Foods That Can Boost Up Your Metabolism

Your Body’s Metabolism

Our body lives through the wonderful process of metabolism. Metabolism is a process by which the body sustains the cells and tissues of its organ systems. Metabolism can either be catabolism or the breaking down of food into molecules or anabolism, which is the building up of molecules into compounds. Metabolism works so as to provide us with much-needed nutrients and to provide us with energy.

Metabolism cannot exist without nutrition, because nutrition sustains the metabolic process with its much-needed molecules and compounds. Thus it is of no wonder that we can boost metabolism only with food. If our metabolism is fast enough, our energy levels will remain at constant levels all throughout the day and we will remain refreshed and energetic even in times of stress. People who have a faster metabolic rate also tend to be lean, because their bodies digest food faster and create more energy for them. On the other hand, a slow metabolic rate can make one be sluggish and lethargic. To boost our metabolism, we must consume the right kind of foods with the right number of calories. Here are some foods which can keep us going all throughout the day.

 Foods that Make You Chew

 Chewing burns calories and makes our digestive system assimilate food for an enough period of time. Examples of these chewy foods include fruits, vegetables, lean meats and nuts. Whole foods are better, so that the chewing state can be maximized. High protein foods also go in this category because they give your mouth ample time to chew and your gut ample time to digest food. Chewy foods also make you fuller and satisfy your appetite early so that you can't load on more calories.

 Bulky Foods

 Bulky foods are foods that occupy more room in your belly while containing the same calories as that of typical food. Examples of these space-occupying foods include whole grains, cereals, brown rice, vegetables and fruits. What makes them bulkier is the fact that they contain fiber. Fiber containing foods also lessen your appetite, clean up your digestive system and help in excreting cholesterol out of the body so that you will maintain a lean body. These foods also increase food's thermic effect so that ease of digestion is facilitated.

 Foods That Provide Energy

 Energy boosting foods can boost your metabolism. Examples of these energy-giving foods include green or black tea, coffee and dark chocolate. Coffee contains caffeine which is a stimulant of the nervous system; caffeine is said to boost memory in some studies. Green tea contains catechins which can also increase your body's metabolism and slow down aging. Dark chocolate also contains caffeine and catechins and other antioxidants which fight off aging and boost your metabolism.

Fat Burning Foods

Is there such a thing as food that burns fat? Yes there is. Examples of fat-burning foods include dark-colored fruits and vegetables such as berries, grapes tomatoes and cherries. These foods are rich in antioxidants that give off a bright color. Antioxidants fight off free radicals in the body which can poison the cells causing them to work sluggishly. To speed up your metabolism, snack up on foods rich in antioxidants so that waste products are easily excreted from the body and the metabolic process can be faster. These antioxidants can also help you lose weight and can give you glowing and young-looking skin.

 Foods that Provide Warmth

 Examples of these foods are spices such as garlic, cinnamon, pepper, cloves and mustard. These warming foods can burn energy after eating. Peppers contain capsaicin which can burn up to 100 calories a day. They exert their effects by binding to nerve receptors and signal the brain to burn fat.

 For more healthy tips, you can read our other health articles on this site.