This week I want to dive into some amazing foods that can actually help rev up your metabolism naturally. I get asked all of the time by my clients what secret foods or supplements they can take to rev up their metabolism.  And my answer is always the same, there are no magic pills or secret sauce here, just good old-fashioned whole foods!

But first, here is why you should try adding more whole foods, especially these 5 listed below! You will:

• have more energy
• wake up actually feeling RESTED
• sleep better
• reduce PMS mood swings
• curb the constant hunger you feel around your period
• have energy to start a workout and actually finish it
• see the fat loss results you've been dreaming about
• and help manage food cravings so you can stay on track with your goals

‍Broccoli

It is super high in antioxidants and carries a high amount of calcium which is known for its ability to help the body to metabolize fats. Broccoli is also very high in dietary fiber, which helps to clean out the intestinal tract!

A clearer intestinal tract, particularly of the lower intestine, means that broken down foods can be more easily absorbed through the intestinal walls. When plaque builds up in the intestines, the body has a harder time getting the nutrients that it needs.

It also means that those of us who struggle with Estrogen Dominance is less likely to continue reabsorbing excess estrogen hormones from our digestive tract and further worsen the symptoms that we experience every month!

Green Tea

Green tea is considered to be one of the crucial factors in improving our metabolism. It naturally contains catechins and caffeine. Studies show that green tea helps in the burning of fats. In a study conducted on healthy men, green tea extract was given after some exercise which helped increase the metabolic rate and enhanced the oxidation of fats up to 17%!

Caffeine consumption from Green Tea can also increase metabolic rate by 3-4% and increase the energy expenditure by 8-11%, as shown in a study. This is a significant amount considering that in the week before our period, during our Luteal Phase, our metabolism revs up and can burn an additional 4% of calories compared to the Follicular Phase. So if you want to boost your metabolism all month long, increasing your energy and fat-burning abilities, consider drinking Green Tea during the 2 weeks of your Follicular Phase (your period and the week before ovulation)!

Curious if coffee can do the trick? Don't be so quick to grab a cuppa joe before reading the connection between Coffee and Hormone Imbalances!

Cayenne & Jalapeno Peppers

These hot peppers are a popular flavor additive when people want to heat up their favorite dishes. The active ingredient in them is called capsaicin, and it’s had a long history of being included in remedies to help with vascular health. Research has shown a particular effect that capsaicin has on the metabolism, in that it can stimulate blood flow and increase metabolic activity for over 2.5 hours. That means that while the capsaicin in your body, you are more likely to burn calories that you’ve stored, or burn the calories of the foods you’ve just eaten!

Apples

Apples are well known for promoting a healthy digestive tract. They are full of useful vitamins and are very high in fiber that the body needs to sweep the digestive tract. Modern science has discovered that this is largely due to the agent found in apples called pectin. It has the ability to bind to cholesterol and many toxins found in the body to make them easier to eliminate.  Apples aren’t the only fruits that contain pectin. Plums, pears, and some berries also contain this amazing agent, and it’s the thing in food responsible for the consistency of jellies and jams. Since apples are low in fat and calories, they are also ideal for fat loss!