Most of us would love to have a magical potion that will instantly create our ideal shape by quickly burning fat and losing stubborn pounds, but unfortunately that’s not the reality. The good news is that there is a simple way to push your body to burn fat quicker just by eating certain foods, combined with a balanced diet and a regular workout routine. In addition, most people will also experience an improvement in athletic performance and overall health.
The best way to begin is to start with a clean slate by using a gentle whole body cleanse, such as the Isogenics 30 day cleanse, which will help rid the body of toxins and impurities that have built up over time. With our modern busy lifestyles filled with stress and nutrient depleted foods, our body often stores additional fat in order to protect itself which can counteract the hard work and effort you put into your diet and exercise program.
When you’re ready to begin, consider adding these ten foods to your diet that will help fire up your metabolism.
1. Whole grains and rice
The complex carbohydrates in whole grains, brown rice and quinoa will help speed up the body’s metabolism by stabilizing our insulin levels. They release carbs into the bloodstream slowly, without the spikes that come with high-sugar foods. When the body’s insulin level spikes, the body receives a message that it needs to store extra fat.
2. Green tea
Green tea contains EGCG which tells the brain and nervous system to run quicker and burn more calories. Caffeinated green tea can give your body twice the boost with an increased heart rate.
3. Salmon and tuna
Fish contains lots of healthy omega-3 fatty acids that help to lower your levels of the hormone leptin. The higher your level of leptin, the slower your metabolism will be. People with lower levels of leptin have been shown to have faster metabolisms and burn fat quicker. Wild Pacific Salmon is the healthiest; this fish contains loads of omega 3’s in addition to its cancer prevention benefits. For those who don’t like fish, consider taking fish-oil supplements which can work just as well.
4. Yogurt and other calcium-rich foods
You don’t have to drink milk in order to get your calcium needs met, in fact it isn’t necessarily even the best source. Consider adding Greek-style yogurt to your diet. Dark, leafy greens, flax seeds and even beans are also a good source. Calcium has been proven to increase metabolism and decrease body fat, and those who consume 1,200-1,300 milligrams of calcium a day can lose almost double the amount of weight as those who don’t get enough calcium in their diet.
5. Almonds
With almonds filled with good fats and fiber, their essential fatty acids will help raise your metabolism, and they also contain lots of healthy antioxidants.
6. Cinnamon
Cinnamon not only provides a wonderful aroma and delicious taste, but it’s been shown to reduce blood sugar levels and increase the natural production of insulin and even lower blood cholesterol. A daily intake of this pleasant spice can help you maintain an ideal shape or lose pounds and especially fat in the abdominal area with the fat cells in the stomach extra sensitive to high insulin levels.
7. Peanut butter
Peanut butter contains healthy fats including essential fatty acids and is filled with fiber, helping to give your metabolism a boost.
8. Peppers
Peppers do a lot more than just spice up your food. They can increase your metabolism, and cayenne peppers have even been used as a treatment for obesity. Habaneros and jalapenos also get the heart rate going and the body temperature up, which increase your metabolic rate.
9. Soup
Those who eat soup with their meal tend to eat less solid food which automatically helps to reduce calorie intake, and it’s also been show to speed up metabolism. Sorry, full fat cream soups won’t work; choose a broth or tomato based soup instead.
10. Spinach
Spinach is not only anti-oxidant rich but it contains nutrients that enhance muscle performance, ultimately making your metabolism work harder.
In addition to these great metabolism-boosting foods, be sure to drink lots of water. Water is a natural appetite suppressant that can also help speed fat burning.
Try adding a squeeze of lemon for an additional boost. The high vitamin-C content of citrus fruits can also help to reduce insulin spikes.