Smoothy Slim
Smoothy Slim
Photo: Vanessa Loring
The 12 Best Foods to Boost Your Metabolism Protein-rich foods. Protein-rich foods — such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, nuts, and seeds — could help increase your metabolism for a few hours. ... Mineral-rich foods. ... Chili peppers. ... Coffee. ... Tea. ... Beans and legumes. ... Ginger. ... Cacao. More items...
The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 milligrams (mgs) a day and an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 mg per day for most...
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For a simple green juice you can make at home, try blending spinach, cucumber, green apples, and celery — then enjoy. By using a blender instead of...
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This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.
Learn More »If you’re trying to lose weight or maintain your weight, you might be looking for foods that can boost your metabolism. It’s true that certain foods may help slightly increase your metabolic rate. This is the number of calories that your body burns. Adding these foods to your diet may make it slightly easier to lose body fat or prevent excess weight gain, if that’s your goal. However, eating more of these foods doesn’t guarantee you’ll lose weight. Instead, they serve as a complement to a balanced, moderately calorie-restricted diet to promote weight loss. Share on Pinterest Nadine Greeff/Stocksy Here are 12 foods that may rev up your metabolism. 1. Protein-rich foods Protein-rich foods — such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, nuts, and seeds — could help increase your metabolism for a few hours. This is because they require your body to use more energy to digest them. This is known as the thermic effect of food (TEF). The TEF refers to the number of calories your body needs to digest, absorb, and process the nutrients in your meals ( 1 ). Research shows that protein-rich foods increase TEF the most. For example, they increase your metabolic rate by 15–30%, compared with 5–10% for carbs and 0–3% for fats ( 1 ). Protein-rich diets also reduce the drop in metabolism often seen during weight loss by helping your body hold on to its muscle mass ( 2 , 3 , 4 ). What’s more, protein may also help keep you fuller for longer, which can prevent overeating ( 5 ). 2. Mineral-rich foods The minerals iron and selenium each play different but equally important roles in the proper functioning of your body. However, they do have one thing in common. They’re both required for the proper functioning of your thyroid gland, which regulates your metabolism ( 6 ). Research shows that a diet too low in iron or selenium may reduce your thyroid’s ability to produce sufficient amounts of hormones, which could slow down your metabolism. To help your thyroid function to the best of its ability, include selenium- and iron-rich foods like meat, seafood, legumes, nuts, and seeds in your daily menu. 3. Chili peppers Capsaicin, a chemical found in chili peppers, may boost your metabolism by slightly increasing the rate at which your body burns calories. In fact, a review of 20 research studies notes that capsaicin — from supplements or the peppers themselves — may help your body burn around 50 extra calories per day (7). Some studies report similar benefits with doses as low as 9–10 mg per day. This is equivalent to one jalapeño pepper ( 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ). Moreover, capsaicin may have appetite-reducing properties. According to a review of studies in nearly 200 people, consuming at least 2 mg of capsaicin directly before each meal appears to reduce calorie consumption, especially from carbs ( 12 ). Similarly, adding cayenne pepper to your meal may increase the amount of fat your body burns for energy, especially following a high fat meal. However, this fat-burning effect may only apply to people unaccustomed to consuming spicy foods ( 13 ). That said, findings are mixed on capsaicin’s metabolism-boosting abilities ( 14 ). 4. Coffee The caffeine found in coffee may help increase metabolic rate. Several studies have noted that people who consume at least 270 mg of caffeine daily, or the equivalent of about 3 cups of coffee, burn up to an extra 100 calories per day ( 15 ). Furthermore, caffeine may help your body burn fat for energy, and it seems especially effective at boosting your workout performance ( 16 ). However, its effects vary from person to person, based on individual characteristics such as body weight and age ( 17 ).
Top 8 Healthiest Drinks Besides Water, According to Registered... Flavored Sparkling Water. Getty Images. Water, but make it bubbly! ... Kombucha....
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20 Foods and Drinks That Help with Bloating Avocados. Avocados are highly nutritious, packing a good amount of folate and vitamins C and K into...
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Made into a potent powdered supplement blended right into water or your favorite beverage to be appreciated as a scrumptious morning smoothy.
Learn More »5. Tea Tea contains health-boosting compounds called catechins that may work in tandem with caffeine to boost metabolic rate. In particular, both oolong and matcha green tea may increase fat oxidation and may help you burn extra calories when part of an exercise plan ( 18 , 19 ). In addition, oolong and green teas may help your body use stored fat for energy more effectively, increasing your fat-burning ability by up to 17% ( 19 ). Nevertheless, as is the case with coffee, effects may vary from person to person. 6. Beans and legumes Legumes and beans — such as lentils, peas, chickpeas, black beans, and peanuts — are particularly high in protein compared to other plant foods. Studies suggest that their high protein content requires your body to burn more calories to digest them, compared to lower-protein foods. This is due to their TEF ( 20 ). Legumes also contain dietary fiber, including resistant starch and soluble fiber, which your body can use as a prebiotic to feed the good bacteria living in your large intestine (21, 22 ). In turn, these friendly bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids, which may help your body more effectively use stored fat as energy and maintain normal blood sugar levels ( 23 ). 7. Ginger Ginger and related spices are thought to have particularly beneficial metabolism-boosting properties. For instance, research shows that dissolving 2 grams of ginger powder in hot water and drinking it with a meal may help you burn up to 43 more calories than drinking hot water alone ( 25 ). This hot ginger drink also may decrease levels of hunger and enhance feelings of satiety (fullness) ( 25 ). Grains of paradise, another spice in the ginger family, may have similar effects. A study in 19 healthy males reported that participants given a 40 mg extract of grains of paradise burned 43 more calories in the following 2 hours than those given a placebo ( 26 ). That said, researchers also noted that some of the participants were non-responders, so the effects may vary from one person to another. 8. Cacao Cacao and cocoa are tasty treats that may also benefit your metabolism. For instance, studies in mice have noted that cocoa and cocoa extracts may promote the expression of genes that stimulate fat burning. This appears to especially true in mice fed high fat or high calorie diets (27, 28 ). Interestingly, one study suggests that cocoa may prevent the action of enzymes necessary to break down fat and carbs during digestion, which could prevent the body from absorbing them and the calories they provide ( 29 ). However, human studies examining the effects of cocoa, cacao, or cacao products like dark chocolate are rare. More studies are needed before strong conclusions can be drawn. If you’d like to give cacao a try, opt for raw versions. Processing tends to reduce the amounts of beneficial compounds and add extra sugar and calories ( 30 ). 10. Medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil MCT oil is a unique type of fat that may offer some metabolic benefits. Most fats found in foods are long-chain triglycerides, but MCT oil is comprised of medium-chain triglycerides. Some studies have shown that MCT oil consumption can increase metabolic rate in humans. Additionally, unlike long-chain fats, once MCTs are absorbed, they go directly to the liver to be turned into energy. This makes them less likely to be stored as body fat ( 35 ). MCT oil is typically taken as a supplement, although it can be added to foods like soups or smoothies. It’s not suitable for cooking, though.
Here's a list of 9 classic detox drinks to help you after the festival. 1) Hot Apple Punch. 2) Orange And Ginger Detox Drink. 3) Orange And Carrot...
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“Some primary benefits would include: better digestion, anti-bacterial even for acne purposes, helps regulate blood sugar and potentially improve...
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The main ingredient for a potent powdered supplement, based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.
Learn More »11. Water Drinking enough water is a great way to stay hydrated. Additionally, some studies show that drinking water may also briefly boost metabolism by 24–30% ( 36 , 37 , 38 ). Researchers note that about 40% of that increase is explained by the additional calories needed to heat the water to body temperature — known as water induced thermogenesis. However, the effects only appear to last for 40–90 minutes after drinking water, and the strength of the effect may vary from person to person. 12. Seaweed Seaweed is rich in iodine, a mineral required for the production of thyroid hormones and proper functioning of your thyroid gland ( 39 ). Thyroid hormones have various functions, one of which is to regulate your metabolic rate ( 6 ). Regularly consuming seaweed can help you meet your iodine needs and maintain your metabolic health. What’s more, fucoxanthin is another seaweed-based compound — primarily found in brown seaweeds — that may increase your metabolic rate (40).
There's no set time you should stop eating to lose belly fat, but, as a guideline, you should avoid eating two to three hours before bed to stop it...
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Here are 11 of the best fruits to eat for weight loss. Grapefruit. Share on Pinterest. ... Apples. Apples are low in calories and high in fiber,...
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A scrumptious morning smoothy based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.
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Even that amount — even if it is a diet soda — can hurt your health. An American Diabetes Association study reported that consuming one or more...
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This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.
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The 6 Best Detox Teas For Weight Loss Green Tea. Green tea is king when it comes to health benefits. ... Oolong Tea. Oolong tea, or wulong tea, is...
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