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The 6 Best Foods to Boost Your Metabolism That You Didn't Know About

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.

Updated on: 28 October, 2021 2:59 PM IST By: Ayushi Raina
Healthy Food on Table

You could be looking for meals that help accelerate your metabolism if you're attempting to lose weight or maintain your weight. Certain meals can help you improve your metabolic rate modestly. This is the total quantity of calories burned by your body.

If losing body fat or preventing excess weight gain is your objective, including these items in your diet may help. However, just because you consume more of these meals doesn't mean you'll lose weight. Instead, they should be used in conjunction with a well-balanced, modestly calorie-restricted diet to help you lose weight.

Following are the 6 foods that may help to speed up your metabolism:

Protein-Rich Foods

  • Meat, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, nuts, and seeds are all high in protein, which can help boost your metabolism for a few hours.

  • This is because digesting them requires more energy from your body. This is referred to as the thermic impact of food (TEF).

  • The TEF is the number of calories required by your body to digest, absorb, and assimilate the nutrients in your food.

  • Protein-rich meals also assist your body controls muscle mass, which reduces the decline in metabolism that occurs when you lose weight.

Chilli Peppers

  • Capsaicin, a chemical found in chili peppers, has been shown to enhance metabolism by raising the pace at which your body burns calories somewhat.

  • According to a study, capsaicin — whether from pills or peppers — may help your body burn an extra 50 calories every day.

  • Some studies have found that doses as low as 9–10 mg per day can provide similar results. One jalapeno pepper is equal to this amount.

  • Capsaicin may also have appetite-suppressing actions.

  • Cayenne pepper, when added to a meal, can boost the amount of fat your body burns for energy, especially after a high-fat meal. This fat-burning effect, however, may only apply to people who aren't used to eating spicy meals.

Ginger

  • Ginger and other similar spices are claimed to offer special metabolism-boosting qualities.

  • For example, dissolving 2 grams of ginger powder in hot water and drinking it with a meal can help you burn up to 43 calories more than drinking hot water alone, according to a study.

  • This hot ginger beverage may also help to reduce appetite and increase feelings of fullness.

  • The researchers also mentioned that some of the participants were non-responders, therefore the results might differ from person to person.

Apple Cider Vinegar

  • Apple cider vinegar has been shown to boost metabolism.

  • Although apple cider vinegar is frequently touted to improve human metabolism, few research has looked at this directly.

  • It may aid weight loss by delaying stomach emptying and increasing feelings of satiety.

  • To avoid tooth erosion or damage to the lining of your digestive tract, restrict yourself to 1–2 teaspoons of vinegar per day and dilute it in at least 1 cup of water each tablespoon of vinegar.

Seaweed

  • Seaweed is high in iodine, a mineral necessary for thyroid hormone synthesis and optimal thyroid gland function.

  • Thyroid hormones have a number of purposes, one of which is to control your metabolic rate.

  • Consuming seaweed on a regular basis can help you achieve your iodine requirements and preserve your metabolic health.

  • Another seaweed-based chemical, fucoxanthin, is typically found in brown seaweeds and may help you burn more calories.

Cacao

  • Cacao and cocoa are delectable sweets that may help your metabolism.

  • One study shows that cocoa may inhibit the function of enzymes needed to break down fats and carbohydrates during digestion, preventing the body from absorbing them and the calories they give.

  • If you want to try cacao, go for the raw varieties. Processing tends to deplete beneficial chemicals while also adding sugar and calories.

These items, however, will not compensate for a high-calorie or low-quality diet. Seek a steady reduction in calories and eat largely unprocessed, minimally processed foods for successful, long-term weight loss and maintenance.

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