Natural Foods to Boost Metabolism

If you feel heavy, sluggish or simply motivated to start a healthier lifestyle, eating natural foods can help to boost your metabolism. Natural foods can help boost your metabolism because the energy that is needed to draw energy and nutrients out of these foods is close to the energy released from these foods, which means your body does not gain very much weight by eating these types of foods.

Grapefruit

Because grapefruit is high in fiber, is an effective metabolism booster. Fiber speeds up your metabolism because it is difficult for your body to digest, so you are forced to eliminate it and the fat it contains fairly quickly after consuming it.

Apples

Fiber-rich foods also help you feel full faster, which causes you to eat less. Apples are another high-fiber food that can boost your metabolism naturally.

Beans

Because they are low in fat and full of protein, beans can help you feel full for long periods of time. According to EcoSalon.com, your body also has to burn additional calories to process this fiber-rich food.

Jalapenos

EcoSalon.com reports that the capcaisin contained in jalapenos causes your body to burn additional calories for hours after you eat them and speeds up both your metabolism and your heart rate.

Curry

Like jalapenos, curry increases the amount of calories you can burn, which boosts your overall metabolism.

Broccoli

The nutrients contained in broccoli make it an effective food to speed up your metabolism. These nutrients include calcium, which triggers your metabolism, and vitamin C, which helps your body to absorb more calcium.

Oatmeal

ConsumerAffairs.com states that your body takes a long time to break down the fiber found in oatmeal, which boosts your metabolism while lowering your body's overall insulin (or sugar) level.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon can not only help your body metabolize sugars more effectively, but it can also help you sustain steadier blood sugar levels and even lower your cholesterol.

Spinach

According to ConsumerAffairs.com, spinach can speed up your metabolism and also provide you with an excellent source of magnesium, potassium, antioxidants, vitamin C and iron.

Yogurt

Yogurt needs a lot of energy to be properly processed due to the large amount of protein it contains. The pro-biotic cultures contained in yogurt can help regulate your digestive tract as well.

References

Article reviewed by Mona Newbacher Last updated on: Mar 23, 2010

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