Every season, there is a new diet fad that claims to be the secret to all your weight loss goals. From cabbage soup to juice cleanses, fasting two days a week to eating single foods like pineapple or grapefruit, the diet industry has talked consumers into trying some wild ideas, all in hopes of losing weight for that “perfect body.”
The reality is that diets and supplements simply don’t work in the short term. Sure, adding foods like cabbage and pineapple to your diet can be great for your health, but if you are serious about weight loss, it’s important to make a long-term commitment to your health and wellness.
One of the best ways to support your wellness journey is to boost your metabolism. How effectively your metabolism performs is directly linked to your ability to digest, process nutrients, and remove waste from the body. The body processes energy provided by the food you eat every day and stored fat to function. The metabolism is directly responsible for that process and inevitably sends used energy out of the body. It is directly responsible for helping you reach your weight loss goals.
Not all metabolisms are created equal, and some process energy faster than others. The good news is, that there are some items in your kitchen right now that can give your metabolism a boost, helping it process energy faster, and speeding up your ability to burn fat. Let’s discover five metabolism boosters in the kitchen that you should add to your daily diet.
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Water
The answer is always water, is it not?? There is an endless list of water consumption benefits, and consuming your water differently can encourage different effects on the metabolism.
A glass of cold water first thing in the morning activates the metabolism slightly more than room temp. The goal is to trigger cold-induced thermogenesis, which basically kicks the metabolism into overdrive to keep your body at the correct temperature. This is slightly effective when drinking cold water, and other techniques like ice baths have been used as treatments for people with slow metabolisms.
Warm water also has its benefits for the opposite effect it has on the body. Just like when your body gets a little too cold, the metabolism jumps into action to keep your body from overheating. The benefits don’t last long but are great for kickstarting your day.
Overall, drinking water throughout your day means the metabolism is constantly at work processing it. Try regular sips at least every 30 minutes from morning until you go to bed. Calculate how much you need here.
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Cinnamon
Hello to this heavy hitter! The benefits of cinnamon go far beyond boosting metabolism, with benefits positively influencing low blood sugar levels and containing anti-inflammatory properties. Weight loss goals aside, definitely plan to add more cinnamon to your diet.
For the metabolism, in addition to the effects of thermogenesis, we also see support for better glucose metabolism by activating enzymes that help break down sugar. As a result, it can contribute to helping your body burn energy more efficiently.
Finally, cinnamon can stimulate brown adipose tissue, which is responsible for burning fat.
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Ginger
Thermogenesis is at play again with ginger consumption. Ginger is rich in bioactive compounds like gingerols and shogaols, which can have a stimulating effect on the body’s temperature.
By enhancing this process, ginger can contribute to a slight increase in metabolic rate, potentially aiding in the body’s ability to burn calories more efficiently. This thermogenic effect could offer various benefits, including supporting weight management and boosting overall energy levels.
RELATED: 10 Mindblowing Health Benefits of Ginger!
Cayenne
Let’s turn up the heat! I know that almost everyone reading this reaches for cayenne when cooking anything. If there is one thing our culture loves, it’s a well-cooked spicy meal.
We might as well use our love of spice to our advantage. Cayenne contains the active compound capsaicin, which helps boost metabolism to support weight loss. This is due, once again, to its thermogenic effects, which increase calorie burning and its ability to curb appetite.
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Coconut Oil
We know that coconut oil is great for skin and hair. Now, it’s time to add it to your daily diet for weight loss.
Coconut oil is a saturated fat mainly made up of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). Unlike other fats, MCTs are processed differently in the body. When consumed, they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream from the small intestine, bypassing the lymphatic system. This unique absorption process allows MCTs to be quickly transported to the liver, where they are metabolized into ketones (where my keto people at?!). These ketones can then be used as a fast and efficient source of energy.
Add in some improved insulin sensitivity and antioxidant properties, and we have yet another superfood on our hands.
