1. Chili Peppers- The next time you're whipping up something spicy in the kitchen, feel free to get turnt up by adding some chili peppers. Although not for the faint-hearted (or bland-tongued), chili peppers do a lot more than set your tastebuds on fire. A study done at the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition showed that chili peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which helps the body burn fat at a faster rate and may help boost metabolism. Habaneros are particularly full of the stuff. So put down the hot sauce, add the real stuff, and you may be pleasantly surprised.
2. Green tea- Swap your quadruple mocha-choca-frappa-whatevertheheckitscalled-accino at your favorite overpriced coffee chain for a venti green tea. Green tea contains EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate), which is thought to be a potent anti-oxidant and metabolism booster. Some critics argue that green tea doesn't do much fat burning, but it's a helluva lot healthier than all the sugar and carbs in your quadruple-ccino. Brew a pitcher of iced green tea and keep it handy. 4-6 cups a day works best!
3. Whole grains- Put down the doughy ma** of goodness that is your daily bagel and reach instead for products made out of whole grains- like quinoa, brown rice, and oatmeal. Because whole grains are high in fiber and come to you in their most organic form, the body has to work harder to break them down to digest. In contrast, processed foods slow the body's metabolism down because it doesn't have to expend as much energy to break them down. You can eat to make your body work harder? Sounds like a win-win.
4. Greek yogurt- this might be the best thing to come outta Greece since the gyro. Kidding. Kinda. Greek yogurt is chock full of proteins which are great for many reasons. If you're looking to put on some muscle for bathing suit season, increasing your protein consumption will definitely help. Furthermore, Greek yogurt has twice as much protein as other yogurts, which means you stay fuller longer after eating it. Like whole grains, the body burns off more calories when its digesting protein, making Greek yogurt an excellent choice! Bonus- it's also full of calcium which promotes strong bone health.
5. Water on the rocks- Anyone who is trying to lose weight will always be told to drink lots and lots of water. Why? It's simple. For one thing 2/3 of your body is comprised of water, so it's important to constantly stay hydrated. More than that, drinking water will keep you full and less likely to reach for temptations. In fact, people who frequently feel hungry and reach for food in turn are encouraged to drink a tall gla** of ice water first, lest the hunger pangs actually just be thirst pangs. The “ice cold” part is key because the body has to expend energy to warm the water up to your body temperature.