If you’re on the keto diet, knowing which foods speed up metabolism is a good idea. Adding these foods into your diet can help to maximize the diet’s weight loss benefits.
Remember that the higher your metabolism, the more fats you will end up burning. A faster metabolism can also make it easier to maintain your weight.
Even if you think you have a slow metabolism there are things you can do to help speed it up and following a keto diet is one of them. Simply switching your source of fuel from carbs to fat, as you aim for on keto, will speed up your metabolism on it’s own.
But, thankfully, there are lots of keto-friendly foods that can help to rev up your metabolic rate even more. Aside from helping you to achieve and maintain ketosis, these foods can increase your metabolism, making it easier for you to achieve weight loss.
Related reading: Lumen Metabolism Tracker Review
So here’s a list of foods that could speed up metabolism on keto.
Which Foods Speed up Metabolism Best On Keto?
1. Nuts
Adding nuts to your keto diet can benefit you in so many ways. They are loaded with healthy fats that are good for your heart. Eating lots of nuts lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol.
Since nuts are also high in antioxidants, they are anti-inflammatory, which helps fight belly fat. They can also help protect you from diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Nuts are also a good source of thiamin, a B vitamin that plays an important role in energy metabolism.
Although almonds are the most preferred nuts of keto dieters, all nuts are healthy and keto-friendly. According to dietitian Maggie Michalczyk, RD.,
“Generally, all nuts are good sources of healthy monounsaturated fats, protein, fiber, and many different vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.”
It’s best to buy very fresh and unroasted nuts. Roasting nuts can reduce some of the nutrients in them and may form unhealthy acrylamides especially in almonds.
Related reading: Best Nuts To Eat On A Keto Diet
2. Avocados
Avocados contain healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These fats help to boost your metabolism and minimize cravings. Research shows that the monounsaturated fats found in avocados can help to reduce metabolic syndrome. This is a condition that is known to affect blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
In another study, published in Nutritional Journal, it was found that when participants added half an avocado to their daily diet, they felt full and satisfied after eating, which minimized their urge to snack.
Therefore, if you want to minimize unhealthy cravings and speed up your metabolism while on the keto diet, you should eat a good amount of avocados.
Related reading: Avocados Benefits for Weight Loss
3. Coffee
Although you may not be drinking your morning cup of coffee purely for it’s health benefits it does have a number if them due to the antioxidants it contains.
But, it’s the caffeine content that studies show can boost your metabolism. During a study comprising of four trials researchers showed that the metabolic rate of normal weight and obese participants increased significantly during the 3 hours after they were given caffeine.
It turns out that caffeine can also help you burn fat during exercise. The caffeine which is a stimulant can boost your energy so your exercise is more efficient.
Because coffee is a stimulant it’s not good to drink to much of it. More is not always better. Some people find it affects their sleep if they drink it late in the day.
If you want to find out more about keto coffee then download my free Keto Coffee 101 Guide here.
4. Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like kale, broccoli, and spinach may help boost metabolism due to their high iron content. Iron is an important mineral needed for the body’s metabolism, growth, and development. If you are a vegetarian, you can rely on leafy greens for a healthy dose of iron.
You can eat leafy greens with fruits that are rich in Vitamin C such as berries, lemon, and tomatoes. These fruits can help increase your body’s absorption of iron.
A good way of mixing green leaves with berries is to have them in a green keto smoothie like this
Some leafy greens are also known to provide a high amount of magnesium. This is another mineral that helps support the body’s metabolic function and plays an important role in some of the major processes in our body.
5. Eggs
Eggs are among those foods that are ideal for the ketogenic lifestyle. One large egg contains less than 1 gram of carbs and about 6 grams of protein, so it fits well in the keto macros. Aside from being keto-friendly, eggs are also known to help boost metabolism.
Eggs have all the essential amino acids and in the right ratios. Therefore, you can easily use the proteins from eggs for weight maintenance and metabolism.
Studies show that a diet that’s high in protein can help to speed up the metabolism through a process known as the thermic effect of food. Thus, adding eggs to your keto diet is a great way to speed up your metabolism.
Related reading: 5 Simple Ways To Boost Your Metabolism To Lose Weight
6. Chili Peppers
If you are someone who loves to pour hot sauce on your food, then you are unknowingly helping your body to burn more fats. That’s because spicy foods like chili pepper are known to boost your metabolism.
The capsaicin found in chill peppers is an appetite suppressant, which helps you to lose weight even more. It produces heat in the body and rapidly converts the calories into energy. Aside from chili peppers, capsaicin can also be found in other spices, such as cayenne pepper.
7. Protein Powders
In a keto diet, about 10 to 20% of your calories should come from protein. One of the best ways to include protein into your diet is through protein powders. You can make it into protein shakes or add it into soups and salads.
Aside from helping you to achieve ketosis, protein can help you to lose more weight since it can boost your metabolism.
Studies show that a diet that’s rich in protein can help build muscles easily, especially when combined with strength training. This can speed up your metabolism since muscles are capable of burning more calories than fats.
Related reading: Will High Protein Low Carb Shakes Help Me Lose Weight?
8. Chicken
One of the most effective ways to boost your metabolism is by building muscle mass. As mentioned, muscles are capable of burning more calories than fats. Although performing weight lifting exercises is the best way to build muscles, eating lots of protein is also essential.
Aside from eggs and protein powders, another great source of protein for your keto diet is chicken meat, such as chicken breast. This is the leanest part of the chicken and contains lots of essential nutrients that help you to recover from your muscle-building exercises. Three ounces of roasted chicken breast is already enough to provide you with about 27 grams of protein.
9. Olives and Olive Oil
Olives are rich in beneficial fats, making them a great food to add to your keto diet. Foods that are naturally high in monounsaturated fats such as olives can help your body to burn more calories. They also help you to feel full longer, which minimizes your desire to eat more.
Olives are a very versatile ingredient, which you can add to pizzas, salads, and other delicious low-carb meals. Of course, you can also eat them on their own.
When buying olives look for ones that are in olive oil as opposed to sunflower oil. The sunflower oil they use is usually very processed so of low quality.
Also look for cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. Make sure you buy a reputable brand because it has been discovered that a lot of olive oil is adulterated with sunflower oil, rapeseed oil or soybean oil. Hopefully buying organic olive oil should overcome this problem.
It’s best to avoid heating olive oil because it can destroy the beneficial phytochemicals in it. You can drizzle olive oil on your salads or vegetables.
Final Thoughts
You might not be able to control each and every factor that could affect your body’s metabolism, but knowing which foods speed up metabolism can certainly help you to achieve your weight loss goals.
Aside from eating these metabolism boosting foods, exercising regularly may also help to boost your metabolism and help your body to burn fats faster.
