Legumes and beans are particularly high in protein compared with other plant foods. Examples include:. Studies suggest their high protein content requires your body to burn more calories to digest them compared with lower protein foods. This is due to their TEF 1. Legumes also contain dietary fiber , including resistant starch and soluble fiber, which your body can use as a prebiotic to feed the good bacteria in your large intestine In turn, these friendly bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids , which may help your body more effectively use stored fat as energy and maintain normal blood sugar levels Ginger and related spices are thought to have particularly beneficial metabolism-boosting properties.

Ginger may help with weight management, obesity prevention, and energy metabolism For instance, older research shows that dissolving 2 grams of ginger powder in hot water and drinking it with a meal may help you burn up to 43 more calories than drinking hot water alone This hot ginger drink may also decrease hunger levels and enhance feelings of satiety, or fullness Cacao and cocoa are tasty treats that may also benefit your metabolism.

Flavonoids in cacao and cacao byproducts may help support metabolic actions and help reduce hypertriglyceridemia Another research review suggests that cocoa and dark chocolate may help reduce body weight, a factor that can contribute to the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders Processing tends to reduce the amounts of beneficial compounds and add extra sugar and calories MCT oil is a unique type of fat that may offer some metabolic benefits.

Most fats found in foods are long-chain triglycerides, but MCT oil comprises medium-chain triglycerides. Some older studies have shown that MCT oil consumption can increase metabolic rate in humans. Additionally, unlike long-chain fats, once MCTs are absorbed, they go directly to the liver to be turned into energy.

This makes them less likely to be stored as body fat 19 , 20 , MCT oil is typically taken as a supplement, although it can be added to foods like soups or smoothies. Drinking enough water is a great way to stay hydrated.

However, the effects only appear to last for 40—90 minutes after drinking water. The strength of the effect may vary from person to person.

Seaweed is rich in iodine , a mineral required to produce thyroid hormones and for your thyroid gland to function properly Thyroid hormones have various functions, one of which is to regulate your metabolic rate 3. Regularly consuming seaweed can help you meet your iodine needs and maintain your metabolic health.

Five foods that can support your metabolism include those high in protein and minerals that benefit your thyroid function, such as:. Certain foods may help slightly increase your metabolic rate, or how many calories you burn.

Consuming them regularly may help you lose weight and manage your weight in the long term. However, these foods will not negate a poor quality diet. For effective, lasting weight loss and weight management, seek a gradual reduction in calories and choose mostly whole, minimally processed foods.

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Medically reviewed by Marie Lorraine Johnson MS, RD, CPT — By Alina Petre, MS, RD NL — Updated on December 4, Protein-rich foods Mineral-rich foods Chili peppers Coffee Tea Beans and legumes Ginger Cacao MCT oil Water Seaweed FAQ Bottom line Metabolism-boosting foods, such as those rich in protein, may help support overall health and help with weight loss as part of a balanced diet.

Protein-rich foods. In terms of weight loss, the timing of a gym visit also might make a tiny difference, Urlacher says. A resting heart rate of 50 beats per minute for one person versus 70 for another just means the heart with the slower resting rate might be more efficient at getting oxygen to tissues, Pontzer says.

Bumping up an exercise regimen to burn through more calories may also seem like a sure way to boost metabolism and lose weight. Evidence suggests instead that daily energy expenditure has a boundary.

If you try to push past this boundary, the body adjusts metabolic expenditure in other activities to get back inside the lines. This energy compensation may explain why simply adding more miles a week can yield fitness and other gains but has little effect on weight.

People who exercise also tend to increase caloric intake to compensate for the additional energy expenditure. But how might metabolism change if you exercise and restrict caloric intake?

In addition, their basal metabolic rate, which had declined by the end of the competition, was still below baseline six years later.

Science needs to be deliberate about these major health issues. Intermittent fasting and other timed eating regimens ultimately reduce caloric intake, raising similar concerns of slowing basal metabolism.

This idea has also not been verified by any conclusive science, Roberts says. There is one way that calories going in may affect the calories going out. Protein and fiber can also indirectly help a person reduce caloric intake.

Another common belief is that our metabolic rate starts to drag during our 30s or 40s. But research suggests that your basal metabolic rate does not really begin waning until you near retirement age.

Instead a metabolic rate decline of about 0. What some of us experience before then might relate more to a reduced proportion of muscle mass with aging, he says. Focusing on maintaining lean mass, managing the types of calories you take in and paying attention to basics such as getting good sleep might be the best way to stay at optimal cruising metabolism.