3 foods that naturally boost your metabolism

While there is no “magic” food for weight loss, certain foods can offer a modest or temporary boost to your metabolism when included in a balanced diet.

1. Matcha

Matcha is a type of green tea that can affect your metabolism in several ways, including:

• Increased fat burning during exercise: Matcha may help improve fat oxidation (the breakdown of fat) during moderate-intensity exercise like walking.
• Increase energy expenditure: The antioxidant compounds in green tea may help increase energy expenditure (the total amount of calories your body burns) and the amount of calories burned during activity.
• Regulate carbohydrate metabolism: Matcha contains epigallocatechin gallatea compound that blocks the digestion of starch. This helps prevent the release of glucose into the bloodstream.

2. Almonds

When part of a balanced diet, almonds can support metabolism and aid in overall weight loss by:

• Keep you full: Studies suggest that daily consumption of almonds can help decrease body mass and fat mass. Almonds contain fiber and protein that slow digestion and keep you full longer.
• Increase energy expenditure at rest: Almonds may increase thermogenesis (heat production), which stimulates metabolism and resting energy expenditure, which is the number of calories burned to support bodily functions at rest.
• Improve gut health: Almonds contain fiber, which can help improve the gut microbiome. They are thought to work in a similar way to prebiotics (a type of specialized fiber) by promoting the production of good bacteria, important for supporting metabolism.

3. Coffee

Coffee alone will not cause weight loss. However, due to its caffeine content, coffee can improve your metabolism in the following ways:

• Help you burn more calories: Coffee can temporarily increase your metabolic rate by 5 to 20 percent for about three hours. This leads to more calories burned.
• Helps break down fats: Caffeine consumption may also help improve fat oxidation, especially in people with leaner body weights.
• Fight hunger: Some studies suggest that drinking coffee before a meal can reduce the amount of calories you can consume. However, these effects were only seen in men, not women, in the study.