Walk into any vitamin or supplement store and you will see racks of supplements that are designed to help you speed up your metabolism. Sorting through the claims that the manufacturers make may be confusing. Do your research and choose a supplement that is right for you and your needs.
How Metabolism Works
Metabolism is the ratio between what you eat and how much energy you burn. No ideal metabolic rate can be applied to all people, because people have different dietary needs. The trick to achieving a healthy weight is to find the appropriate balance between the energy you consume and your activity level. Some foods and herbs can help to boost your metabolism in a variety of ways, which can help you burn energy more quickly.
Herbal Supplements
Shari Lieberman, author of "Dare to Lose: 4 Simple Steps to a Better Body," recommends green tea extract pills as a safe herbal supplement to lose weight, claiming that green tea speeds the production of noradrenaline, which speeds metabolism. She also recommends citrus aurantium. Citrus aurantium works by stimulating the body's production of heat, which in turn increases the metabolic rate. Citrus aurantium has the same thermogenic effects as ephedra, but Lieberman and other proponents say it is safer because it stimulates the body's heat production in a different manner.
Food Supplements
Colette Harris, author of "The Ultimate PCOS Handbook," lists many foods that she claims are natural metabolism boosters. For example, hot chilies suppress appetite and speed metabolism. Harris also recommends grapefruit and grapefruit juice as natural food items to reduce the insulin levels in your body, which can reduce the amount of fat that your body stores. Finally, Harris recommends cinnamon, because it helps to convert your body's sugar to energy. You can eat these foods as is or purchase extracts or pill forms if you do not enjoy the flavor of any of these foods.
To Learn More
Natural supplements may not be safe under certain conditions. Herbs do have medicinal uses, and they should be given the same respect as medicine, because they may affect your health and interact with your medications. Remember that the claims made by supplement manufacturers are not evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration. If you wish to learn more about a particular supplement, your best option is to meet with a nutritionist that specializes in natural foods.
References
- "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Boosting Your Metabolism"; Joseph Lee Klapper; 2008
- "Essentials of Primary Care Sports Medicine"; Gregory L. Landry, et al.; 2003
- "Fire Up Your Metabolism"; Lyssie Lakatos, et al.; 2004
- "Dare to Lose: 4 Simple Steps to a Better Body"; Shari Lieberman, et al.; 2003
- "The Ultimate PCOS Handbook"; Colette Harris, et al.; 2008
- "The Health Professional's Guide to Dietary Supplements"; Shawn M. Talbott, et al.; 2006
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