Supercharge Your Metabolism with These 8 Foods

You do everything right, you exercise daily, get those 10,000 steps, eat right and are still not able to lose the extra kilos? The solution might lie in your metabolism. Understanding metabolism is crucial because it affects how our bodies use and store energy, which can impact weight management, energy levels, and overall health.

So if you’re looking to lose weight the right way you need to focus on your metabolism and include foods that increase metabolism in your diet.

So let’s understand what metabolism actually is and take a look at 8 metabolism boosting foods.

What is Metabolism?

First you need to understand what metabolism really is and how it works. 

Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions in your body that convert food into energy and build and repair cells. It includes processes like digestion, energy production, and cell construction.

These reactions can be categorised into two broad types:

Catabolism: It is a process of breaking down molecules to obtain energy. For example, when you digest food, your body breaks down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into smaller molecules that can be used for energy.

Anabolism: It is a process of building up complex molecules from simpler ones. Anabolic processes use energy to construct components of cells, such as proteins and nucleic acids.

Metabolism is influenced by several factors like, gender, muscle mass, physical activity, and genetics. Your basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of energy your body needs at rest to maintain basic functions like breathing, circulation, and cell production. Now that you know how crucial your metabolic rate can be to weight loss, let’s take a look at high metabolism foods that you can easily add to your diet to boost your metabolism. 

8  Foods to Boost Your Metabolism

Green tea is a superstar metabolism booster. It’s rich in antioxidants called catechins which help enhance thermogenesis, the process by which the body burns calories to produce heat, and promote the breakdown of fat cells, making it easier for the body to use fat as a source of energy, which leads to a faster metabolic rate. So you can always swap your regular cup of coffee for a cup of green tea.

But if you are someone who just can’t skip their cuppa joe, don’t worry. Coffee is also one of the metabolism boosting foods. Caffeine increases metabolism by stimulating the central nervous system, which raises heart rate and boosts energy expenditure. It promotes the release of adrenaline, which can increase the breakdown of fat cells and release fatty acids into the bloodstream to be used as energy. Just be mindful of what you add to it—keep it simple and skip the heaps of sugar.

If you love spicy food, then you’re in luck! Spicy peppers, such as jalapeños and cayenne, are some great metabolism boosting foods. Chillies or peppers contain capsaicin which increases the body's heat production, which temporarily raises the metabolic rate. This results in more calories being burned. So next time add some extra chillies to your meal and enjoy the burn in more ways than one.

The body uses more energy to digest, absorb, and process protein. This is known as the thermic effect of food. Protein’s TEF of 20-30%, meaning that 20-30% of the calories from protein are burned during digestion and metabolism.

Protein is essential for building and maintaining muscle mass. Muscle tissue burns more calories at rest compared to fat tissue, so having more muscle increases your resting metabolic rate. Think lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, and nuts. Incorporating  these high metabolism foods into your diet can really help keep that excess weight off.

Whole grains like oats, brown rice, and quinoa are great for your metabolism. They’re packed with nutrients and take longer to break down, which means your body uses more energy to digest them. Plus, they keep you fuller for longer. Beans, lentils, and chickpeas are not just high in protein but also in fibre. They require more energy to break down and digest, making them excellent foods that increase metabolism. 

Everyone is talking about Apple Cider Vinegar and its magical benefits. Well ACV is also one of the metabolism boosting foods. Some studies show that ACV can increase the rate at which the body burns fat and reduce the storage of fat in the liver and other areas of the body and enhance thermogenesis, increasing the metabolic rate. So start your day by drinking a tablespoon of ACV dissolved in a glass of water.

Surprisingly this delicious aromat is also another one of the high metabolism foods. It can increase the number of calories you burn and help your body break down fat more efficiently. So add all the garlic you want to your food for a flavour and metabolism boost.

Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain triglycerides, which are rapidly absorbed and transported directly to the liver, where they are used for immediate energy or converted into ketones. This process can increase energy expenditure and boost metabolism.Use it for cooking or just have a tablespoon raw.

Last but not least, don’t forget the simplest thing—water. Staying hydrated is crucial for a high metabolism. Drinking cold water can even temporarily boost your metabolism as your body works to warm it up. You can also include some weight loss powder into your routine to increase your water intake while giving your metabolism a delicious and natural boost. 

This powder usually contains some of the above high metabolism foods like coffee and other Ayurvedic ingredients to help really boost your metabolic rate to help you deal with the issue of weight gain and deal with it from the root.

So if you are wondering, ‘How can I boost my metabolism fast?’ remember these quick tips: 

• regular physical activity
• eating nutritious meals high in protein with added high metabolism foods
• drinking enough water
• getting quality sleep

Happy healthy eating and stay vibrant!