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Best metabolism boosting foods

Adding these foods to your diet could help you drop unwanted pounds.
Food Fashion Food Pattern With Grapefruits
Beautiful food pattern, food fashion concept with half slices of grapefruit on blue background.Valeria Aksakova / 500px / Getty Images stock
/ Source: TODAY

There are no miracle foods or foods that magically melt away the pounds. But some can give you a boost in the metabolism department. These foods may have something special when it comes to helping you fight those unwanted pounds:

1. Grapefruit

This is more than a breakfast food — it’s a weight-loss jumpstart! Besides being packed with vitamin C and fiber, this citrus fruit speeds up weight loss. One study found that people who ate half a grapefruit with each meal lost 3.6 pounds, while those who drank a serving of grapefruit juice three times a day lost 3.3 pounds. Many people in the study lost more than 10 pounds — without making any other dietary changes.

2. Nuts

The monounsaturated fats found in nuts can help burn belly fat and like all fat, they help keep you satiated. The trifecta of fiber, protein and fat helps to keep hunger at bay and your body energized. Need a fast breakfast? Greek yogurt with a handful of almonds and dash of cinnamon. No time to stop and snack? Pick up a green juice and couple it with cashews. Made too much for dinner? Use the leftover quinoa, add walnuts and avocado and call it a day.

3. Chili powder

Spicy lovers rejoice. Capsaicin, an antioxidant found in red chili peppers, has been shown to curb appetite and boost your metabolism. Sprinkle cayenne pepper on your eggs at breakfast, salad at lunch, veggie side at dinner and even into your lemon water.

Celery
Celery stalks on white cutting boardClaudia Totir / Getty Images stock

4. Celery

Celery is low in calories, requires a lot of noshing and has so much fiber and water that it takes a lot of work to get it through the body. Because chewing stimulates the release of digestive enzymes, the act in itself raises your metabolic rate, or how fast and efficiently your body can absorb, store and eliminate. This is the beauty of the “thermal effect” of food, or the amount of calories burned from digesting and eliminating the things you eat.

5. Water

Yep, it’s that simple. Hydration plays a role in an efficient metabolism. Drink a large glass of water with lemon when you wake up and continue to drink throughout the day — at least eight cups. Not only will being properly hydrated help boost your metabolism slightly, but it will also help you not mistake hunger for thirst. Get chugging!

6. Coconut

These are chock full of a fat called medium chain triglycerides. MCTs promote the breakdown of excess fat stores, helping you burn fat and increase energy and stamina.

7. Green tea

While black tea, oolong and green tea all come from the same plant, green tea leaves are prepared differently. As a result, green tea is richer in antioxidants called catechins, which may trigger a boost in metabolism (and weight loss) by stimulating the body to burn calories.

8. Salmon

This fatty fish is full of omega 3s. Ingesting this type of fat helps regulate leptin, a natural hormone in your body that controls your metabolic rate and suppresses your appetite.

9. Lean protein

A diet rich in lean protein mixed with moderate exercise will have you on your way to building more muscle. Increased muscle mass allows your body to burn more calories, even while you’re sleeping or sedentary. Don’t be afraid to stray from chicken, there are lots of sources of lean protein and pork is a great go-to alternative.