{"id":17801,"date":"2023-03-22T20:21:58","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T20:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/?p=17801"},"modified":"2023-05-16T23:31:46","modified_gmt":"2023-05-16T23:31:46","slug":"foods-to-speed-up-your-metabolism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/foods-to-speed-up-your-metabolism\/","title":{"rendered":"7 foods to speed up your metabolism\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"If you\u2019ve ever struggled with your weight and blamed your slow metabolism, you\u2019re not alone! For many of us, our metabolism slows naturally as we age, and that can feel challenging. You might feel like you can\u2019t eat what you used to or wear the jeans size you did when you were younger. But just because our bodies change with time, doesn\u2019t mean we can\u2019t adapt. Regular exercise, healthy sleep and\u2014importantly\u2014a smart diet can all affect metabolism.How does your metabolism work?Put simply: Your metabolism is how your body converts food into energy. It affects how fast you burn calories, how much fat your body stores and even how hungry you feel.Some factors that influence your metabolism are beyond your control, like your age, sex, genetics and hormones, but there are also things you can do to help accelerate it. And the simplest is eating the right foods.Some foods can slightly increase your metabolism by stimulating digestion, providing nutrients that help it function, or by increasing thermogenesis, your body\u2019s way of turning food into heat.7 foods that increase metabolism1. Chili PeppersIf you\u2019re someone who loves the fiery spice of chili peppers, you\u2019re in luck! Chili peppers are a source of capsaicin, the compound that gives them that heat\u2014and comes with some unexpected health benefits. One is the ability to increase the rate your body burns calories, according to research. It apparently works by increasing your body\u2019s temperature and oxygen use, leading to a slight boost in your metabolic rate.The caveat: Overdoing it can irritate your stomach and cause negative symptoms like heartburn or diarrhea. So if you find yourself sweating through your meal or needing to gulp water after every bite, you probably want to cut back. But if you\u2019re comfortably with the heat, try adding some chili peppers to a few dishes like soups, stews, salsas or even salads.2. TeaWhether you like black, green or oolong tea, regularly sipping a hot mug can help rev up your metabolism. How it does this is still being studied, but experts think it\u2019s because tea\u2019s catechins (antioxidants) and caffeine work together to increase the rate you burn calories.Pro tip: Don\u2019t drink caffeinated tea past midafternoon, or it could interfere with your sleep!3. CoffeeIt turns out, your morning brew doesn\u2019t just perk you up, but it can also help increase the rate you burn calories. Coffee beans have an antioxidant called chlorogenic acid that affects cAMP, an important messenger in your body that regulates blood sugar and metabolism. To reap the most benefits, drink your coffee black; adding too much sugar or cream can outweigh its benefits.4. GingerThis super root is best known for helping with nausea and digestion, but ginger may also help speed up your metabolism. Though more research is needed, regularly drinking ginger tea with your food might increase your body\u2019s thermogenesis while reducing feelings of hunger, according to one study. Not only that, but ginger is also rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals, compounds that can impair your metabolic health when they build up in your cells.Heads up: Too much ginger can lead to heartburn, diarrhea or irritation in your gut and mouth, so make sure you\u2019re not eating too much!5. High-protein foodsIf you\u2019re hoping to shed a few pounds with a faster metabolism, getting enough protein in your diet is essential. Protein-rich foods have a high thermic effect, meaning your body uses more energy when digesting and absorbing than it does with carbs and fat. So the simple act of digesting protein helps increase your metabolism. Another benefit? Protein also helps maintain and increase your lean body mass\u2014also important for your metabolic rate.6. Dark, leafy greensLeafy greens are loaded with good, essential nutrients, so it\u2019s not surprising that regular intake can promote a healthy metabolic rate. One key is magnesium, a mineral that\u2019s vital for your metabolism to work well. Without it, your body can\u2019t effectively turn food into energy. In general, aiming for about 2 cups daily of dark, leafy greens like kale, spinach, collard greens or arugula should be enough.7. WaterWhile water isn\u2019t exactly food, it\u2019s incredibly important. Your cells have to be well-hydrated to function properly. Drinking enough fluids can increase your metabolic rate, according to research. The amount of water you need varies with age, activity level, lifestyle and diet, but most people should drink an amount equal to half their body weight flipped to fluid ounces (eg: a 140-pound person should drink 70 fluid ounces daily). Read next: 5 snacks to keep you feeling fuller longerAbout AgnesAgnes is an accredited nutritionist by SNDA (Singapore Nutrition &amp; Dietetics Association). Prior to Persona, she worked in community settings, providing training and managing events. She loves working with people and is passionate about changing people\u2019s lives through nutrition.Agnes is just one of the many experts at Persona who are here to accelerate your wellness journey. If you have questions about nutrition or your personalized program, reach out now or book a free appointment with Agnes or another of our amazing nutritionists.*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. Do not use the information from this article for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal, or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this article.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve ever struggled with your weight and blamed your slow metabolism, you\u2019re not alone! For many of us, our metabolism slows naturally as we age, and that can feel challenging. You might feel like you can\u2019t eat what you","protected":false},"author":593,"featured_media":18451,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1819,7,36,1893,1949,1901],"tags":[38,1975],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17801"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/593"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17801"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17801\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17821,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17801\/revisions\/17821"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18451"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}