The Top 10 Foods to Increase Your Metabolism

The Top 10 Foods to Increase Your Metabolism

How many times have you seen some of your friends who eat a lot more than you and still manage to keep their weight better? The secret lies in our metabolic rate – the rate at which our body burns calories. If so, how can you help increase your metabolism? Here you will find which foods can help make a difference – inside and out.

One way to increase your metabolism is through exercise, especially increasing the muscle mass in the body. Muscle burns more calories than fat, therefore people with higher muscle mass lose weight easily than others. Even eating several small meals throughout the day will contribute to increase your metabolism, and if you combine specific foods – you will increase your metabolism even more.

So which foods will help you to increase your metabolism and lose weight? Try the following:

1. Broccoli

Green vegetables contain large amounts of calcium that helps to increase the metabolic rate of the body and burn fat.

2. Spinach

Spinach is a good source of nutrients like vitamin C, magnesium, potassium and iron. The vitamin C helps the body’s metabolic function .

3. Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin which is known to increase metabolism. Capsaicin increases the internal heat of the body. In order to increase heat, energy is needed, and thus cayenne pepper contributes to increase metabolism.

4. Beans

Beans are rich in protein and fiber. The protein helps to build muscle and maintain it, and the more muscle you have in your body, the higher the rate of metabolism. The dietary fibers found in beans force the body to work harder to dismantle and process them, thus contributing to weight loss .
 
5. Grapefruit

Grapefruit contains a compound called naringenin, a flavonoid that balances out blood sugar levels and helps to prevent metabolic syndrome, a pre-diabetic condition associated with weight gain around the waist. It is therefore recommended in many diets to start the day with half a grapefruit without sugar.
 
6. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is rich in both types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Fibers help proper bowel movements and prevent constipation, and they also contribute to a feeling of fullness and therefore are very helpful in the process of weight loss.

7. Green tea

Beyond the fact that it has no calories, green tea has a compound called EGCG. This is a phytochemical that promotes weight loss by promoting the internal heat of the body and fat oxidation.

8. Almonds

Almonds are rich in essential fatty acids, protein and fiber. Though they are very rich in calories, studies show that a small amount of five almonds a day is not only fattening – but contributes to weight loss.

9. Soy

Soy is rich in protein and B vitamins which are important to every diet. In addition, soy contains estrogen-like substances, called phytoestrogens. When there is a lack of estrogen in the body, for example during menopause,  the body’s metabolism slows down. Therefore, consuming a weak estrogen from plant source like soy can help lose weight.

10. Ginger

Ginger aids digestion, but also affects the internal heat of the body. This way it also affects (like cayenne pepper and green tea) the body’s metabolic rate.

You can also improve your metabolism by detoxifying your body. You don’t need to go for extreme detox diets that can do more harm than benefit your body. If you are interested in detoxifying your body, you can find more useful information in The Detox Guide. This guide will teach you how to use detox to cleanse and energize your body naturally and safely: