When people start gaining weight, you often hear them blame their slow metabolism. But what does it mean? In simple terms, your body’s metabolism is what turns food into energy. A fast metabolism means your body burns calories at a faster rate, and having a slower metabolism means your body burns fewer calories, storing the rest as fat.
The problem generally arises as we grow up. When we’re young and up until our twenties, our metabolism is generally quite fast. That means we can get away with eating whatever we like without much effect on the scale. But with each decade that passes, our metabolism slows down, which results in weight gain and difficulty in shedding extra pounds.
While your genetics are the biggest determinant of the kind of metabolism you get, there are still ways to help you give it a little boost. Here are the seven best foods to help you speed up your metabolism. Let’s begin.
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Protein-Rich Food
Protein-rich foods are popular among people who work out or are trying to lose weight and for good reason. Foods like lean meat, eggs, legumes, and tofu that are packed with protein make your body work harder and make it burn more energy to break them down, giving your metabolism a little kick. Protein also helps your muscles grow, and lean muscle mass helps improve your metabolism.
Certain supplements might help your body promote lean muscle growth and regulate metabolism, like ipamorelin. You can easily find Ipamorelin for sale online at Research Chemical but make sure you consult your healthcare provider first.
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Green Tea
Sipping green tea on a cozy evening is one of life’s simple pleasures. But did you know it can also give your metabolism the boost it’s been needing? This refreshing beverage is packed with antioxidants, catechins, caffeine, and other ingredients that work together to help improve your body’s metabolism.
They play a part in getting your body’s fat cells to loosen up and release energy, making it easier for you to lose that stored fat. This effect is stronger during exercise, and that’s why many fat-burning supplements contain green tea extract. Plus, it helps you consume fewer calories by making you full faster, reducing your appetite.
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Spicy Food
If you’re a fan of spicy food, you’re in luck because not only is it delicious, but it’s also good for your metabolism. For example, chili peppers have a compound called capsaicin that might temporarily speed up your metabolism and help in burning fat faster, resulting in weight loss.
Still, the amounts found in your favorite foods may not be enough to have a great effect, but several studies that use capsaicin in supplement form have been proven successful. Also, spicy foods can increase your feeling of fullness, which would help you consume fewer calories anyway.
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Fiber-Rich Foods
Fiber is an important part of our diet for many reasons. It promotes healthy bowel movements, regulates sugar levels and steady energy release, and also keeps you feeling full for longer. Fiber-rich foods also promote a healthy metabolism by giving your body an extra task.
You see, our bodies can’t digest fiber, but they’ll still attempt to. This process burns up some extra calories and gives your metabolism a nice boost. So, if you’re trying to lose weight or feel like your metabolism is slowing down, make sure to take a good dose of fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and lentils.
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Low-Fat Dairy Products
Low-fat dairy products like Greek yogurt, milk, and cheese are rich in some essential nutrients. These are calcium and vitamin D. We know that these nutrients play a key role in keeping our bones strong and healthy, but they also play a part in promoting a healthy metabolism.
Vitamin D and calcium work side by side, and they not only strengthen your bones but also support the control of fat metabolism, which decides whether you use energy productively or store it as fat. In addition, a low-calcium diet can reduce the breakdown of fat, resulting in a slower metabolism and an increase in weight.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines but also in foods like flaxseeds and walnuts. You might know these as heart-healthy foods, but they’re also essential when it comes to giving your metabolism a quick nudge.
These fatty acids are necessary for the structure of cell membranes and participate in a variety of physiological processes. Omega-3 fatty acids could affect metabolism by enhancing insulin sensitivity, which allows your body to use blood sugar more effectively. They also possess anti-inflammatory properties, which can help with metabolic function.
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Water
Drinking water benefits your health in so many ways. From clearing your skin to aiding in digestion, there’s almost nothing water can’t fix. But there’s more to it than that – drinking water can also help increase your metabolism, even if it’s just briefly. This is especially true when it comes to drinking colder water, as your body needs to use energy to bring it down to body temperature. This process is called water-induced thermogenesis.
Still, these effects don’t last long, usually not more than 90 minutes, and vary from person to person. Staying sufficiently hydrated can help you lose weight by suppressing your appetite, too. So, try starting your day with a glass of water or drinking one before each meal. Divide your weight in half to figure out how much water in ounces you should drink per day.
Conclusion
To sum it up, our metabolism is determined by many things, such as genetics, exercise, hormones, and age. It’s a complex process, and although some foods may give your metabolism a nice little nudge, they won’t work like magic unless you do more than just eat! For example, if you’re having foods containing refined grains and sugar, simply taking the above metabolism-boosting foods won’t do much good.
To reach your goals, you must make more conscious choices about what you eat and how much of it. Also, don’t forget to work out and build your muscle mass while you’re at it. It’s the combination of lifestyle choices along with the foods you eat that will truly determine the outcome of your journey to becoming the best and healthiest version of yourself.
