HEALTH: 10 Metabolism Boosting Foods

Everybody has different metabolic rate but eating these foods may help boost it and lose a kilo or two.

1.Hot peppers

Studies have shown that eating hot peppers can speed up your metabolism by 25%.

If eating spicy foods makes you sweat more than usual, this is due to capsaicin, a compound that stimulates pain receptors in the body. It increases blood circulation and metabolic rate, making your body burn fat faster. Where do you find it? In chili peppers, jalapenos, cayenne peppers, and other forms of spicy peppers.

2.Whole grains: oatmeal and brown rice

The intake of grains and cereals is always recommended in a healthy diet. The secret is to choose whole grains — for example wheat, oatmeal, rice, and corn.

Whole grains have nutrients and complex carbohydrates that accelerate your metabolism by stabilizing insulin levels.

Do remember that having low insulin levels is not good, since the imbalance of this chemical tells the body that it needs to store extra fat. Therefore, be cautious with the consumption of these foods.

3.Broccoli

Broccoli might not be your favorite vegetable, but it is an important source of calcium, which accelerates your metabolism. It is also rich in vitamins C, K, and A.

One serving of broccoli will provide you with an important amount of folate and dietary fiber and a variety of antioxidants. It is one of the best detox foods you can add to your diet.

4.Soups

Numerous studies confirm that soup consumption is linked with a lower risk of obesity. In most diets, this food is incorporated before the main meals. Why? Researchers conclude that people who start with soup consume less solid food when it comes to their main meal.

In fact, a study at Penn State University determined that the combination of liquids and solids in soup generates a reduction in appetite, thus reducing too much food intake and helping to burn fat more quickly.

5.Coffee and green tea

Many studies have shown that coffee and green tea speed up metabolism, as well as providing other health benefits: they possess a great amount of antioxidants, help lower blood sugar level, help to burn more fat, and reduce the signs of cellulite.

6.Apples and pears

Apples and pears can be great allies when it comes to losing weight, not only because of their low caloric content but also because these two fruits can boost your metabolism. This is supported by a study conducted at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, which confirms that women who ate three apples or small pears a day lost more weight than those who did not.

7.Spices

Spices like black pepper, mustard seeds, garlic powder, and ginger can keep your metabolic rates high. It is proven that people who incorporate spices into their diet can burn up to 1,000 more calories daily.

8.Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons also help to burn fat and keep your metabolism high. In addition, because of the high amount of vitamin C, citrus fruits regulate the level of insulin.

9.Foods high in calcium

If you want to increase your metabolic rate, it is very important to eat plenty of foods high in calcium.

A study at the University of Tennessee confirmed that people who consume between 1,200 and 1,300 milligrams of calcium a day lose twice as much weight as those who consume it in smaller amounts.

10.Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are primarily found in fish, but they are also present in nuts and seeds, flax, and hemp seed oil.

These foods speed up your metabolism because they reduce the production of a hormone called leptin (a natural chemical that slows down your metabolism).

In fact, a study by the Mayo Clinic found that African tribes that included plenty of fish in their diet had five times lower leptin levels than those that did not consume it.