Now seasonal fresh fruits, salads and vegetables are appearing in the shops, as opposed to those grown in heated greenhouses or shipped in from thousands of miles away, it’s a great time to take advantage of some of these great metabolism-boosters.
Radishes aren’t everyone’s favourite, but these low calorie vegetables (with just 19 calories per raw cup) can boost your metabolic rate. Try swapping slices of radish for potato chips, and dip them in hummus or guacamole.
Cooked asparagus is just 30 calories per cup, but contains around 180% of the recommended daily value of vitamin K, 73% vitamin K and 61% folate. Vitamin C has been linked to fat-burning when combined with regular exercise, and as asparagus is a diuretic, it will flush excess sodium from your system.
Fibre is great for a strong metabolism, which is why artichokes are a smart choice. With fourteen grams of fibre per cup, these versatile vegetables can help regulate appetite, digestion and blood sugars, as well as helping you to feel fuller for longer.
The smooth, creamy texture of cooked fava beans isn’t all they have to offer. They’re a great source of iron – deficiencies of it has been linked to slower metabolism – fibre and protein, with seven grams of protein per serving, so a good choice for vegans. Just remember not to serve them with a nice chianti!
Dandelion greens may not be an obvious choice, but they’re not just weeds. Packed with nutrients, particularly vitamins A and K, they are also a natural diuretic – the French word for dandelion is pissenlit, literally ‘wet-the-bed’! They also are said to suppress the appetite and improve digestion, and best of all, you can get them for free!
Broccoli is one we’ve mentioned before, but it’s high in calcium that has been demonstrated to increase your body’s fat metabolism, together with other nutrients including vitamin K.
Now you know what to look out for next time you go shopping. In the second part of this blog I’ll be looking at fruits that will help boost your metabolism.
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