Foods That Speed Metabolism Up

Part 2

This is Part 2 of Foods That Speed Metabolism Up.

If you haven't read Part 1 - it's right here!

HOT PEPPERS

Hot peppers (cayenne peppers) are natural metabolism boosters. They contain capsaicin which stimulate the adrenal glands and create an adrenaline release increasing metabolism.

Their thermic effect has been shown to speed metabolism by up to 25%. Cayenne pepper can be found in many fat burners for this very reason.

In fact, researchers are suggesting that capsaicin may also help to break down carbohydrates and regulate blood sugar and it’s presently being studied as a possible future treatment for obesity.

So don’t be afraid to spice up your foods once in a while!

CINNAMON

If hot and spicy isn’t your thing, then try Cinnamon instead!

Cinnamon has been shown to be another one of those foods that speed metabolism up – apparently increasing metabolism twentyfold!

For those that are insulin resistant cinnamon actually helps make your fat cells more responsive to insulin and all it takes is ½ to 1 tsp. per day sprinkled on your favorite foods!

ORGANIC COCONUT OIL

No, I'm not kidding...and neither is this a misprint!

Coconut oil has been described as the fat that can actually make you thin! It’s one of the healthiest oil you can use and the many health benefits of coconut oil are just starting to be known!

Research shows that Coconut oil is made up mainly of medium chain fatty acids (MCT’s) that can help speed metabolism up. MCT’s are faster and easier to digest than other fats and oils (they’re processed directly in the liver) and the body is able to metabolize them as use them for energy almost immediately.

In fact, research has shown that these particular fatty acids help to fight hunger and can actually increase calorie burn by up to 300% for six hours!

Organic Coconut Oil comes in a solid form and is great for cooking. I like using it for frying and sautéing foods like eggs or vegetables. It has no taste, so it won’t affect your food’s flavor either.

It’s suggested that the average adult should include about 3.5 tablespoons of coconut oil daily in their diet for maximum fat burning benefits.

VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

Virgin olive oil is made up mainly of medium chain fatty acids (MCT’s). Vegetable oils, on the other hand, are made up mainly of LCT’s (long chain triglycerides).

LCT’s are treated differently in the body and are metabolized at a far slower rate than MCT’s (medium chain fatty acids), - and they are more likely to be stored in the body as fat.

I use virgin olive oil at room temperature for salad dressing or warm it up to drizzle over hot vegetables, as you would butter.

Olive oil has a lower flash point, meaning it burns easily, so don’t use it for cooking at high temperatures. Use coconut oil instead, but enjoy olive oil on your salads and vegetables.

NUTS

A handful of nuts, namely almonds and peanuts, have been shown to help speed up your metabolism too. They’re high protein foods and are also a source of healthy monounsaturated fat (healthy fats).

Try pure almond butter in place of peanut butter – it’s less acidic than peanut butter, and I bet you’ll love the change of taste.

ALKALINE FOODS

Alkaline foods are also foods that speed metabolism.

If our body becomes too acidic, it tends to hold on to fat by interfering with the production of certain hormones responsible for metabolism.

It will also slow down enzyme activity, which in turn prevents the body from converting fat and calories into energy.

High alkaline foods help get hormones and enzymes back up to speed increasing metabolism in the process.

Here’s a list of high alkaline foods.

WATER

A lot of interesting research is being done on the connection between water and weight loss.

One of the benefits of drinking water is that it’s been shown to be yet another one of those great natural metabolism boosters - and it’s as far away as your tap!

Apart from making one feel less hungry, a recent study in Germany also showed that when the participants drank 17 ounces of water, their metabolic rates increased by 30%!

Making a concentrated effort to maintain good body hydration is one of the easiest way to increase metabolism.

So, how much water should you drink daily?

Calculate your recommended daily water intake for your body weight using this simple formula.

Natural Metabolism Boosters Tip: Drink your water ice cold and with a slice of lemon. The thermic response (metabolism increase) created just to warm it up to your body’s temperature will automatically speed up your metabolism!

Also, adding a wedge of lemon or lime to your ice water makes it more alkaline.

CAFFEINE

Caffeine is a natural stimulant that has a thermogenic effect on the body. It creates ‘heat’ and will naturally speed metabolism up. That’s one reason why it’s also included in so many fat burning products these days.

Dark Chocolate and coffee (both are derived from the cocoa bean) stimulate a rise in dopamine, a neurotransmitter that controls metabolism.

But, there are big 4 caveats about caffeine women need to be aware of.

First, it’s a natural diuretic and promotes dehydration.

Secondly, it’s been shown to increase estrogen levels, which is counter-productive to weight loss known as estrogen dominance.

Dr. Randolph, the author of both “From Belly Fat to Belly Flat” and “From Hormone Hell to Hormone Well” has done some great research and goes into an in-depth explanation on “estrogen dominance” and how womens’ hormones influence weight loss.

Thirdly, it exacerbates bone mineral loss - osteoporosis.

Lastly, once the caffeine ‘kick’ wears off, you may feel even more tired.

Some women complain it gives them the ‘jitters’, increases hot flashes or keeps them up at night, so do limit your intake of caffeine. Better still, why not opt for healthier, organic dark chocolate or decaf coffee and tea instead?

Green tea and black tea contain approximately 34 mg. of caffeine per 6 oz. cup, whereas coffee contains approximately 99 mg. per 6 oz. (Source: Tetley.ca)

Natural Metabolism Boosters Tip : Drinking a cup of tea after exercise has been shown to speed metabolism up by 17%!

GREEN TEA

Green Tea has a lot going for it. Not only is it calorie free, a study in the journal In Vivo found that switching from coffee to green tea reduced women’s visceral fat by 76% in four months.

Green Tea contains flavonoids and is known as a powerful antioxidant. It also contains catechins, which are known to speed metabolism up and increase calorie burning.

Enjoy several cups of green tea throughout the day. You can also buy decaffeinated green tea if the caffeine bothers you.

Drink it plain as part of your daily water intake especially when you’re craving a hot drink or better still, brew a pot and keep it refrigerated to drink cold when you want a change from plain water.

Learn more about Green Tea for Weight Loss here.

Natural Metabolism Boosters Tip : If you add a squeeze of lemon to your green tea, it will help your body absorb more catechins.

It seems there’s a lot of discussion on the topic of increasing metabolism and it’s important to know that foods that speed metabolism are only ONE piece of the bigger picture when it comes to how to lose belly fat.

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