Losing weight is difficult. We have all tried a number of diets that promise a drastic drop on the scale. Some of them have simply disappointed us, while the rest showed temporary changes in our bodies. A nutritious diet and an exercise regime are integral parts of weight loss. However, there is a lot more than a lengthy diet that can increase the pounds you shed each day. Metabolism is a chemical reaction in our bodies that converts food into energy with the help of oxygen. Our bodies require energy to perform essential functions, including food digestion. If your metabolism is at its peak, your body will burn more fat and contribute to weight loss. Who doesn’t like to burn a few extra calories without any great effort?
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Is Your Metabolism Really Important?
In simple words, you need metabolism to stay alive and active. Your body would fail to carry out bodily functions without a metabolism, as it provides energy to the body. Your metabolic rate, also called Basal Metabolic Rate, determines the number of calories you burn at rest. Each individual is born with a unique metabolic rate. We have met several people who eat like a horse but never get fat. However, for some people that seems like a faraway dream. As people have different metabolic rates, people with a higher metabolism tend to burn more fat than others. BMR mainly depends on genetics, body size, gender, and muscle mass proportion. Fortunately, there is no constraint that can stop you from boosting your metabolism.
Best Metabolism-Boosting Foods for Weight Loss
Nutrition is directly linked to metabolism. There are some necessary nutrients that your body needs to work efficiently. Your daily calorie consumption is determined by your metabolism, as well. Hence, it is important to include metabolism-boosting foods in your diet.
Green Leafy Vegetables
It turns out that our elders weren’t wrong when they said, “Eat your greens.” Green leafy vegetables are low in fat and calories but contain a high amount of carbohydrates, dietary fiber, folate, protein, and vitamin K. These nutrients make them ideal for weight loss and weight management. Green vegetables have metabolism-boosting properties, as they keep you full for a long time. To boost your metabolism, all you need to do is to befriend the veggies you escaped from in childhood.
Coffee
We all need our morning coffee to wake up. Well, coffee has many other benefits for your body, as well. It is rich in caffeine, the element that interferes with chemical processes inside the brain. Along with providing alertness, caffeine can also increase your metabolic rate. Coffee is great for boosting your metabolism, especially before working out. It can help you to perform well in the gym and increase your output. It helps to suppress hunger, without any decrease in your energy levels. Not only that, coffee prevents excess glucose and fat production inside the cells.
Protein-rich Foods
Foods packed with protein are the best way to rev up your metabolism. As protein requires more energy to digest, it is beneficial for your metabolic rate. If you consume a protein-rich diet, your body will burn more calories than it normally does. While helping to burn more calories, protein suppresses appetite, as well. It stays in your system for a long time and keeps you satiated for hours. As a result, you will eat fewer calories without consciously cutting down your calorie intake.
Legumes
If you don’t prefer meat, legumes are a great replacement for you. Legumes include lentils, chickpeas, and beans, which are a rich source of protein. They are high in complex carbohydrates and fiber. Due to this, legumes take longer to break down and keep you full for some time. Therefore, they boost your metabolic rate and help to burn more calories. On publication of Health Canal, adding legumes to your menu every day is great for fat loss. Legumes are affordable and their appetite advantages can make you avoid cravings for unhealthy food.
Spices
We use spices every day while cooking, but only a few people know their numerous health benefits. Capsaicin is found in a certain type of spices, and they increase your body temperature. As your body heats up, it burns more fats and boosts your metabolism. The rise in temperature increases your metabolic rate and further aids in weight loss.
Citrus Fruits
Are you looking for healthy snacks? Citrus fruits are low in calories and rich in vitamin C, making them best for snacking. Experts say that eating grapefruit before meals helps to burn fat and lose weight. You can drink grapefruit juice to see changes in your weight, as well. Their fat-burning properties make citrus fruits great for boosting your metabolism, too.
Weight Loss and Metabolism
A higher metabolic rate comes with a variety of benefits for your health. It also determines the pace of your weight loss journey. A health writer has explained in the piece https://www.healthcanal.com/life-style-fitness/meticore-reviews, a boost in metabolism increases the fat-burning activity inside the body. Hence, it is important to keep both weight loss and metabolism in mind to see the desired results.
