What Combinations of Foods Boost Your Metabolism

Losing weight can be a struggle. Often, dieters find that eating less doesn't necessarily correlate with weight loss. This is because extreme techniques, like fasting, slow your metabolism. This means that your body converts food into energy at a slower pace, storing it as fat instead. The key to a successful diet is eating healthy foods at regular intervals. This will keep your metabolism moving. What's more, choosing the right foods will keep you fuller for longer, helping to quell cravings. The proper food combinations will kick-start your metabolism and keep it going all day long.

Bowl of Oatmeal with Almonds and Cinnamon

Breakfast is a particularly important meal for weight loss because it sets your metabolism's pace for the rest of the day. One of the best breakfast options for dieters is oatmeal. Loaded with fiber, oatmeal not only gets your metabolism going, but it keeps you satisfied for a long time on very few calories. To enhance your bowl of oatmeal, add skim milk instead of water. Top it off with a few almonds, whose essential fatty acids raise metabolism. Don't add too many, though, as they are high in calories. Finally, sprinkle a bit of cinnamon over your breakfast, as it will help you metabolize sugars more effectively, thus keeping your blood sugar on an even keel. Steady blood sugar levels are vital for the prevention of fat storage.

Egg-White Omelet with Grapefruit and a Cup of Coffee

Another metabolism-boosting breakfast starts with a simple egg-white omelet. For flavor, add chili powder and some fresh veggies. Cubes of lean ham is another option. Round out the meal with a juicy grapefruit. Because this superfood is packed with vitamin C and helps to lower insulin levels, as does cinnamon and complex carbohydrates, it curbs fat storage. The caffeine in your morning coffee is the perfect metabolism-boosting complement to this bright and healthy breakfast.

Peanut Butter Sandwich on Whole Grain Bread with an Apple

This lunchbox classic is still the center of an extraordinarily healthy meal. Peanut butter gets a bad reputation because it's high in calories. However, for the purposes of getting your metabolism jazzed, it's ideal. This is because peanut butter is loaded with protein, which takes a lot of time and energy to digest. Have your sandwich on whole grain bread. The added fiber will give you a sense of fullness as well as extend your energy level. With your sandwich, replace fatty potato chips with a fresh juicy apple. Not only does this add even more fiber to your meal but it is extremely low in calories. An apple will even help diminish the craving for something sweet.

Turkey, Spinach and Cranberry Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread

A different sort of a sandwich with a similar effect is the classic turkey deli sandwich. Lean meat like turkey is packed with protein and low in fat, meaning it will help to build lean muscle tissue. This, in turn, causes your body to burn more calories, thus raising your metabolism. Add to that some spinach, which not only stimulates your metabolism but is full of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium and vitamin C. For a bit of extra punch, slather on a smear of cranberry sauce. The antioxidants in berries will help further your good-health goals. Layer it all onto whole grain bread, and you've got a power-packed sandwich. Also, include a hard-boiled egg. The added protein will keep your body burning calories for even longer.

Grilled Salmon and Steamed Broccoli

For dinner, certain fish, such as salmon, make perfect centerpieces. Salmon alters levels of the hormone leptin, which tells your body to burn calories instead of storing them as fat. Plus, salmon contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Alongside your protein, serve healthy steamed vegetables. Of your vegetable options, broccoli is perhaps the best choice. The calcium in broccoli triggers your metabolism. On top of that, its vitamin C helps the body to absorb even more of the bone-building mineral.

References

• EcoSalon: 15 Foods to Boost Metabolism and Lose Weight
• MyFit: Foods that Speed Metabolism