So if we can get help from our food, increase our metabolism and burn fat, why don’t we include these foods in our weekly shop? I am forever seeing people spending their time looking in the wrong aisles of our supermarkets.
Is it because those foods are cheaper or is it simply because we don’t understand what information to take away from all the messages we are constantly being bombarded with about our health all the time?
Foods That Speed Metabolism:
#1: Acai Berries
The acai berry is small round purple berry found from the palm trees of the Brazilian Amazon which has ten times the antioxidants of grapes and twice that of blueberries. The keyword here is antioxidant.
This is important to us because when we’re stressed out, fighting a cold, or just trying to recover from an exhausting day our body goes through an elevated level of oxidative stress where we produce damaging free radicals. Free radicals are very damaging to our cells and have been linked to a number of diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and chronic fatigue syndrome.
When we ingest foods that are higher in antioxidants then we help our body fight these free radicals. So when we have acai berries or most commonly found as Acai juice then we also help the cellular mechanisms in our body to work most efficiently and this includes our metabolism and break down of foods.
#2: Whey Protein
Pretty much any fitness athlete knows that whey protein is an essential and important part of their daily diet. Whey protein powder is one of the highest quality forms of protein you can find in the market and is a great source of essential amino acids. But why are amino acids important?
Amino acids are the building blocks of our muscles and tissues and in any given day when we are exercising or just running around we are breaking down these tissues. So supplementing with whey protein is key to rebuilding and recovery which also means higher muscle to fat ratio in our bodies. This directly equates to a faster metabolism and a leaner meaner body.
#3: Salmon
Lean meats like fish are very critical diet component to anyone wanting to speed up their metabolism. Salmon in particular is low in saturated fat, high in protein and provides health promoting Omega 3 fatty acids.Omega 3′s are essential fatty acids that we must obtain from our diet and great for keeping our heart healthy, and have been shown to help control our cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Omega 3′s also help with enzyme reactions that boost our metabolism so currently much research is being done on how these fatty acids can help with obesity
#4: Turkey
Another great source for high quality natural protein is Turkey. Of course, we want to aim for skinless and as fresh as possible to get the most nutrients but Turkey is also a great source for Vitamin B’s.
The B Vitamin family is known for helping us with healthy immune and metabolic function as well as combating symptoms of stress and depression. I’ve found this to be especially true with my energy levels and take a B Complex Vitamin once or twice daily.
#5: Green Tea
The Green Tea phenomenon has gained mass appeal across the world. It contains high quality antioxidants as well as polyphenols which have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Green tea also has a natural form of caffeine which spikes your metabolism for a few hours after drinking it so why not add a cup or two in the morning when you are working.
Conclusion: Foods That Speed Metabolism
Ok so after reading this list you should know what to buy next time you’re going shopping…make that list now: Acai Berries (blueberries are also good), Whey Protein powder, Salmon, Turkey, Green Tea. You should feel a boost in your metabolism and together with regular exercise you should see that belly fat start to melt off after several weeks of trying these 5 foods.
Article courtesy of Sam Omidi of www.weightlossandtraining.com
Please leave a comment below if you have any questions, or have tried incorporating this list and are starting to see some great results…
No comments:
Post a Comment