Food That Speed Up the Metabolism

Coffee
Easy does it is the password here. We’ve all heard about potential dangers of caffeine – including
anxiety and insomnia – so moderation is the key.
The caffeine in coffee can speed up the metabolism. In nutritional circles, it’s known as a metabolic
enhancer, according to Dr. Judith Stern of the University of California at Davis.
This makes sense, since caffeine is a stimulant. Studies show it can help you burn more calories
than normal, perhaps up to 10 percent more. For safety’s sake, it’s best to limit your intake to a
single cup in the morning and one in the afternoon. Add only skim milk to tit and try doing without
sugar – many people learn to love it that way.

Grapefruit

There’s good reason for this traditional diet food to be a regular part of you diet. It helps dissolve
fat and cholesterol, according to Dr. James Cerd of the University of Florida. An average sized
grapefruit has 74 calories, delivers a whopping 15 grams of pectin (the special fiber linked to
lowering cholesterol and fat), is high in vitamin C and potassium and is free of fat and sodium.
It’s rich in natural galacturonic acid, which adds to its potency as a fat and cholesterol fighter. The
additional benefit here is assistance in the battle against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
and the development of heart disease. Try sprinkling it with cinnamon rather than sugar to take
away some of the tart taste.

Mustard
Try the hot, spicy kind you find in Asian import stores, specialty shops and exotic groceries. Dr.
Jaya Henry of Oxford Polytechnic Institute in England, found that the amount of hot mustard
normally called for in Mexican, Indian and Asian recipes, about one teaspoon, temporarily speeds
up the metabolism, just as caffeine and the drug ephedrine do.
“But mustard is natural and totally safe,” Henry says. “It can be used every day, and it really works.
I was shocked to discover it can speed up the metabolism by as much as 20 to 25 percent for several
hours.” This can result in the body burning an extra 45 calories for every 700 consumed, Dr. Henry
says.

Peppers
Hot, spicy chili peppers fall into the same category as hot mustard, Henry says. He studied them
under the same circumstances as the mustard and they worked just as well. A mere three grams of
chili peppers were added to a meal consisting of 766 total calories. The peppers’ metabolism-raising
properties worked like a charm, leading to what Henry calls a diet-induced thermic effect. It doesn’t
take much to create the effect. Most salsa recipes call for four to eight chilies – that’s not a lot.
Peppers are astonishingly rich in vitamins A and C, abundant in calcium, phosphorus, iron and
magnesium, high in fiber, free of fat, low in sodium and have just 24 calories per cup.

Potatoes
We’ve got to be kidding, right? Wrong. Potatoes have developed the same “fattening” rap as bread,
and it’s unfair. Dr. John McDougal, director of the nutritional medicine clinic at St. Helena Hospital
in Deer Park, California, says, “An excellent food with which to achieve rapid weight loss is the
potato, at 0.6 calories per gram or about 85 calories per potato.” A great source of fiber and
potassium, they lower cholesterol and protect against strokes and heart disease.
Preparation and toppings are crucial. Steer clear of butter, milk and sour cream, or you’ll blow it.
Opt for yogurt instead.

Rice
An entire weight-loss plan, simple called the Rice Diet, was developed by Dr. William Kempner at
Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. The diet, dating to the 1930’s, makes rice the staple of
your food intake. Later on, you gradually mix in various fruits and vegetables.
It produces stunning weight loss and medical results. The diet has been shown to reverse and cure
kidney ailments and high blood pressure.
A cup of cooked rice (150 grams) contains about 178 calories – approximately one-third the number
of calories found in an equivalent amount of beef or cheese. And remember, whole grain rice is
much better for you than white rice.