10 best foods to speed up the metabolism

metabolism boosting foodsEver wondered why we can get away with eating anything in our youth yet constantly put on weight as we grow older, even when we eat moderately? It’s all about metabolism.

As we grow older the metabolic rate tends to slow down which leads to slower digestive and fat burning capabilities. Even if we overeat just a little bit our body will be unable to process the food in a timely manner and we end up with extra fat being stored in the body.

To avoid such situations one can opt for 10 best foods to speed up the metabolism and help the body stay healthy.

A look at the 10 best foods to speed up the metabolism:

  1. Fish:  Fish like tuna and salmon are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids which not only keep one full for a long time but also speed up the metabolic rate. Tuna leads to the production of the hormone leptin which keeps the body satiated. Other than these sardines, herring and mackerel are also good for the metabolism.
  2. Whole grains: Whole grains like rolled oats, brown rice and quinoa are full of fibers which keep the body full for a long time and prevent cravings. They are full of complex carbohydrates and nutrients that take more energy to digest therefore lead the body to burn more calories and supply fuel, stabilize insulin levels and thus speed up the metabolic rate. Since they release carbs slowly they offer long-lasting energy.
  3. green tea boost metabolsimGreen tea: Studies have proved that the green tea can significantly boost metabolism. The compound epigallocatechin in green tea stimulates the nervous as well as digestive system. It is full of powerful antioxidants which and eliminate the harmful free radicals and from the body and lead to an overall feeling of wellbeing.
  4. Chilli Peppers: The capsaicin in the chilli peppers can go a long way to rev the metabolism along with adding the special kick or taste to every dish. Studies conducted show that the metabolic rate can go up by as much as 25% after consuming peppers. While the best sources are hot spicy peppers like jalapeño, habañero and cayenne peppers, you will also benefits from their milder cousins – the bell peppers. They improve blood circulation and reduce sweet cravings.
  5. Fruits: Certain fruits like apples and pears can boost metabolism to a large degree and aid in massive weight loss. They are full of fibers which fill the body up, prevent hunger pangs and rev up the metabolic rate causing the body to burn stored body fat faster.
  6. spices for boosting metabolic rateSpices: Spices add flavor to our foods. But what is not commonly known is that they are also great to increase metabolic rates and help people burn calories faster. For best results include a regular dose of garlic, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, metabolic rates and ginger in your diet.
  7. Citrus Fruits: Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant and strengthens the immune system. This in turn leads to boosting metabolic activity and burning fat faster. Lemons, limes, orange and grapefruits are particularly good for health.
  8. Broccoli: Broccoli is power food which not only speeds up the metabolism but also improves the immune system. It is loaded with antioxidants like vitamin A, C and K, nutrients like calcium and folate and dietary fiber.
  9. Nuts: Nuts are full of proteins and fiber which provide the body with nutrients and energy. They help prevent insulin spikes and therefore lead to faster metabolic activity and prevention of fat storage in the body.

Water: Technically water is not a food but without adequate water intake none of the above foods can provide optimum results. It helps in digestion, in absorbing nutrients better and aids in proper metabolic activity

Why we put on weight when we get older

weight gain as we ageThe human body is basically a degenerative system which will show its true colors as we grow older. But age is basically an umbrella factor here and there are many underlying reasons for the increasing weight that we put on with age.

Different people are affected by different reasons depending on their body structure, internal health and genetic makeup. One of the key reasons of weight gain is the decrease in metabolic rate with age. We burn fat much slower than we did before and if diet is not controlled strictly then fat deposits can build up faster than ever before.

Most women gain weight as they age, but excess pounds aren’t inevitable. To minimize menopause weight gain, step up your activity level and enjoy a healthy diet.

Another reason is the aging muscles which readily allow fat to be stored in the body instead of burning them into energy or turning them into lean muscle mass like before. Loss of muscle cells, easy muscle damage and shrinking lead to dead and tired muscles.

Decreases in growth hormone in both genders also contribute a lot to muscle deadening and weakening since the tissues lose their power to regrow and replenish easily. This means that lesser energy is now being utilized by the body so there is increasing amount of excess calories which are now getting stored in the system.

strength helps to stop weight gain in old ageStrength building becomes very important for us as we grow older. It makes muscle mass grow stronger and better helping the body burn fat faster. It won’t be easy because with age our physical strength and abilities also diminish which does not give us the power and energy to work-out as we can do in our youth.

The internal organs are also affected and one begins to feel the debilitating effects of weaker heart and lung functions which lessen one’s physical abilities. All these together have an adverse effect on the body which begins to put on weight.

Though these are common to most people you will find variations from person to person. This means that the genetic makeup of that person allows him or her to lose or gain weight easily. Genetics can also be underlying reasons for organ health or failure in many cases.

Some health conditions definitely have genetic roots like diabetes and arthritis which are extremely debilitating conditions and prevent one from leading an active or healthy lifestyle easily. But with care and caution one can overcome even hurdles like this. Regular workout, proper medication and regulated diet can help a great deal.

At times, gender is also a consideration when it comes to age and weight gain though both men and women are equally affected by it. However, the body structure and hormonal makeup of the female body make women more prone to weight gain, especially with age.

In their case, age coincides with menopause which is one of the greatest contributors to female obesity. These along with the other debilitating factors that occur in any case make women easier victims of excess weight.

Increasing sedentary lifestyle coupled with unhealthy diets also lead to increasing obesity. Lifestyle is one of the major factors which lead to obesity and even more so for seniors. Dissociative social structure leads to increasingly single and lonely individuals who like to eat out rather than eat in alone.

older couple eatingEven older couples are eating out more instead of going through the hassle of home cooked meals. It is a hassle to cook every day but eating out means an unbalanced meal with overdose of unhealthy additives which not only affect overall health but show its ugly face through the layers of fat one is loaded with eventually.

Social and economic changes that have gone through tectonic shifts in the last century means that there is less manual labor and more cash power than ever before.  This means that people can afford to eat out more than they could even 30 years back. No matter how much greens you order with your steak, you will never get an all-healthy meal in a restaurant.

Today, individuals can afford to hire help easily and have no occasion to give in to any kind of physical labor since they have gadgets to help in all kinds of work. The only physical activity that remains is regular exercise. Unless you are really conscientious about it you cannot help your body in combating fat effectively and end up putting more weight than ever before.

Exercise is therefore essential, along with serious dietary restraint. Body can only endure as much so it is our job to help the body which will in turn help us lead a healthy and energetic old age. A simple yet a little strict diet and exercise regimen are it takes to fight obesity and maintain weight as we grow older.

What Are The Best Fat Burners To Buy In The UK

Best Fat Burner in the UKThere are several different genres of diet pills available commercially, appetite suppressants, carb blockers, fat binders to name but a few. Perhaps the most commonly sought and most effective are fat burners.

Fat burners are so called because they can help the body to reduce or burn excess fat from areas where fat accumulates; stomach, waist, upper arms, thighs and buttocks.

When we eat more calories than we can process into energy our body converts what we eat into fat and stores it for later use. The problem being is that most of us do not tap into to this storage of fat that we have and are forever adding to it in ever increasingly.

The premium fat burners that we have available today are the  best that have ever been. Most offer more than just a simple fat burning process. Some of the premier brands and ingredients can also inhibit the production of fat – basically preventing the creation of new fat cells.

Some fat burners raise the core temperature of the body ever so slightly – this is in turn helps the body to expel calories, this process is called thermogenics.

Below we have listed the top fat burners available to a UK consumer (and pretty much the world over due to the internet)

PhenQ – Phentermine Alternative

PhenQPhentermine is a prescription slimming pill, it is a drug for want of a better word. Phentermine was created as a cure for obesity – it was all consuming, strong and extremely powerful.

Although Phentermine worked it was not available to all due to its prescription status. However, PhenQ was introduced as a viable alternative – to say that it filled the void in the commercial market is an understatement.

The people responsible for marketing PhenQ have the easiest job in the world. All they appear to do it release testimonial, after testimonial of satisfied customers. These are people from the real world I hasten to add, not the contractually obliged minor celebrity.

If PhenQ doesn’t work for you it is unlikely that any diet pill will.

Read our full review here

Capsiplex – Chili Fat Burner

Capsiplex fat burner UKIf you are regular reader to this website (or any of our sister publications) then you will realise we like Capsiplex rather a lot. Just with any industry there is the good, bad and ugly.

The diet pill industry displays this characteristic in abundance, with hundreds of competing brands – there are more than a few dodgy ones. Capsiplex is about as far removed from dodgy as could possibly be.

A product by Scottish based Advanced Health it is a non prescription fat burners that has grown in stature since its spectacular introduction a couple of years ago.

Read our in-depth Capsiplex review here

Garcinia Cambogia Extra – With Raspberry Ketone

Garcinia Cambogia CapsulesIf you are looking to use something that is completely natural, very powerful, extremely safe and currently the darling of the medical fraternity that look no further than Garcinia Cambogia Extra.

Containing both Garcinia Cambogia and Raspberry Ketone in their correct dosages it is interesting that Garcinia Cambogia gets top billing (brand name)

Both ingredients, garcinia and ketone can not only burn fat by thermogenics but also prevent the creation of new fat cells. There are several Garcinia Cambogia brands currently in circulation – Garcinia Cambogia Extra is the best of the bunch.

Read the full review here

Raspberry Ketone Plus

Raspberry Ketone Plus UKPerhaps slightly overshadowed by Garcinia cambogia Extra but a superb product nonetheless. Would appeal to the more budget conscious as its priced at around £20.

Raspberry Ketone has received so much publicity largely due to serval media networks featuring its fat burning merits very prominently. Raspberry Ketone Plus was the actual brand that was featured on the press reports – the original and best.

Raspberry Ketone Plus is a product by Canterbury based Evolution Slimming, fully guaranteed and with an unrivalled customer support team.

Read more about it here

There are a few more fat burners that we could mention such as Green Coffee and Acai berry – each having their merits and strengths. We are confident that the three above are the best examples of commercially available and anything else quite frankly is a compromise.