10 Metabolism Boosters: A Cheat Sheet for Your Waist

I have a confession. Sometimes, I cheat. 

Not on a school test or work-related task. And not on my husband. No, I cheat on my weight. It's kind of like when I moved the submarine a smidge while playing Battleship with my little sister.  It's not a big sin, but it gets results.

Everybody needs a cheat now and then.

My cheat? Metabolism boosters to eat and drink.  Most of the time, I try to eat healthy and in moderation. I bust out the cardio (almost) daily and work in some weight training. But every girl slips up now and then. These cheats give me the edge I need -- especially when I want to eat that cookie/cupcake/candy bar or skip a workout to go out with girlfriends instead.

Behold, the Cheat Sheet of Metabolism Boosters!

Water. I can't say it enough, if you're not drinking enough water, your body cannot function properly and burn off calories. In fact, not drinking enough water may lead to bloat.  Drink water throughout the day (and instead of soda!) to make sure you're hydrated.

Black Coffee. Drinking black coffee instead of fancy café-bought coffee is great for your waistline not only because it has 0 calories, but also because it's a well-known metabolism booster due to the caffeine.

Green Tea. This one is a personal favorite. Studies have shown green tea can actually reduce the size of fat cells! It also appears to raise metabolic rates and speed fat oxidation. When you need a break from water or black coffee, sip on 0 calorie green tea. Warning: Stay away from the calorie-heavy bottled type with added sweeteners.

Lean Protein. It's important to eat a balanced diet. Lean protein will help you feel full longer than other foods and help your metabolism work more evenly and efficiently. Good sources of lean protein include chicken, fish, beans, and egg whites.

Leafy Greens & Broccoli. With their high fiber content, these veggies help you feel full and increase the body's ability to burn fat.  The biggies in this category are broccoli, kale, spinach, and Romaine lettuce. But because they also are a good source of fiber, shirataki noodles and rice similarly add bulk, help you feel full, and avoid extra calories.

Metabolism boosters include grapefruit, garlic, red pepper flakes,
broccoli, Skinny Noodles Shirataki, and blueberries.

Pomegranates. These fall fruits are packed with antioxidants that are great for your heart and may be... fat cell killers!  Studies show fat cells shrink when exposed to these antioxidants.

Berries. Strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries contain the same fat-cell-killing antioxidants as pomegranates. They also contain polyphenols, which may block the body from absorbing certain starches and fats.

Grapefruit. Vitamin C is the secret to this metabolism booster. One particular study at Scripps Clinic showed participants who ate 1/2 a grapefruit at every meal lost more weight than those who didn't.

Garlic. This tasty ingredient (another personal favorite) contains glutathione, a substance that helps the liver to clear out hormone-disrupting chemicals that can slow metabolism.

Chili Peppers, Cayenne, Red Pepper Flakes. Thermagenic properties of these spicy wonders heat up your body.  Cooling the body requires calories, which in turn revs your metabolism. So pour on the heat to be one hot mama -- or papa!

Now that you know I cheat, can I rely on your discretion? Yep, I thought not.