Why A Fast Metabolism Is Important + 5 Foods That Boost Metabolism

Whole Health Everyday's guest blogger, Jess, from the Newport Center Orthopedic in Newport Beach is here to share the importance of a fast metabolism and how to feed it...

Some of us are naturally born with a fast metabolism, but others have to be very diligent to maintain it. A fast metabolism will not only help you with aesthetic weight loss goals, but it also enables you to stay healthy internally. Here’s what you need to know about building a fast metabolism – why it’s important, how it works, and some great foods that can help.

How Metabolism Works
Simply put, metabolism is the body’s natural process of converting your food intake into energy. The calories you consume are combined with oxygen from your respiratory system to create energy, which your body can then burn off. However, to actually burn off this energy, you need to have a reasonably active lifestyle. Your natural metabolism depends on a few different factors. If you are larger or have more muscle density, you are going to burn more calories than someone smaller. Metabolism also tends to slow down as we get older. It’s challenging to change your base metabolism, but the activities you do throughout the day can slow it down or speed it up.

Why A Fast Metabolism Is Important
If your natural base metabolism is slow, don’t worry – you can still be healthy with a good diet and exercise regimen. However, it’s essential for your health to maintain a fast metabolism within what your body is capable of. The faster your metabolism is, the easier it will be to maintain a healthy weight, because your body turns food into energy before it can be stored as fat. A fast metabolism also will give you more energy, which makes staying active much easier.

5 Foods That Boost Metabolism
Many people think that keeping their caloric intake to a minimum will improve their body’s ability to lose weight. However, it’s just the opposite – starving yourself can slow down your metabolism because it tricks your body into thinking it needs to store every single calorie as fat. Instead, focus on eating a healthy and nutritious diet. Here are five foods that can give you a metabolism boost.

Berries: These are an excellent food to boost your metabolism because they are very high in fiber. Since fiber is not digestible, the body burns calories moving it through your system, eventually releasing it as waste.
Garlic: Although scientists aren’t sure why yet, garlic has been linked in studies to an increase in the number of calories the body burns daily. They’ll also decrease the amount you store as fat. Use some garlic to season your favorite dishes.

Oranges and grapefruits: Both of these fruits are excellent sources of vitamin C, which helps your body metabolize fat very quickly. This will make it easier for your body to process and burn off the calories you consume. Try juicing these fruits and taking them on the go for a convenient metabolism boost.

Cinnamon: This tasty spice surprisingly can reduce fat storage and minimize your appetite. It does this by making you more sensitive to insulin. Insulin causes your body to store food and maintain blood sugar levels, but when you are very sensitive to it, your body won’t produce very much. When consumed in moderation, this is an excellent strategy for managing your weight.

Chicken: Any lean meat that’s high in protein is an excellent way to give your metabolism a boost. This is because your body has to work slightly harder to digest protein, and it burns more calories in the process. If you’re not a meat-eater, look for chicken and fish substitutes that are high in protein for the same effect.

Water: Okay, maybe this isn’t a food, but drinking adequate amounts of water per day will help keep things moving in your digestive tract. Try adding fresh squeezed lemon juice and ginger to really rev it up and provide a megadose of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.