By eating healthy foods that increase your metabolism and exercising, you can keep your metabolism fired up and achieve a beautiful body.
Protein’s Role in Metabolism
To lose fat and achieve your dream body, you must choose the right foods. Specifically, you must eat a higher portion of protein than you may be used to in order to ramp up your metabolism and turn your body into a fat-burning machine.
Recent studies suggest that people may need a lot more protein than we once thought. The current recommended daily amount is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, but new research shows that we should be eating up to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of weight.
Eating more protein each day can help you burn extra fat, retain your muscle tone, and even gain muscle. Plus, extra protein can keep you fuller longer and help you stay on track with your healthy lifestyle.
Foods to Increase Metabolism
To help ramp up your metabolism and keep your muscle tone and health in check, here are a few specific foods you should be eating.
1. Cheese and Milk
Dairy products such as cheese and milk are great sources of protein. They offer approximately 6 to 10 grams of protein per serving and can also provide you with the calcium you need to keep your bones healthy. Choose low-fat options because they tend to have higher protein contents than their fattier counterparts.
How to enjoy: On cereal, with healthy cookies, on a protein-packed sandwich
2. Legumes
Legumes such as black beans, lentils, and chickpeas are all packed with protein and nutrients.
How to enjoy: Paired with rice, quinoa, or any other whole grain
3. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is a thicker variety of yogurt that is packed with protein and provides calcium too! One serving of Greek yogurt per day gives you approximately 18 grams of extra protein.
How to enjoy: Mixed into a dip for vegetables, combined with honey for breakfast
4. Tree Nuts
Tree nuts like walnuts and almonds are great sources of protein. Typically, they have around 4 to 6 grams of protein per 2 tablespoons and provide a serving of heart-healthy fats.
How to enjoy: As a snack, mixed into yogurt, eaten on oatmeal, eaten on top of salad
5. Fish/Shellfish
Fish or shellfish can offer an abundance of protein for very few calories. Fatty fish contains high amounts of protein and heart-healthy fats that can help improve your circulation, reduce your risk of developing heart disease, and boost your immunity. By eating fish or shellfish three to five times per week, you can cut back on your fatty red meat consumption and gets lots of protein.
How to enjoy: Grilled, broiled, mixed into salad
Eating a variety of protein-packed foods can put your metabolism into overdrive and keep your body in shape. It’s one way to get your body prepped for plastic surgery, or it can be used to show off what you’ve already achieved!