Metabolism Boosting Foods
Metabolism boosting foods might seem like a great way to lose weight. While some people may benefit from increasing their metabolism in various ways, incl. e.g. healthy exercise as well as dietary choices, healthy choices for improving metabolic rate are only part of a healthy lifestyle and may or may not be sufficient to attain required weight loss (depending on the person's starting weight and general health - consult an appropriate expert for personal advice and support).
In general, many metabolism boosting foods (foods that boost metabolism) are low in fats and high in dietary fibre. It makes sense that the more effort (energy) is required to digest, or try to digest, foods the more likely they are to increase the body's metabolism when introduced to the diet or when consumed in larger quantities as a proportion of total food intake. Apart from the benefits of dietary fibre, some foods are believed to boost metabolism because they contain certain chemicals.
The following are just examples of some metabolism boosting foods that are readily available in many western countries such as the UK, USA and Australia. It is not a complete list. Some "eastern" or "ethnic" foods might be even better.
Fruits and Vegetables incl. beans & pulses
Liquids
Nuts, Seeds & Spices
Animal Products
'Healthy cuts' of some meat / fish products, such as:
Dairy Products e.g.
Other
The above includes examples of metabolism boosting foods that, in many cases, are listed (and their benefits explained) by many sources. The importance of a balanced diet cannot be over-stated. A balanced diet usually involves foods from all of the major food groups - unless individual medical condition(s) impose exclusions, perhaps to be replaced by supplements.
The groups of foods shown above have been arranged for ease of reference. Another way to categorize foods is by nutritional contents, e.g. foods that contain specific nutrients such as vitamins or minerals. There are several B-vitamins and, as a group, the family of B vitamins has a key role in the body's metabolism, especially vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. Foods containing B vitamins may therefore be said to be metabolism boosting foods for this reason. Examples of metabolism boosting foods that contain high levels of B vitamins include asparagus, spinach, fish, poultry, eggs and many types of beans.
See also what is metabolism?, metabolic rate, BMR, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, and proteins.
