Foods that Boost Your Metabolism

There are a few healthy foods that really do boost your metabolism, in a modest way, and that can help you burn fat. Here they are:

Green tea. A number of studies c

onfirm that drinking green tea can help you burn fat and lose weight. Green tea contains a number of active ingredients that affect how your body burns and stores fat. One component even inhibits your body’s ability to make new fat cells! Drink three to five cups a day of freshly brewed green tea. Caffeinated green tea works better than decaf. In fact, any food that contains caffeine will rev up your metabolism a bit.

Garlic. Like hot peppers, garlic is thermogenic. It makes your body generate heat, which burns calories. Garlic revs up an enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase that regulates metabolism. This enzyme targets many areas of the body, including muscles and a form of fat called brown fat, which produces heat and burns off calories. Garlic works best for weight loss if it’s eaten raw. Add raw garlic to salad dressings or foods like hummus, bean dips and salsa. Or add it just a minute or two before you’re finished cooking a stir-fry or pasta sauce.

Hot peppers. Compounds in hot peppers, called capsainoids, make your mouth burn. They also cause your body to generate heat. They promote the release of stored fat into the bloodstream, making it easier for cells throughout your body to use fat for energy–and get rid of it forever. The best way to get this effect: eat a couple of hot peppers and then exercise. Adding hot peppers will help you burn an additional 100 or so calories, and, over time, give you a slight edge in reducing body fat.

Thanks SpryLiving.com for the heads up!