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Everyone has it, we might not know what it is, but we know that it slows down as we age. It is your metabolism, which is the process of turning the food we eat into energy. There are many different theories as to how our metabolism works. Some people think others are blessed with a fast metabolism, while some think that a routine of eating small clean meals throughout the day can build and maintain a strong metabolism. Whether you are in a rut trying to lose weight or just looking to include some healthier foods into your daily diet, here are five foods that will help you boost your metabolism and help you achieve the body that you’ve always wanted.
- Oatmeal: Eating breakfast is a great way to start up your metabolism again after fasting all night. Many people have a fear of carbohydrates, but due to its high fibre content, incorporating carbs into your breakfast is the best way to start your day. A bowl of oatmeal in the morning causes the body to burn a lot of calories in order to break down the food. This makes you feel full, energized and satisfied longer, and lose weight in the long run.
- Lean Protein: Lean meats like chicken, fish, and turkey are made up almost entirely of protein, which takes a lot of energy to break down during digestion. The protein helps your body burn more calories throughout the day as well as curb your hunger. Protein also helps to build lean muscle, which will also help to burn calories and fat.
- Yogurt: There are many fad diets that tell you to steer clear of dairy because of its high calories, but yogurt can contain something called probiotics. Studies propose that these probiotics help reduce the amount of fat that is being absorbed in the body. A study completed by the Journal of Functional Foods found that people who consumed one serving of probiotic yogurt per day lost around 3-4% of body fat. Make sure when you are buying yogurt that you purchase one that is labelled probiotic to reap all of the health benefits.
- Green Tea: Green tea is praised by health practitioners for its abundance of health benefits. Not only is green tea known for its variety of antioxidants that help combat diseases such as cancer, heart disease and stroke, it has also been proven helpful in weight loss. A primary antioxidant in green tea called Catechin has been found to speed up the metabolism and promote fat oxidization.
- Broccoli: Broccoli contains two essential nutrients, calcium and vitamin C. These two nutrients team up to help boost your metabolism. The vitamin C helps you absorb more of the calcium and the calcium that is being consumed helps speed up your metabolism.
While there are many other foods that can be incorporated into your diet to help boost your metabolism, these are a few of my favorites that are easy to eat at all times of the day. Start by adding some of these foods to your daily menu and soon you’ll see the results!
