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Top Metabolism Boosters

Who needs a pharmaceutical supplement when metabolism-boosting food exists all around you? Think of metabolism as a chemical fire--nutritionally void white flour will smother it, while a little olive oil will make it blaze. Along with genetics, exercise and proper sleep, diet is crucial for maintaining a fast metabolism.

  1. Lean Meat

    • Meat, packed with protein, is highly thermogenic. Tosca Reno, fitness model and author of "The Eat Clean Diet," says that thermogenic foods raise the body's temperature because the body must work extra hard to digest them, translating to more calories burned, like a car running "hot." Meat's concentration of B vitamins also aids metabolism. Reno considers chicken and turkey breast, fish, eggs and bison the best meats.

    Fibrous Vegetables

    • Green, fibrous vegetables boost metabolism for several reasons. The body must work harder to digest the fiber, thereby burning more calories. Vegetables such as broccoli and spinach contain metabolism-regulating B vitamins and calcium. Also, vegetables increase satiety which, according to fitness expert Jillian Michaels, keeps hunger hormones (metabolism disruptors) under control.

    Oatmeal

    • Another fiber and vitamin superfood, oatmeal is a highly complex carbohydrate that takes a long time to digest, again creating a thermogenic effect. Meanwhile, oatmeal keeps insulin and blood sugar levels steady. According to HealthMad.com, oatmeal's high levels of B vitamins, zinc, and thiamine aid the body's metabolizing of branched chain amino acids.

    Nuts and Seeds

    • According to Jillian Michaels, the body requires good fats to run at peak performance. Nuts and seeds contain heart-healthy fats that fulfill this need. Fats also suppress ghrelin, the hunger hormone that disrupts metabolism by causing cravings for doughnuts and other unhealthful foods. The best nuts are almonds, walnuts and sunflower seeds.

    Spices

    • According to Tosca Reno, cayenne pepper will raise the body's temperature and boost metabolism, although scientists debate if it is enough to cause significant changes. Additionally, one often consumes less of a spicy food, which makes overeating (a metabolism disruptor) less likely.

      Cinnamon regulates insulin, which helps metabolism.

    Beverages

    • Black coffee increases metabolism. Green tea, rich in catechins (powerful antioxidants), also boosts metabolism, according to MuscleTech researchers. However, Jillian Michaels warns against consuming more than 200 mg of caffeine in a day, to prevent overtaxed adrenal glands and energy crashes.

      The best metabolism booster, however, is water. Every bodily function requires water. According to Tosca Reno, even slight dehydration will slow the body's normal functions, which will also slow metabolism.

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