4 Tasty Metabolism & Energy Boosting Foods

When it comes to boosting your metabolism and energy levels, there are a handful of foods that you should be eating on a daily basis that help you look and perform better along with giving you more energy and a speedier metabolism for faster weight loss.

The following foods are rich in energy boosting nutrients and contain antioxidants that help speed up workout recovery and fight off and prevent illness and disease.

If you are suffering from low energy levels and have a slow metabolism, start eating these foods on a daily basis to get the most benefit from them. You do not have to eat all of these foods every day, but eating most of them daily is the best way to go.

So without further ado, here are four outstanding and tasty foods to eat often for more energy and a higher metabolism.

1. Berries

Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are all awesome fruits that boost your metabolism and energy levels. You see, most fruits are high in natural sugars which can slow down and prevent fat loss.

However, unlike most fruits, berries are very low in natural sugar which makes them perfect to eat anytime. Berries are loaded with antioxidants, fiber and plant nutrients called phytonutrients, which help increase energy levels by improving your cellular health.

To get the most health benefits from berries, eat a fruit bowl consisting of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries several times a week. This combo packs a powerful antioxidant punch which strengthens your immune system and helps speed up your metabolism and increases your energy levels.

Mixing berries into low-fat or no-fat Greek yogurt makes for a tasty snack or breakfast. Always put fresh berries into your yogurt instead of buying yogurt that already has fruit in it.

Flavored yogurt or yogurt with fruit contains far too much adder sugar and too little fruit, which means you will not get the energy and health benefits that you get from eating fresh berries.

As berries absorb a lot of pesticides, I highly recommend that you spend an extra dollar or two and go with organic berries as they do not contain any harmful pesticides.

2. Walnuts

Walnuts are my go to food for boosting energy levels anytime of day. Walnuts are an excellent source of Vitamin E, fiber and ALA, an omega-3 fat essential for healthy hair, skin and nails. They are also very low in carbohydrates which means you can snack on them at any time of day.

Although Walnuts are high in fat, the fat is mostly from monounsaturated fat, which is a good fat that does not damage your arteries or cause inflammation, which is the leading cause of heart disease.

For best results, snack on a small handful of Walnuts in between meals, 60-90 minutes before bed, or anytime you need an energy boost. Walnuts make a good pair with fresh fruit and dried fruit, just be sure to limit your fruit intake as most foods are high in natural sugar which can interfere with weight loss.

3. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes far superior to white potatoes when it comes to nutrients and fiber. Sweet potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse as they are loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C and dietary fiber and several other important nutrients.

Most people tend to prefer the taste of sweet potatoes to regular potatoes as they are sweet and can be eaten with many different foods for both lunch and dinner.

Eat sweet potatoes with lean meats and fibrous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, tomatoes, spinach and other raw veggies several times a week.

The complex carbohydrates in sweet potatoes give you sustained energy without the crash you would get from other foods high in carbohydrates, especially sugar.

4. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a true Superfood and has countless health benefits along with boosting your metabolism and energy levels so you can power through your workouts.

Coconut oil contains a high amount of unique fats called medium chain triglycerides. These fats are considered fat burning fats and can speed up the burning of body fat quite considerably.

Coconut oil can be used for cooking, as a sauce or dressing, and in smoothies and shakes. For a tasty and quick energy-boosting snack, I like to spread one tablespoon of coconut oil on a whole grain rice cake, then spread almond butter over it and top it with the raspberries or blueberries and sprinkle it with cinnamon.

This absolutely delicious snack contains healthy fats and antioxidants along with fiber and plant nutrients which increase energy during workouts and protect the immune system from exercise induced stress.

Coconut oil can be eaten and consumed in many different ways and with many different foods, don't be afraid to experiment and find the best way for you to eat coconut oil.

There you have it, incorporate the above four foods into your diet on a weekly basis and you will notice a nice increase in energy along with a higher metabolism, leading to better workouts and better results.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Sugar Free Homemade Granola

Did you grow up with the nutty and wholesome smell of granola in the oven? I didn't, but thanks to this recipe, my mom now makes her own as well!

4 cups rolled oats

½ cup olive oil

½ cup maple syrup

½ cup EACH sesame OR sunflower seeds AND pumpkin seeds

1 cup chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds

1/8 tsp EACH nutmeg AND cinnamon

Dried fruit: craisins, raisins or chopped, dried apricots

Pour oats, seeds and nuts into a square baking pan. Then drizzle the wet ingredients over the top, slowly rolling all together with wooden spoons. Bake at 275 degrees until golden brown. I check and stir every 20-30 minutes.

While cooling, I toss in the dried fruit. We store this on our counter top with a ¼ measuring spoon for a quick snack when needed. I typically double this batch and it lasts us about two weeks.

The thing to remember with homemade granola is that you can change up the measurements and ingredients as you like. For example, switch up the spices, nuts, seeds, or dried fruit to something different and the taste completely changes. What you want to maintain is the ratio of wet to dry, specifically of and for the olive oil, syrup and rolled oats. You can also switch out honey for maple syrup and get a nice crunch with a little sweet. Sometimes that makes all the difference in the world.

Easy to give as a gift, just store in a Mason Jar, tie with a bow and you have yourself a last minute hostess gift, thank you or holiday gift.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

The Top 5 Healthy Fat Foods (Eat These Daily)

Did you know that fat is an essential nutrient that your body needs on a daily basis? In fact, without enough (good) fat in your diet, your risk for developing major illness such as heart disease, blood vessel disease and atherosclerosis significantly increases.

But here's the thing, all fats are not created equal. The right fats (also known as essential fats because your body can not produce them on its own), will support your weight loss goals, improve your energy, make you look younger and support healthy cholesterol levels and a healthy, strong heart.

On the other hand, consuming the wrong fats can lead to a slow metabolism, a lack of energy, overall poor health and even worse, heart disease and even cancer.

The 5 foods listed below all contain healthy fats which will boost your health by increasing your HDL (good) cholesterol, decreasing your bad cholesterol and improving your energy, your looks and even your mood.

Healthy Fat Food #1: Salmon (Wild)

Without a doubt, wild caught Salmon is on of the best and highest sources of heart healthy omega 3's. Salmon is loaded with DHA and EPA, which have been shown is studies to have a direct impact on increasing good cholesterol and decreasing bad cholesterol. EPA and DHA have also been shown to improve symptoms of inflammatory disorders such as arthritis and Crohn's disease. In addition to its' excellent omega 3 content, wild salmon is also an excellent source of high quality protein, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E and Vitamin A.

But, stay away from farmed Salmon. Thanks to modern fish farming practices, farmed salmon has nowhere near the amount of omega 3's found in wild caught salmon. Salmon farmers use dangerous antibiotics and chemicals to keep the farmed fish healthy in overcrowded fish pens where disease spreads quickly. Farmed salmon is also fed an unnatural diet of fish meal consisting of GMO soy and animal by-products, which dramatically reduces the omega 3 content of farmed salmon.

Eat wild salmon at least twice a week. Avoid frying it in oil. Instead, bake it in the oven and eat it with a side of fibrous veggies such as broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, green beans or a leafy dark green salad.

Healthy Fat Food #2: Walnuts

Walnuts contain a high amount of ALA, another essential fat that your body can't produce on its own. Walnuts are also a great source of fiber, Vitamin E, protein, Iron, Magnesium and vitamin B6. Eat a small handful of walnuts several times a week for optimal health benefits. Walnuts are great to eat all on their own and are a great appetite suppressant.

I like to snack on a handful of walnuts with a piece of fruit in between meals and at times where I may not have something healthy to eat (such as before going to a restaurant, an event etc... ) to reduce my appetite and eliminate bad food cravings.

Healthy Fat Food #3: Eggs (Organic & Cage Free)

Eggs have gotten a bad rap recently because studies have shown that egg consumption increases your cholesterol levels. That being said, higher cholesterol levels are NOT dangerous if you are healthy and have no heart conditions. You see, Eggs increase your LDL (bad cholesterol), but they also increase your HDL good cholesterol at the same time.

No study has ever shown that high cholesterol levels cause heart disease. But rather, a diet high in sugar, processed foods, omega 6 vegetable oils and trans fats (found in french fries, margarine, canola oil, soybean oil and other cheap oils) are the main culprits in the heart disease epidemic. That's because those foods all lead to inflammation of the artery walls, which is the main trigger for heart disease.

If you are eating a diet made up of mostly whole foods and you are staying away from processed foods, white flour, sugar, vegetable and hydrogenated oils, your health will not deteriorate from eating one, two, or even three whole eggs several times a week.

Eggs are an excellent source of protein and B vitamins, as well as brain and memory boosting Choline. Avoid cooking your eggs in vegetable oil. Instead, boil them or fry them in small amounts of our next healthy fat food...

Healthy Fat Food #4: Olive oil

Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fatty acids which have been shown to reduce inflammation in a similar fashion to the non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs Tylenol and Advil. But unlike drugs, olive oil has no side effects and is derived from nature, not made in some lab by scientists wearing lab coats. Just goes to show you that mother nature has the answers to even the most debilitating diseases and health problems.

All in all, olive oil is an excellent health food, but it is high in calories, so you have to limit your consumption especially if you're trying to lose weight. If you are experiencing slight to moderate joint or muscle pain, start cooking with olive oil and you just may find yourself not needing those over the counter pain medications.

Healthy Fat Food #5: Avocados

Avocados are one of my favorite foods because just like olive oil, avocados are high in health boosting monounsaturated fats. They are also an awesome source of fiber and potassium. In fact, one avocado contains twice the amount of potassium of a banana! Slice up an avocado into your next salad, or make guacamole out of it.

Eat these 5 foods on a daily basis and get ready to reap all of the benefits of a diet high in healthy, natural fats.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com