Is Fat-free Yogurt Good To Speed Metabolism?

Those with a high metabolism are often envied for their ability to eat large amounts of food and not gain a pound. Your body's metabolism is the measurement of how many calories that you burn per day. Fortunately, your metabolism isn't entirely genetically determined. Making certain changes to your diet and lifestyle can ramp up a sagging metabolism. Consuming fat-free yogurt is one of those changes.

Yogurt

Yogurt is a popular food in nearly all parts of the world, as people from North America, Asia and the Middle East all consume yogurt. Yogurt comes from fermented milk. Like all dairy products, yogurt is a nutrient-dense food that's low in calories. Yogurt is rich in naturally occurring calcium, potassium, phosphorus and dietary protein. In addition to being a legitimate "superfood," yogurt may also help you burn extra fat and calories.

Protein

Yogurt is a rich source of dietary protein. Consuming protein-rich foods can increase the activity of your body's natural calorie- and fat-burning machinery, according to a paper published in October 2006 in the "International Journal of Obesity." The paper adds that protein requires more energy to digest than carbohydrates and fat, which means that you burn some protein calories off simply by eating the protein.

Casein

Casein is a protein found only in dairy products, including yogurt. A research study published in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that eating large amounts of protein in the form of casein increased metabolism by approximately 2.5 percent, compared to a diet low in casein. However, note that the amount of casein eaten during this study was more than one would likely consume from yogurt alone.

Fat Loss

According to the results of a study published in the January 2005 issue of "International Journal of Obesity," adding yogurt to your calorie-restricted diet can aid in fat burning and weight loss. In the study, subjects were asked to cut calories while eating three servings per day of yogurt. Those who ate the yogurt lost significantly more body fat than those who simply consumed fewer calories.

Considerations

No studies have directly investigated the effects of yogurt on metabolism. If you're having issues with your body weight, talk to your doctor to see what treatments are right for you. When choosing fat-free yogurt, opt for those without added sugar, as these can contribute to weight gain.