7. Harness Some Horseradish
Horseradish,
a popular ingredient to add to spicy foods and mustard, helps boost
metabolism by stimulating digestion, especially of fatty foods. Studies
have also shown that it may increase the liver’s ability to process
toxins and suppress the growth of cancer cells because of the
glucosinolates that it contains. These compounds can also be found in
lower levels within cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels
sprouts.
8. Surrender the Salt; Go Heavy on the Black Pepper
While
salt has deleterious effects on your health, studies suggest black
pepper may boost your metabolism in addition to helping dissolve fats
and relieve symptoms caused by heartburn and indigestion. The active
chemical in black pepper (piperine) triggers parts of the brain and the
nervous system, which, in turn, boosts your metabolism and burns
calories. So, skip the salt and instead pepper your food lavishly.
9. Bring on the Mustard
England’s
Oxford Polytechnic Institute discovered that eating a teaspoon of hot
mustard—not the mellow yellow, but the spicy browns— with your meal will
boost metabolism 20 to 25 percent for several hours after eating.
10. Sprinkle on the Cinnamon
Researchers
at the U.S. Agricultural Research Service have theorized that a
substance called MHCP—found in cinnamon—may help fat cells become more
responsive to the insulin needed to increase glucose (sugar) metabolism.
Instead of butter, try sprinkling cinnamon on your whole-grain bread or
oatmeal to save fat calories and boost your metabolism. You can also
sprinkle cinnamon in your coffee, tea, or yogurt.
11. Eat Thai Food
Thai
food often contains many of the spices mentioned earlier—turmeric,
cumin, black pepper, horseradish, and even cinnamon—as well as coriander
and nutmeg. All these ingredients contain the magical fatburning
molecule capsaicin that will boost your metabolism by firing up your
furnace and increasing metabolic activity.
12. Make Your Own Spice Splash
Now that you
know the virtues and benefits of spices, create your own super-charged,
metabolism-burning combinations and find ways to add a lot of spice to
your life. Here are some ideas from spice specialists, McCormick:
• Sprinkle
store-bought or homemade hummus or guacamole with paprika. Or, add a
kick by stirring in ¼ teaspoon ground red pepper or crushed red pepper.
•
Serve bread with olive oil as it’s done in an Italian restaurant. Mix ¼
cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon garlic
powder, 1.8 teaspoon crushed red pepper, and sea salt to taste in small shallow dish.
