I don’t believe in magic pills. You will never see an endorsement on this site for a “Lose Weight Fast” supplement. The simple truth is that the best way to protect your health and to reach and maintain a healthy weight is to eat right and exercise regularly.
However, I do believe that some healthy foods offer special benefits that can be conducive to helping you reach your weight loss goals more easily. I believe it because there’s a lot of research to back it up. Below are foods that have been shown to speed up your metabolism in scientific, peer-reviewed studies. This type of research is different from that sponsored or conducted by a food or drug company whose goal it is to encourage you to buy their product. In other words, I trust it.
Metabolism Boosting Foods and Beverages
- Coffee
- Green Tea
- Hot Peppers (e.g. Jalapenos, Habaneros, and Cayenne)
- Ginger
- Grapfruit or Oranges
- Foods High in Calcium
- Skim Milk
- Yogurt
- Sesame Seeds
- Broccoli
- Dark, Leafy Greens
- Quinoa
- Foods High in Omega-3’s
- Fish
- Nuts
- Flax Seed or Flax Seed Oil
Metabolism Boosting Behaviors
In addition to making smarter food choices, there are a lot of other things you can do to keep your metabolic engine roaring.
- Exercise – Both cardio AND strength training: Cardio revs up your metabolism so that you continue burning calories long after the workout is over. Strength training builds muscle which burns more calories than fat all day long.
- Eat Early And Often: Eating breakfast kick starts your metabolism. After that, eat small meals or snacks every 3-4 hours throughout the day.
- Drink Lots of Water: Proper hydration is important no matter who you are or what your goals are, but one side benefit for those trying to lose weight is that drinking lots of water helps you eat less.
- Get Plenty of Sleep: Research shows that people who don’t get enough sleep eat more and burn fewer calories than those who get a full night’s rest.
Corinne Schmitt
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Terry (My Journey With Candida) says
This couldn’t come at a better time. My Hubs is trrying to lose weight right now. A lot of the foods listed above, … not the tea and coffee… I used while healing from candida.
Michele says
There are some pills, powders that work until they don’t work or you get tired of using them–eating the right foods in moderation will always be the only sure fire way to lose weight and to keep it off!!
Pam says
You are so right about how important is is to eat healthy and exercise to lose weight/keep weight off. I need to up my intake of metabolism boosting foods.
maria @ close to home says
I definitely believe in eating right and exercising to staying healthy instead of fad diets.
Tess says
I believe in just eating right over diets. Exercising and water are key tools as well!
Sarah Bailey says
What a great post I suffer with my metabolism so I will have to try and add some of these into my diet more š X
Lexie Lane says
Thanks for the list! This is definitely me right now watching everything that is going into my body. So awesome awesome post! Bookmarking!
Sofia says
Thanks for these great info!! I didn’t know broccoli and sesame seeds are rich in Calcium.
Christy Maurer says
If there were a magic pill, there would be no overweight people! These are great tips and that’s a great food list.
Grandma Bonnie says
I like your thoughts on the magic pill. I totally agree with eating foods that boost our metabolism. I like to add Cayenne pepper to most dishes I am cooking for our family.
becca says
LOVE IT!! I am so going to have to use some of these and see if it helps!
Amanda says
there definitely isn’t a magic pill and it bothers me that so many people out there are still looking for it! this list is great and full of better ways to help boost your metabolism instead of putting your body through crazy diets! love this list!!
Loreina says
These are great tips! Becoming healthy is so much more than pills or a temporary program. You have to learn to sustain the lifestyle!
Rebel Sweetheart says
I couldn’t agree more with the last item. I started gaining weight when I became an insomniac. š
Giveaways 4 Mom says
Thanks for the great list. Some of the items I eat faithfully so I guess I am doing the right thing.
Cynthia L. says
Great article. I didn’t realize that foods with calcium in them booseted your metabolism.
Anne | The Lucky Wife says
Interesting and very helpful info…. coffee and broccoli are probably the two from the list that I eat the most of – coffee pretty much daily and broccoli most weeks!
Alaina Bullock says
I had no idea there were so many foods that would boost your metabolism! I knew several of them. but learned many more! Time to add them into my diet!
sandy says
Great post. My metabolism has slowed down as I have aged. I will definitely be adding more of these to my diet to boost it up!
john says
Great Article. Exercise is just as important as eating metabolism boosting foods.
Boost Metabolism