Eat Food, Increase Metabolism
Foods that increase metabolism – this sounds great! First of all – all foods boost your metabolism, as they take energy to break down. I think healthy foods increase your metabolism in general, as you feel great and that allows you to be more active = healthy. But beyond that, some of these might help you feel that flush of body systems working -
Chili! This is the one that’s easiest to believe – if you’ve eaten enough chilies to start sweating, you know your body’s going into overdrive. Researchers at Laval University in Canada found that the capsaicin – the ‘hot’ chemical – causes your body to release stress hormones. Not the most pleasant way to burn calories maybe – but if you enjoy the burn, go for it!
As a note, I find a little sriracha on green peppers to be a great way to stop a craving – so much flavor and crunch. It’s kind of weird, but give it a try.
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Ginger – this is another strongly-flavored ingredient that can add heat to many recipes. Having it with fruit is delicious. You can use it fresh or in powder form (not as tasty). I have it in a refrigerated squeeze-bottle that I found at the supermarket – tastes fresh, and it’s easy to squeeze into stirfries or smoothies.
Cinnamon – not just for sweet things, cinnamon in savory recipes can add an oriental flair (it’s one of the main ingredients in chinese five spice). Also… great in sweet things though. In hot chocolate or coffee, ice cream or toast (hold the massive amount of sugar and butter I used to put on cinnamon toast though!).
These foods are all used in Ayurveda as triggers to stoke the digestive fire – i.e., this is food that increases metabolism. Western-advertised foods to increase metabolism exist as well, generally focusing more on high-fiber or high-protein foods to move efficiently through your system – or simply keeping you from eating more then you should.
Grapefruit – high fiber to balance the sugar content – it didn’t become the focus for a diet for no reason at all…
Soup – can fill you up for dramatically less calories then some alternatives. Doesn’t necessarily speed up your metabolism, but is a good choice to have before meals.
Green Tea – a small dose of stimulant, and numerous claims of helping with weight loss. Tasty alternative to sweetened beverages.
Beans, beans… so much fiber, so much protein, so cheap – fills you up for a long time.
Water Water Water! 
good for you in so many ways. Flushes out your system, fills your belly, keeps you from thinking your thirsty self is hungry (so possible), and apparently increases your metabolic rate – even moreso if it’s cold! All sorts of winning.
In general, natural foods are best for your metabolism. Vegetables, fruits, lean proteins – it’s hard to go wrong when you’re eating something completely unprocessed. Please think about your exercise plan more then the foods you eat when you decide you want to increase your metabolism – there’s so much more you can do in twenty or forty or sixty minutes to rev your metabolism for the rest of your day.
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