Fast metabolic rate refers to your body’s ability to burn a good amount of fat even when you are resting. A high metabolic rate is indicative of a greater ability to burn fat and calories, which helps us to lose weight with ease. Aerobic exercises play an important role in firing up your metabolic rate but there are certain types of foods that can produce close to the same effect on your metabolism.
1. Chili peppers
Chili peppers contain capsaicin which slightly increases the amount of calories and fat burned after you eat. This is probably because red peppers produce heat when they are consumed.
2. Water
Drinking water, especially cold water, increases metabolic rate because energy is burned heating that water to body temperature. You should eat more fruits like watermelons and cucumbers that have high water content.
3. Cruciferous veggies
Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflowers and cabbages are excellent sources of the vitamin B complex which play important roles in ensuring proper breakdown of proteins and fats
4. Coconut oil
Coconut oil contains a high amount of medium chain triglycerides which are not stored as fat because after they are absorbed, they go to the liver where they are readily converted to energy. These are saturated fats which also increase the levels of the good type of cholesterol which is the high density lipoproteins.
5. Coffee
Caffeine, which is an important constituent of coffee, modulates neurotransmitter release and increases epinephrine levels leading to release and breakdown of fats from the adipose tissues. However, you might become resistant to it and it will take greater amounts to produce effects.
6. Legumes
Legumes like beans, groundnuts and peas have a high protein and fiber content. Protein digestion requires a lot of energy, so this helps you to lose weight. Legumes are higher in some amino acids compared to others. They are high in glutamine and arginine which are associated with increased amounts of burned fats and calories.
Fibers are used to feed the bacterial flora that live in our gut. Short chain triglycerides promote absorption of minerals in the small intestine and regulate sugar levels in the blood.
7. Salmon
While it contains a higher amount of calories than most other types of fish, it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which help to increase the level of high density lipoproteins and decreases insulin levels to prevent storage of fat. It is also rich in proteins.
8. Turkey
Turkey contains nutrients like zinc and selenium which are necessary for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. The metabolic rate is mainly controlled by the thyroid gland so this will ensure sufficiency of hormones that regulate your metabolism.
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