Weight loss - 4 foods to boost your metabolism

After the weekend of guilty snacks and indulgences, people are usually quite enthusiastic at the start of the week to stick to their diets. However, as mid-week approaches, the sneaky chocolate bars come out and the siren calls of the vada pav come calling.

While it is really important to ensure that you are eating something every couple of hours (starving is counter-productive to dieting), it is also important to keep these snacks healthy and light. Instead of reaching for the nearest junk food option, why not choose a metabolism-boosting snack? Not all foods are the same. Some foods are great burning up more calories and getting the metabolism fired up. These foods also generate more energy in the body, thereby helping you beat those Wednesday blues and doldrums!

1) Green Tea

While it is associated with soothing and calmness, green tea is great at boosting your basal metabolism. Green tea contains a compound called catechin, which is an antioxidant that plays a role in raising your metabolism. Green tea also has a grounding effect in your body and soothes your system without adding extra calories.

2) Cinnamon and Ginger

These are integral part of the Indian diet, and add wonderful aroma and vibrancy to food. Cinnamon and Ginger also have great anti-inflammatory and digestive properties. They also contain capsaicin, a compound responsible for 'spiciness'. Capsaicin fires up receptors in the brain responsible for fat-burning. Including more of these aromatic spices in the diet could mean you burn more calories.

3) Almonds

Mmm…who needs a reason to eat almonds? Raw, flavored or as a butter, Almond is yummy in so many forms. Well, here's a great reason to eat almonds – they speed up your metabolism, and can help you shed some inches. Almonds are nutritionally dense, which means they pack a lot of nutrition at the cost of very few calories. An excellent source of vitamin E, almonds have antioxidant properties, which further aids weight loss. Almonds truly pack a punch with their benefits!

4) Spinach

Want to become like Popeye, the sailorman? Then eat your spinach, kids! Spinach protects the body from oxidative stress and accelerate the metabolism. They are also packed with fiber, which gives you satiety faster and helps prevent overeating. Additionally, they are also a great source of folate and vitamin E. They are also versatile and can be used to make a variety of dishes from different cuisines. So, go on and make spinach a big part of your diet.