Green tea has a chemical called EGCG that causes the brain and nervous system to run faster and helps you burn more calories. EGCG works sort of like caffeine except that caffeine causes your heart to beat faster. Want a super boost of your metabolism? Try combining caffeine and a 90 mg.dose of EGCG three times a day and you can burn an additional 80 calories a day, AOL Health says. Researchers found this out, along with the great news that you don’t have to engage in exercise for this to happen; it occurs when your body is at rest.

 

Whole grain cereal is a fab source of both complex carbs and fiber, and these are what’s needed to keep your metabolism pumped by keeping insulin levels low after a meal. Since insulin spikes make your body think it’s time to start storing the fat, eating foods that lower insulin levels makes sense.

 

 

Tuna: Eating tuna can help reduce the level of the hormone leptin in the body. Lower leptin levels are associated with faster metabolisms - at least in mice. University of Wisconsin researchers discovered that mice with low leptin levels have faster metabolisms and burn fat more efficiently than animals with higher leptin levels.

 

 

Beans: While beans are often associated with the gastrointestinal disturbances they may cause, they are also very good sources of protein, fiber and iron.
Some of the best kinds of beans to eat are:

• Navy beans
• White beans
• Kidney beans
• Lima beans

And as always, there are those beans that you should limit in your diet - I'm talking about those that are baked and refried.
Refried beans contain tons of saturated fat while baked beans are usually loaded in sugar. Sure, you'll be getting your protein but you'll also be consuming a lot of fat and sugar you don't need.
Here's something else to remember. Be sure to cook your beans thoroughly because our digestive tracks are not adapted to breaking down some proteins that are contained in certain beans.
They are already good enough on their own at stimulating GI activity. You don't want to create any unnecessary turbulence in your belly. ;)

 

olive Oil: Certain fats are good for you and your body needs them. Olive oil is one of those "good fats". In fact, it's so good that it helps you burn fat and keeps your cholesterol down.
Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, a type of fat that researchers are finding provide outstanding health benefits. One ounce of extra virgin olive oil contains about 85% of the daily value for monounsaturated fat.

So instead of taking a swig of orange juice in the morning, many dieters are picking up a bottle of extra virgin olive oil.

 

 

 

Milk contains calcium, which acts as a metabolic trigger. A University of Tennessee study found that dieters who consumed 1,200 to 1,300 mg of calcium daily lost almost twice as much weight as dieters who ingested less calcium. Milk also is a rich source of complex carbohydrates, which can boost your metabolism by helping your insuli levels stay low after a meal. And low insulin levels are desirable - high insulin levels are the signal to your body to hang onto fat.

 

Oats are a rich source of fiber, which pumps up your metabolism. And since oatmeal breaks down slowly in your stomach,

says AOL Health, it doesn’t cause a big insulin spike the way carbs like bagels do. Oatmeal is typically eaten for breakfast, which is an important meal to consume for anyone who wants to burn calories. Eating this meal keeps insulin production down and revs up the daily calorie burn. 

 

Coffee contains caffeine, which helps speed up your heart rate and thus helps you burn more calories, reports AOL Health. And this benefit comes in coffee of all kinds, whether it’s iced, hot or in a mocha smoothie. Of course, the hundreds of calories in a sugar and fat-rich blended coffee drink can negate whatever heart-quickening benefit the coffee in caffeine imparts, so you may want to consider using skim milk and keeping sweeteners to a minimum.

 

Salmon contains Omega-3 fatty acids, which can alter the levels of a hormone in your body called leptin, says AOL Health. Lower leptin levels are associated with a higher caloric burn. This fish is excellent on the grill, so think of it when it's time to fire up the barbecue this season

 

Turkey is a dieter’s friend because it’s a great source of lean protein, which helps boost metabolism, says AOL Health. Removing the skin before eating saves additional fat calories, too. Turkey breast can be used just like chicken, so try dicing and using in a stir-fry, cubing and skewering onto kabobs, or grilling.