The Top 5 Foods To Increase Your Metabolism

Low on energy? Do you always feel drained as you go about your day? You might be suffering from a sluggish metabolism! Luckily, we’ve got our top five metabolism-increasing foods to help you elevate your energy and feel balanced once again.

But wait – what is metabolism?

Technically, metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions within the body. Usually, when used in certain contexts, such as this article, we’re referring to the ability of your body to convert the food you eat into energy. The better your body can do this, the more energy you’ll have and the more efficient your body can be.

So, let’s dive in! What are some of the best metabolism-boosting foods you should start including in your diet?

What Food is Good for Increasing Metabolism?

Before we get to it, a quick note: your body requires a variety of nutrients. While it can help to include the following foods in your diet, it’s important to eat many foods to ensure you obtain the nutrients and fuel your body needs to function at its best.

In other words, your diet should consist of more than just the following five foods.

With that said, let’s take a look at the top five metabolism-boosting foods.

Read next: 6 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism in the Winter Months

1. Eggs

Eggs have been through the wringer. Are they good? Are they bad? The headlines keep flopping back and forth. But we’re here to tell you that eggs are actually really good for you and your body.

Eggs contain an amino acid called leucine. 

Leucine aids and stimulates energy production in a variety of ways. This superhero amino acid helps your cells take in glucose, which is necessary for cellular energy production. It also helps signal the body to break down fat, which is excellent news for those seeking out foods for weight loss.

On top of this, eggs are all-around pretty nutritious. 

They are jam-packed with protein, which can contribute to sustained energy for hours after eating them. They also are high in B vitamins. This contributes, again, to improved energy by helping your body break down food better.

Overall, eggs are pretty powerful and are definitely a food you’ll want to consider including in your regular rotation.

Related article: Can You Actually Increase Your Metabolism?

2. Chili Peppers

For spicy food lovers out there, chili peppers are calling your name. Research shows that chili peppers offer a metabolism boost. More specifically, a compound in chili peppers called capsaicin is responsible for such effects.

Additionally, these spicy peppers can help reduce inflammation, which may contribute to better function and energy overall. So, if you love a bit of spice, add some chili peppers to your next dish. 

They might just give you that energy boost you need.

3. Ginger

A little bit of ginger, such as in your morning smoothie or next chicken dish, can help increase your metabolism and even help increase your body’s temperature (which, for a lot of people with an underactive thyroid, is a good thing!).

Ginger is another food, or spice, rather, that helps reduce inflammation. When inflammation in the body is high, your systems and cells might struggle to produce adequate energy. This means you might experience crashes in the afternoon and during other times throughout your day.

Adding ginger as part of some of your dishes or snacks can help combat this and keep your body in tip-top shape. For those with stomach issues, ginger is also well-known for its soothing effect when it comes to nausea and digestive woes.

4. Avocado

As far as fruits that boost metabolism go, avocados have some serious benefits. Is anyone surprised by this? Probably not.

Avocados have been trendy for a while (avocado toast, anyone?). But this all comes with a good reason.

Avocados are full of good fat, more specifically monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Despite fat getting bashed left, right, and center, your body needs fat to function optimally. 

Fat is necessary for:

• Building cellular membranes
• Aiding in blood clotting
• Helping with muscular function
• Reducing inflammation

As mentioned above, avocados are also another great metabolism-boosting food for lowering inflammation, which can help reduce interference with a variety of processes that happen within the body and help with energy production.

Check this out: Try this Creamy Avocado Pasta for National Avocado Day

5. Lentils & Legumes

Studies indicate that eating foods such as beans and peas can decrease your risk of certain metabolic syndromes, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and more.

How do these foods do this? You can attribute these amazing effects to the high protein content in these foods. Further, they contain a high amount of fiber which also contributes to satiety and a good microbiome. This can help your body take in energy at a steady rate, helping you have sustained energy throughout your day.

Add these foods as a side dish or as part of a casserole.

Increase Your Energy Levels Starting Today!

Fuel your body with the above foods and more for sustained energy. At the same time, you’ll also want to make sure you have a regular exercise and self-care routine to help balance everything out and to ensure you’re giving your body and mind exactly what they need.

When you have a well-functioning metabolism, you have good energy. When you have good energy, you can perform and show up at your very best.

Looking for more energy-boosting foods? Check out: The Top 5 Superfoods that Support Energy