

So if you’re focused on trying to get a faster metabolism, low-calorie diets aren’t the way forward. “Our bodies are programmed for survival and by not fuelling it, the body adapts to the restricted calorie intake, using fewer calories to perform its tasks.” When this happens, the body's resting metabolic rate will decrease to save energy in the event there is a famine. Severely limiting calories tricks the body into thinking there's a famine with a need to conserve energy. She says: “Very low-calorie diets can be a sure-fire way to slow down your metabolism. Caffeine in coffee, tea, and green tea may increase metabolism by a moderate amount, but likely negligible for the average person consuming these beverages throughout the day.” Can you slow down your metabolism?Īre there any sure-fire ways to slow-down your metabolism? Gentile believes so. However, the literature is inconclusive.Īnd as Gentile points out: “The amount, though, is nominal and the amounts used in studies cannot be achieved by drinking green tea, alone. (Image credit: Getty) Adding catechin-enriched green tea into your dietĪccording to research, green tea catechin extract may increase energy expenditure and fat metabolism at rest and during exercise. “It is suggested that water may increase REE by activating the sympathetic nervous system, acting as a natural appetite suppressant, and by preventing dehydration, which slows digestion and energy burning.” “Some studies have shown an increase in resting energy expenditure (REE) up to 25 to 30% for up to 40 minutes post-ingestion,” Gentile tells Live Science. And another, published in the International Journal of Obesity, showed a 25% increase in resting energy expenditure in children who drank water before bed. One study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, found that drinking two liters of water per day could augment energy expenditure. It's possible that drinking water can have an effect on your metabolism. Pomona College researchers found that consuming whole foods increased your post-meal energy expenditure by 50 percent compared to eating processed foods. “A high protein diet has also been associated with a 24-hour increase in energy expenditure,” Gentile adds. This is because it increases your body’s temperature and heart rate. As one of the best metabolism-boosting foods (or drinks) coffee can increase metabolic rate by 16-24.
Foods that speed up metabolism fast trial#
In a clinical trial which looked at the effect of fat-reduced diets on energy expenditure, the results showed participants whose diets consisted of 29% of their calories as protein had higher resting metabolic rates than those who gained 11% of their calories as protein. Love it or hate it, coffee is here to stay. Gentile previously served as an adjunct faculty member at CUNY Brooklyn College. She owns a nutrition consulting practice where she focuses on cardiac health and weight management by improving women's metabolism. Gentile is the coordinator of the home enteral nutrition program at Maimonides Medical Center.
