You Are What You Eat
Everyone knows that when it comes to maintaining your body, it's all about diet. Exercise is great and all, but ensuring a fast metabolism and being mindful of what you eat are more likely to get you the success you want. With that in mind, here are 20 foods guaranteed to boost your metabolism.
1. Water
Everyone knows water is essentially fundamental to life, as it does make up half a person’s body weight. But did you know water also increases energy expenditure and helps regulate body temperature?
2. Seaweed
Seaweed is a type of marine algae that is a staple for many dishes. It’s rich in iodine, fiber, and antioxidants, making it quite the superfood. You can easily add it to soups or salads, or even have it as a dry snack.
3. Avocado
Avocado is another popular superfood that sometimes gets a bad reputation due to its high concentration of monounsaturated fats. However, these are healthy fats, and that, with additional vitamins and loads of fiber, make avocado a great choice.
4. Tempeh
For those that prefer to avoid meat, you’ll be thrilled to hear that tempeh is actually loaded with protein, fiber, and probiotics. It is a fermented soy product that is the perfect addition to salads, stir-fries, and grills.
5. Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds may not look like much, but these little seeds are full of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. This pairing makes them the perfect choice to add to smoothies, sprinkle over yogurts, or even throw into baked goods.
6. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are often considered the better “potato.” While both vegetables have their benefits, sweet potatoes will certainly help with metabolism as their high fiber content ensures stable blood sugar and even aids with digestion.
7. Kimchi
Kimchi is a popular fermented Korean dish made of vegetables. While radishes and cabbage are the likely suspects, you can make kimchi out of a lot of different things. Due to its probiotic benefits, it's guaranteed to help with gut health, digestion, and metabolism.
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8. Salmon
Everyone knows fish is one of the best proteins out there, as it's full of healthy fats and those desirable omega-3 fatty acids. With that in mind, salmon is a great way to support muscle building and boost metabolism.
9. Beans
If you’ve been following Blue Zones, you know beans are that magical food that guarantees long life. Either way, they’re high in protein and fiber, and can be easily added into soups and salads. They even work as a veggie burger base.
10. Cayenne Pepper
Shifting away from whole foods, did you know that cayenne pepper is full of thermogenic properties and capsaicin? This means by sprinkling the seasoning onto food, you increase your body's heat production, which in turn burns calories.
11. Lentils
Similar to beans, legumes are known to be full of protein, fiber, and essential minerals. This fiber content also makes them great for controlling appetite and maintaining energy levels.
12. Whey Protein
Plenty of people prefer their protein in powder form, as it increases muscle mass and burns more calories at rest. Whey protein is actually derived from milk and works great as a mix into smoothies.
13. Quinoa
Many people turn to quinoa as a reliable rice replacement, as it’s a whole grain and high in protein and fiber too. This high protein content actually helps to support muscles, regulate digestion, and stabilize blood sugar, making quinoa quite the meal companion.
14. Chickpeas
Did you know you can just roast chickpeas in the air fryer and enjoy them as a crunchy snack? Of course, you can also blend them into hummus. Regardless of the preparation, the fiber and protein in chickpeas are known to maintain energy levels.
15. Greek Yogurt
Is there anything Greek yogurt can’t do? This creamy and thick snack is loaded with probiotics, calcium, and protein. You can throw it into a smoothie or have it by itself, and rest assured that it promotes muscle building and boosts the metabolism.
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16. Edamame
Next time you’re grabbing sushi at your local Japanese restaurant, treat yourself to some edamame too. Essentially young soybean, edamame is loaded with proteins that support muscle mass, while its fiber content aids in digestion and metabolic processes.
17. Tofu
Another soy-based protein vegans and carnivores alike can enjoy is tofu. Also high in protein, tofu is a good source of iron, and its low-calorie nature makes it ideal for supporting metabolic function.
18. Coffee
Coffee lovers rejoice! It turns out coffee's not only great at managing appetite, but it also stimulates the central nervous system, and in doing so, increases metabolism and heart rate.
19. Walnuts
Walnuts are full of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and fiber, making them the ideal choice to sprinkle on your salads or on your yogurt.
20. Spinach
Jokes of spinach shrinking to a fraction of its original size aside, this leafy green vegetable is worth the wait. It’s full of vitamins and minerals, and its high fiber content helps with digestion, while the antioxidants combat oxidative stress. Overall, it’s great at bolstering the metabolism.
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