Eat your way to a healthy, high-functioning metabolism.

These reactions, which take place within your cells, are necessary to produce energy.

What Does It Mean to Have a “Healthy” Metabolism?

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Having a healthy metabolism is critical for your well-being, and ultimately,longevity.

There are many factors that affect yourmetabolic health.

This includes family history and genetics, which you might’t do anything about.

Baby Kale and Chicken Caesar Recipe

Caitlin Bensel

And this absolutely includes your diet.

What you eat plays a leading role in your metabolic health.

Meanwhile, other foods arerich in antioxidants, which minimize oxidative stress and cell damage.

Tropical Fruit Salad

Victor Protasio

Below, check out some foods that boost metabolism and delicious recipe ideas for each.

This is due to their high content of magnesium and iron, two very important minerals.

“Magnesium is essentialfor [every] energy-producing chemical reaction in the body,” Dr. Kelley says.

Peach Iced Tea Recipe

Victor Protasio

On the other hand,iron helps carry oxygento all your cells, she says.

According to Dr. Kelley, teas contain antioxidants called catechins.

Coffee

Could your morning coffee help boost your metabolism?

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it’s possible for you to thank the caffeine for more than just your get up and go.

Studies have found that caffeine can boost your metabolism by 3% to 4%.

Chicken and Other Lean Proteins

Protein can be a key addition to a metabolism-boosting diet.

Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

Greg DuPree

She cites lean protein sources like chicken as a perfect way to help you feel fuller longer.

Chili Peppers

If you love spice, your metabolism is in luck.

Ginger

Ginger can help increase metabolism, Bakovic says.

Cheesy Chile Dip

Victor Protasio

Ginger is packed with antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation to improve metabolism.

It’s a perfect addition to spice up mealsor even to brew up a littleginger teawith fresh ginger.

According to Dr. Kelley, increasing your overall intake of fiber can bolster metabolic health.

Ginger-Lime Melon Salad

Jennifer Causey

Cocoa

Here’s a good excuse to eat chocolate.

Cocoa or cacao contains a slew of antioxidants, including flavonoids and polyphenols, which can help with inflammation.

The flavanols can also potentially improve glucose metabolism.

EXTRA SHARP: Nutty Superfood Breakfast Bites

Water

Call it cheating, but yes, water is absolutely on this list.

As it turns out, you don’t need pricey specialty drinks or grocery items to jumpstart your metabolism.

Simplydrinking enough watercan do wonders, and for good reason.

Yogurt Dip With Herb Oil

Victor Protasio

Aim for eight 8-ounce glasses a day or tryinfused waterrecipes to keep things interesting.

1 (January 1989): 4450. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/49.1.44.

2019;74(25):3139-3149. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.09.068

Promdam, N., & Panichayupakaranant, P. (2022).

chocolate-truffles-recipe

Samantha Seneviratne

Cocoa and Chocolate in Human Health and Disease.Antioxidants & Redox Signaling15, no.

10 (November 11, 2011): 2779. https://doi.org/10.1089/ars.2010.3697.

StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.

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Greg DuPree

Accessed February 6, 2023.

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