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15 Best Foods to Boost Your Metabolism

For more energy during the day, pack your diet with healthy metabolism-boosting foods.

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Metabolism boosting foods - avocadoPhoto: Larisa Blinova / Shutterstock.com

Avocado

From tasty dips to nourishing face masks, it seems there is nothing the avocado can’t do. The health benefits of avocados include plenty of healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats to help boost your metabolism and keep hunger at bay. A study in Nutrition Journal found that when participants added half of an avocado to their daily diet, they felt full after eating and didn’t need to snack.

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Metabolism boosting foods - Avocado Egg Sandwiches and coffee for healthy breakfast. Whole grain toasts with mashed avocado, fried eggs and organic microgreens on white table.Photo: Shutterstock

Eggs

The incredible, edible egg doesn’t just make for a filling breakfast; it speeds up your metabolism, too! That is probably due to its high protein content. Add eggs to your high-protein meal plan to boost your metabolism while keeping you full in between meals.

Find out the 10 mistakes everyone makes with eggs.

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Metabolism boosting foods - green teaPhoto: grafvision / Shutterstock.com

Green Tea

Steep a cup of green tea every day for a hearty serving of antioxidants. The jury is still out, but research has found that drinking green tea each day can increase your body’s fat metabolism. (Yes please!)

Here’s what can happen if you drink tea every day.

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Best foods for metabolism - whole grains breadPhoto: Scorpp / Shutterstock.com

Whole Grains

Replacing refined flour like white breads and pastas with high-fibre foods like whole grains has been shown to increase our resting metabolic rate. In other words, your body will burn more calories while lounging around.

Check out these painless ways to increase dietary fibre.

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Brown flax seeds on a spoon and flaxseed oilbitt24/Shutterstock

Flaxseed

Flaxseeds are another fibre powerhouse known to boost metabolism and overall health. They’re also rich in protein to keep you full between meals. Ground flaxseed can be added to your morning smoothie or oatmeal as part of a high-fibre meal plan.

Get started with these healthy smoothie recipes.

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Closeup of hands with coffee cups in a cafekikovic/Shutterstock

Coffee

As if you needed another reason to reach for that second cup of joe in the morning! The caffeine in coffee not only makes your co-workers much more likable, it also speeds up your metabolism. A recent study found that drinking three cups of coffee per day equals 100 extra calories burned. Well, if you insist…

Find out how much coffee you can drink before it gets dangerous.

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Honey Kale Currant & Almond SaladTaste of Home

Kale

Kale is one of those veggies you know you need in your life. It’s packed with vitamins and antioxidants for a healthy body. It’s also rich in iron, which is a mineral that speeds up the metabolism. Try adding fresh kale to your morning smoothie!

Here are more iron-rich foods you might consider adding to your diet.

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Fresh juicy lemons on a cutting board on a rustic woodenEkaterina Kondratova/Shutterstock

Lemons

Squeeze a lemon wedge over your meal or into your ice water. Studies have found that the properties in lemons can speed up your metabolism and decrease feelings of hunger. Try keeping a bottle of lemon water with you throughout the day or add even more flavour with a pitcher of lemon, ginger and turmeric water.

Learn to spot the signs you’re not eating enough vegetables.

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Photo: Taste of Home

Lentils

Adding high-protein foods like lentils to your meals will keep you full all day. Lentils are also rich in fibre to keep your gut healthy and metabolism humming along. Try simmering them for a bowl of hearty lentil soup or adding cooked lentils to your lunch salad.

Discover 10 plant-based alternatives for everything on your grocery list.

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Jug of apple cider vinegar and sliced red applesANJELIKAGR/SHUTTERSTOCK

Apple Cider Vinegar

Drinking apple cider vinegar may help your body boost fat burning and decrease the amount of stored fat in your body. Apple cider vinegar can also help promote feelings of fullness after meals.

Just make sure you avoid these common apple cider vinegar mistakes.

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red Chili peppersChayasit Fangem/Shutterstock

Chili Peppers

The capsaicin found in chili peppers won’t just make your eyes water; it will also boost fat burning. Research has shown that eating chili peppers can increase metabolism while reducing feelings of hunger.

Don’t miss our ultimate guide to healthy grocery shopping.

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Coconut oil on table close-upAfrica Studio/Shutterstock

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a favourite of both health and beauty bloggers for its many benefits and uses, and we can now add fat-burning to that list. It’s rich in medium-chain-triglycerides (MCTs), which are known to increase your metabolic rate and promote fat burning for energy.

These are the healthiest cooking oils, according to food experts.

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Best foods for metabolism - fresh gingerPhoto: grafvision / Shutterstock.com

Ginger

Not sure what to do with that leftover ginger root sitting on the kitchen counter? A 2018 study found that eating fresh ginger contributes to weight loss and faster metabolism. It has also been found to improve insulin and cholesterol levels.

These are the foods you’re spoiling by putting in the refrigerator.

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Best foods for metabolism - glass of ice water Photo: opportunity_2015 / Shutterstock.com

Cold Water

If you’re sipping a glass of water right now, add a few more ice cubes for an instant metabolism boost. When you drink cold water, your body must warm it up, and that burst of energy leads to fat burning.

Find out exactly how much water you should be drinking.

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Dried seaweed - best foods for metabolismPhoto: masa44 / Shutterstock.com

Seaweed

Dried seaweed is a crunchy, salty snack that has way more benefits than boring potato chips. Seaweed is rich in iodine; our bodies need iodine to keep our thyroid gland healthy and our metabolic rate high. Try a new kind of salad with fresh seaweed or munch on the dried version for a metabolism-boosting snack.

Next, find out the healthiest fish you can eat.

Taste of Home
Originally Published on Taste of Home