Metabolism-boosting food for a healthy sexy body

To eat and lose weight at the same time – that sounds too good to be true.

But there are indeed some types of food that can help boost one’s metabolism, the body’s natural process of replenishing energy and building muscles and immunity from diseases. In a nutshell, a faster metabolism generally means the body processes and burns food faster, which can lead to a higher chance of weight loss!

Help your body develop faster metabolism by choosing food that are low in caloric value but are high in nutritional value. “Good News” presents these healthy food choices that are not only nutritious but can also stimulate metabolism by triggering fat-loss hormones.

All-natural metabolism boosters



Water is a natural appetite suppressant that helps increase metabolism by equally distributing nutrients throughout the body. By drinking at least eight glasses a day, you can stay hydrated for workouts while keeping your metabolism high.



There are also a number of healthy juices that you can make to help stimulate your body’s metabolism. Vegan food advocate Mirabai Sebastian shares her take on staying healthy: “‘Pag vegan ka, mostly kinakain mo lang vegetables, fruits, grains – basta lahat plant-based,” she said. “Aside from the overall health benefits of being a vegan, it really boosts your metabolism kasi ‘pag mas malinis yung katawan mo mas mabilis napa-process lahat ng food and nutrients.”

Because fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, eating these keeps your insulin level steady, helping your body prevent fat storage that leads to weight gain.

Mirabai shared with “Good News” her own versions of healthy juices that can be easily made at home.

Green smoothie - Simply blend green vegetables like lettuce, water spinach or kangkong, malunggay and alugbati with water. To add sweetness to the juice, also blend in fruits like ripe bananas and ripe mangoes.

Calamansi and pepper juice - Mix pure calamansi juice and cayenne pepper with water. Add in cinnamon and muscovado (coconut sugar) to act as natural sweeteners.

Have some lean meat



The lean meat in congee helps in muscle building since it’s low on fat. It also gives energy for exercise, doubling the metabolism benefit from one food.

Chinese restaurant Mongkok Dimsum and Noodles in Makati is famous for their lean meat congee.

“Isa siya sa bestseller namin kasi masustansya po siya kasi less fat po,” restaurant supervisor Sheila Colorado said. “Kasi ngayon, ang mga tao ay aware na sa kanilang health so naisipan namin na ilagay ‘yun sa congee.”

Spring onions and ginger in the lean meat congee add to the health factor of the dish.

A little sweet thing won’t hurt

Green tea helps boost metabolism and also contains theanine, which helps reduce anxiety and gives minds focus and clarity.

Craving for sweets? Mochiko, a Japanese dessert store, sells mochi  (a cake made of glutinous rice) with flavors and fillings. The green tea-flavored mochi is their bestseller.

—Donna Allanigue/CM, GMA News