Metabolic rate is the rate at which calories in the body are burned - metabolism boosting foods therefore aid weight loss.

One of the big players in raising metabolism is water, exercise becomes more efficient when the body is hydrated burning up to 30% more calories than if dehydrated. Water also suppresses the appetite, and if fantastic for your skin and organs, flushing toxins out of your system.

You should be aiming for 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.

Another metabolism boosting food are chili peppers, such as the jalapeno. Although not to everyones taste, the spicy peppers contain a chemical called Capsaicin. Capsaicin causes your body to release stress hormones to deal with the shock of the heat, which in turn raises your metabolism - speeding up the body's calorie consumption!

Green tea has been said to raise the metabolism, and is commonly used to aid weight loss. It contains high levels of antioxidants and may help the reduction of cholesterol in the body. There are also green tea supplements available from most health stores if you don't find green tea particularly palatable.

Protein rich diets - such as those of body builders, help to boost the body's metabolism. Lean white meats, especially turkey are high in protein and low in fat. By eating larger amounts of protein and lower amounts of fat it will become easier for your body to put on muscle and convert fat on your body into muscle. When you have built up some muscle, the body has to constantly consume calories to maintain it! A good alternative to bacon is turkey bacon - far fewer calories, good for you and tastes very similar! Always remember to remove the skin however, as the skin on white meat contains a lot of calories.

Vegetables and fruit are excellent at raising metabolism and helping to burn fat. Broccoli, celery, lettuce, cucumber, aubergine, peas, grapefruit, apples and pears to name but a few (infact lettuce and celery require more calories to consume than they actually contain!). Potatoes however are carbohydrates and should not be placed in a group with fruit and vegetables. Fruit reduces the levels of insulin present in the body which helps aid weight loss. Also medical trials have shown that when fruit is included in a diet sugar cravings are reduced and so is the total number of calories consumed in a day compared to non fruit eaters. Vegetables contain high levels of vitamins, minerals and ions which are essential for the body - along with fibre, necessary for a healthy digestive system. So not only do fruit and vegetables aid metabolism, they are also full of the everyday nutrients your body requires.

Calcium aids weight loss, so by including low fat cheese and yogurt you are actually helping your body to consume fat. Bear in mind though it must be low in fat or fat free. Certain studies have shown that there is a significantly larger drop in weight in people that include dairy products in their diet compared to those who don't.

Obviously it is not just what you eat that affects metabolism.

At night your body is starved of food, slowing your metabolism drastically. So when you wake up you need food hence the term BREAK FAST, you are breaking the nights fast. As soon as you eat you wake up your metabolism and the earlier you do this the better, as you Will begin burning calories sooner in the day than if you skipped breakfast and continued through to lunch.

It is also important to keep fueling your body throughout the day, a constant supply of healthy, slow energy release foods will keep your metabolism ticking over and continuing to burn calories.

Exercise - particularly aerobic speeds up metabolism drastically, so it is always a good idea to include exercise in your weight loss plan.

Learn more about this author, Amy Mccann.
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