TOP WAYS TO BOOST METABOLISM:
Metabolism is the process that converts the foods and liquids we consume into the energy we need to be our optimal selves. Granted, the faster our metabolism, the faster foods are able to be broken down and the faster our body is able to burn off fat! Here are some awesome foods that can help increase your body's metabolism and maximize your body's performance.
GRAPEFRUIT- The compounds in grapefruit aid in fat burning as it stabilizes the body’s blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that adding grapefruit to your diet can cause a significant reduction in the body’s post-glucose insulin levels. In addition, it is loaded with vitamin C which helps boost your immune system and contains antioxidants with anti-aging properties.
LEMON- Adding lemon to your food or water is a great way to increase your energy levels throughout the day. It also aids in your digestions, balances pH levels, clears skins and acts as a natural diuretic. As a diuretic, it helps to detoxifies the liver. Some extra bonuses to lemon is that it can help reduce anxiety as it acts a destresser for your mind which helps boost your mood as well. I recommend having a glass of lemon water when you wake up and before you go to bed to help the body start and end the day with an extra metabolism boost.
I want to hit on this real quick that you do NOT need to purchase expensive detoxifying teas or powders to help you lose weight. You can easily create your own natural detoxers at home that will help boost your metabolism without damaging your body.
GREEN TEA- This is a great and healthy way to energize your day as it contains caffeine and amino acid L-theanine which together help gives your body that extra energy boost, improves mood, and stimulates brain function. In addition, it helps to oxidize fats which increases fat burning and can boost your metabolic rate. In addition it contains antioxidants that help fight disease and decrease inflammation to help keep your body in top shape.
(Tip- Companies love advertising green tea/green coffee bean pills as they know these are key buzzwords to draw in consumers. These products are not always as effective as the advertising suggests so I highly recommend opting for natural sources of green tea as you are still receiving the full benefit and are not wasting your money).
MATCHA- If you really want to invest in your health, matcha has all the nutrients of green tea in a much more condensed form that allows for better absorption and even more benefits to your body as it’s 137 times more concentrated! Its rich green color contains chlorophyll that aids in detoxifying organs and removing impurities. The greener the color, the higher the quality and benefits of matcha. Many report having a focused and relaxed state of mind when including matcha into their diet. Additionally, it contains catechin polyphenols which are high and antioxidants will help reduce high blood pressure, stabilize blood sugar levels, fights cancer and heart disease, enhances the immune system…you get the picture, it’s good stuff.
COFFEE- As many know, coffee contains high amounts of caffeine that aids in boosting your metabolism. This allows for that extra kick of energy and helps to boost your body’s fat burning abilities. It’s also suggested to help suppress appetite if you’re looking for an aid to help deviate from over eating.
It’s important to note that to fully receive the benefits, you should try passing up on the creamers and sugars so as to avoid undoing the benefits and adding extra unnecessary calories in your body. If you need to lighten the bitter taste, try adding plain, vanilla, or chocolate almondmilk with your coffee as it helps to provide some extra flavor without adding that extra load of sugar! Moderation is also key as your body has the capability of growing a tolerance to the caffeine causing you to crave more of it which can lead to harmful effects if consumed in higher doses.
SPICES- These are a great addition to your foods that will make your body feel fuller and reduce the amount of food consumed. Spices contain capsaicin which increase the body’s temperature and your metabolic rate for up to 20% for three hours after your meal!
Tip- the spicier the food the better! This will help increase your body’s temperature and give you that extra metabolism boost. If you can’t handle spices, either try working your way up to it or try other forms of spices such cinnamon, ginger, or turmeric in your foods.
FIBER- Foods high in fiber take the body longer to digest which forces the body’s metabolism to use up more energy to process it. Soluable (dissolvable) fiber slows down the absorption of carbohydrates and reduces the body’s glucose levels. Insoluble (dissolvable) fiber aids in the digestion process and helps foods to pass through more easily. Food containing high amounts of fiber help your body to feel more full which helps to prevent over eating.
Some great sources of soluble fiber come from foods such as apples, citrus, carrots, and oats. Foods rich in insoluble fiber include whole wheat flour and grains, and often the outer skins of foods such as cucumbers, apples, grapes, and peas.
BLUEBERRIES- This a great, low calorie fruit that have only 84 calories per cup and contain about a fourth of your daily needed intake of vitamin C. It contains powerful antioxidants such as anthocyanins that helps to boost metabolism and lowers blood pressure, sugar, and bad cholesterol (LDL). In addition, it helps increase your brain’s memory function as well as boost your mood as it fights against depression.
