consuming too many calories.
Exercise
Exercise also plays an important role in metabolism. Physical activity increases your metabolism while you are exercising and for a short time afterward, Illinois State University explains. Even short periods of activity, such as walking up the stairs, provide a small boost in metabolism. By trying to stay as active as possible throughout the day, you can help your metabolism stay high.
References
- Federal Occupational Health: Personal Health
- Student Nutrition and Body Awareness Campaign at the University of California, Los Angeles: Nutrition Basics
- Illinois State University: Maximize Your Metabolism
- Weight-control Information Network: Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Can Eating Fruits and Vegetables Help People to Manage Their Weight?
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