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Foods for metabolism
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Metabolism determines the general health of a person. If it is normal, then the weight corresponds to the height and age, organs and systems work without failures, excess fat (or excessive thinness) does not bother. Many can only dream of such an idyll. And for the dream to come true, first you need to remember about products for metabolism.
Healthy foods to improve and normalize metabolism
Metabolism consists of all sorts of physiological processes, functionally divided into two parts: absorption and breakdown of nutrients in the body. If the first ones prevail, a person gains weight, and when the opposite processes are activated, he or she loses weight. And only balance allows the body to be kept in shape - both for those who need to gain weight and for those who want to lose weight. This is a slightly simplified, but understandable explanation of metabolism.
There are quite a lot of useful products for improving and normalizing metabolism. By combining them, it is quite possible to eat tasty and high-quality food without denying yourself taste pleasures.
Among the products for metabolism, the leaders are protein: meat, fish, dairy and seafood. Of the fats, various vegetable and fish oils are recommended. Of the carbohydrates - vegetables and fruits, in particular, citrus fruits, pineapple, cereals, bread from wholemeal flour. Spices, chocolate, water, coffee, tea speed up metabolism.
- Protein products replenish energy, burn calories, and reduce appetite.
- Pumpkin is healthy due to its high content of natural sugars, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and fiber.
- Products rich in fiber saturate the body, regulate peristalsis, and stimulate metabolism.
- Fish contains metabolism stimulants that, through enzymes, break down fats and prevent them from accumulating.
- Ginger, pepper, and other spices speed up digestion and metabolism. At the same time, it is necessary to limit the amount of sugar.
- Hot chocolate is a storehouse of antioxidants, reduces stress, and eliminates digestive disorders.
- Oatmeal contains fiber, lowers insulin, and gives a feeling of satiety.
- Chili pepper suppresses appetite, speeds up metabolism, burns fat.
- A serving of green tea accelerates fat burning over the next few hours. Coffee is no slouch either: it lasts for 4 hours.
- Water – you need to drink about 2 liters of quality still water per day, plus teas, juices, soups and other liquid dishes. It is better if they are chilled.
In addition to nutrition, physical exercise, water treatments, including sauna, contrast shower, massages, walks, sleep, and avoiding stress contribute to improvement and normalization. You should eat often and little by little.
Strict diets are unacceptable, as this is stress for the body, to which it responds with increased accumulation of fat. It is important to know that acceleration and normalization of metabolism is a rather long procedure that requires patience and consistent actions.
Products to speed up metabolism
Metabolism boosting products are indispensable for those who want to lose weight without exhausting diets that are harmful to physical and mental health. The right metabolism products provide the opportunity to control your own weight without burdening your body with unpleasant procedures and restrictions.
The list includes fruits, colorful vegetables, green tea, oatmeal, ginger, lean meat, beans, spices, coffee and other drinks. Here's a brief overview of their benefits.
- Fresh fruits – preferably with a low glycemic index: peach, orange, guava, grapefruit. Strawberries and watermelons, due to the abundance of liquid and fiber, give a feeling of satiety, without increasing body weight.
- Meat without fats builds up dry muscle mass; contains a lot of proteins, minimum carbohydrates and fats. Poultry breasts contribute to weight loss - boiled, baked, stewed (but not fried).
- Oatmeal is a great breakfast, it provides fiber and energy, and lowers cholesterol.
- Beans are rich in fat-burning substances. Thanks to proteins, they saturate the body and give a feeling of satiety.
- The leaders among vegetables are cucumbers and celery. These low-calorie products are rich in fiber, vitamins, microelements, and liquid. Various types of cabbage and colored vegetables are useful.
- Ginger is an excellent metabolism booster. It is used as a seasoning for various dishes.
- Spinach and asparagus are healthy due to their dietary fiber, vitamins and low calorie content.
- Cardamom, mustard, and black pepper not only improve taste and aroma, but also speed up metabolism.
- Unsweetened coffee without cream, two or three servings a day, will be very useful, since caffeine interferes with the absorption of food components and vitamins.
- Lack of water provokes a slowdown in metabolism. The normal dose is up to 3 liters of clean water per day.
Harmful products for metabolism
Using the right foods for metabolism in your menu is half the battle when it comes to fighting excess weight. The second part of the task is to eliminate harmful foods for metabolism. Or at least minimize their quantity.
These products primarily include those rich in refined and simple carbohydrates. These substances are very high in calories and tend to be stored in the hips, waist, and other depots. The "black list" includes white bread, buns, pastries, pasta dishes, candies, sweets, and carbonated drinks. An alternative to these harmful products for metabolism is honey, dried and fresh fruits, and diet sweets.
- Products rich in harmful fats include mayonnaise and other fatty sauces, fried foods, fast food, semi-finished products, smoked products, butter, margarine. The body should be enriched with healthy fats, which are found in olive and other vegetable oils, nuts, dairy products, avocado.
Metabolic processes are slowed down by pesticides that end up on the table along with vegetables and fruits. Agricultural production cannot do without these and other chemicals, and no one can guarantee that the fruits we buy do not contain an excess of them.
To minimize the intake of these harmful products for metabolism, vegetables and fruits must be thoroughly washed in running water and peeled. And if possible, buy organic products.
Foods that slow down metabolism
Products that slow down metabolism are interesting for those who are going to gain weight. When setting such a goal, you need to be ready to limit healthy products for metabolism and not get carried away with harmful ones. The latter may help to gain weight, but at the same time they can cause certain gastrointestinal diseases.
The following foods and dishes slow down metabolism:
- Fatty pork is a source of protein and fat.
- Sugar, baked goods, and white bread contain refined carbohydrates, which slow down metabolism.
- Potatoes and pasta with high-calorie sauces and ketchups.
- Buns with butter, honey, peanut butter.
- Nuts, seeds, and grains contain agyrine, which helps reduce the rate of metabolic reactions.
- Cold drinks, including water, act as retarders because the body's energy is first used to warm them up.
People who want to harmlessly slow down their metabolism should eat tomatoes, melon, potatoes, meat broths, pork and chicken, eggplants, apricots, and nuts.
Alcohol also slows down metabolism, and it works not only during consumption, but also some time later. In addition, alcohol itself is quite caloric. But due to the harmful effects of its constant use, it is hardly worth considering this product as healthy.
Brewer's yeast, special dietary supplements (Apilak and similar preparations) with a balanced composition of components are used as retarders after consultation with a doctor.
Correctly selected products for metabolism can solve problems that arise in people with underweight or overweight. Diet is also important. But this is not a panacea, because for normal life a person should move a lot, rest on time, and not have bad habits. And such a lifestyle certainly has a beneficial effect on the whole body.