We all want to be at our ideal body weight, but getting in shape is a struggle. Certain foods can help to kick-start your metabolism a little more and thus kick-start your weight loss. In many cases, the problem is that the metabolism slows down, which is why we can’t lose weight. This problem is most common in older age and affects women in particular. During the menopause, it becomes increasingly difficult to get rid of the extra kilos that have been put on.
When you want to lose weight, the worst thing you can do is not eat enough, i.e. fasting. What happens to your body when you don’t eat enough? The body gets hungry and starts to store food. This means that your body burns very few calories and stores fat, so you don’t just lose weight, you gain weight. So the solution is not to stop eating, but to eat nutritious food.
It is also very important to eat foods rich in iodine, which is the basis for a healthy thyroid gland. If the thyroid gland is functioning well, then there will be no problems with our metabolism, and the body will burn enough calories. The thyroid gland also regulates appetite, so it is very important that there are no problems with the thyroid gland. Most people don’t consume enough iodine, or more specifically, foods that are rich in iodine, such as iodised salt, egg yolks or fish such as cod.
Legumes also help to maintain a normal metabolism. They contain a lot of fibre, which is easily digested and reduces appetite. This group includes beans, lentils and peas.
Drinking fluids, or more specifically water, is also very important as it plays a key role in boosting metabolism. Water helps to burn calories and fat, and it also fills you up easily, thus reducing appetite.
Everyone thinks of calcium in terms of bone health, but calcium does much more than that, for example, it plays a major role in metabolism and its proper functioning. Calcium can also help us burn fat, which is why it is important to eat calcium-rich foods such as broccoli, milk, dairy products, salmon and other fish.