Share this:
DEXA Body Composition Scan
If you take how you fuel your body seriously, you might also want to consider a DEXA scan, which will give you a more accurate than a BMI test in identifying how the results can you see more clearly just how many calories you need to lose fat or gain muscles.
Supporting your metabolism with the right food is the key to getting the best out of your body, so here is a look at what should be on your shopping list.
High in resistant starch
Some nutritionists suggest that foods which are high in resistant starch could be beneficial and offer you a unique kind of fibre.
Foods such as sweet potatoes and lentils are two items that are identified as being high in resistant starch, meaning that they are not digested by your small intestine, allowing it to enter your large intestine whole, where it subsequently ferments.
This particular process helps to create beneficial fatty acids that have the ability to block your body’s ability to burn carbs. Instead, it uses stored body fat and recently consumed fat as fuel.
According to a study published in the Nutrition and Metabolism journal, replacing just over 5% of your total carb intake with resistant starch, could increase your fat-burning potential after a meal, by as much as 30%.
Another persuasive point to consider about foods high in resistant starch, such as lentils and sweet potatoes, is that their nutrient-dense properties keep hunger cravings down.
Keeping your metabolism stoked
Although it should be understood that there are aspects of your metabolism that are somewhat partly ruled by genetics to a certain extent, there are a number of foods you can consume to encourage your body’s fat burning power and help to keep your metabolism properly stoked.
Eggs are not a bad starting point in this respect. Egg whites are known to be rich in branched-chain amino acids and they are also brimming with vitamin D and protein, so include some recipes in your diet that make good use of egg whites in particular.
An iron deficiency can slow your metabolism rate, which is why eating between three or four daily portions of iron-rich foods like chicken will help counteract any iron issues. Lean meat like chicken is a great source of iron, as is pork tenderloin.
Different to other fats
It would be an understandable reaction to believe that consuming fats will have the effect of making you fat, but coconut oil flies in the face of that logic.
Cooking with coconut oil can give your metabolism a decent boost, and because of the medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) found in coconut oil, are metabolized differently in comparison to other fats, this allows your body to make use of the energy immediately, rather than being stored away as fat, which is what you might think would happen, in line with other fats.
If you are looking to fuel your body’s furnace, make sure you eat the right foods to support your metabolism.
About the Author
Lucas Barry is a fitness instructor and all round healthy mind, healthy body advocate. He writes articles for fitness, health and lifestyle blogs to encourage everyone to look after their body and reap the rewards.