12 Drinks To Boost Your Metabolism

"Too often, our drink choices derail our diets," says  Alissa Rumsey , registered dietician and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "Packing in calories as we sip sugary sodas or energy drinks is a surefire way to overload our bodies and cause them to store fuel as fat. It's smarter to swap those empty calories for drinks that will do our bodies some good."

Steeping an apple and some cinnamon in a pitcher of water creates a drink that helps to detox the body and jumpstart metabolism. Apples are one of the best fruits to eat when trying to lose weight because they contain pectin, which aids the digestive process. Cinnamon contains natural thermogenic properties to help burn calories quickly. 

Whole juices without any added sugar, such as this beet, carrot, and apple blend, aid in boosting metabolism. Plus, this combination tastes great, so you can choose a healthy drink without feeling like you're missing out on amazing flavors. 

Your morning Joe could keep you in fighting shape. The caffeine in coffee significantly increases metabolic rates for three hours after drinking, and also increases fat oxidation, which is the technical term for "burning" energy. But be careful about what you add to your cup. Dairy and sweeteners can be a major drag on the system. 

Cucumber water may bring to mind afternoon tea parties with crust-less sandwiches, but cucumber can do more than just dress up a buffet. It has a natural diuretic effect, which helps to flush your system and pump up your metabolism. For maximum metabolic benefit, add six to eight slices of cucumber to a pitcher of water and sip throughout the day. 

While the grapefruit diet fad may have come and gone, grapefruit juice remains an effective way to boost metabolism for weight loss. One National Institute of Health study found that obese subjects who drank eight ounces of fresh grapefruit juice before meals lost more weight than subjects who just took a placebo capsule or drank apple juice. 

Green tea is chock-full of antioxidants that fight disease, and the catechin found in green tea has even been shown to crank up metabolism, according to new research.

Sipping a mug of this lemon tea promotes a healthy metabolism by naturally easing the flow of bile from the liver to the gall bladder and gut.

In China, oolong tea has traditionally been used for controlling weight, and a recent Journal of Nutrition study found that there may just be something to that belief. People who drank five 10-ounce servings of the tea for three days increased their metabolisms by three percent more than those who drank only water. 

Protein shakes are a terrific way to get essential amino acids because your body has to work harder to break down protein than carbs and fats. That extra work boosts metabolism and promotes weight loss.

Leafy greens and a good juicer can be beneficial to any diet, and this green juice blend actually tastes pretty great. It's low in calories, high in nutrients, and some experts think that cilantro can even help aid weight loss. Need to sweeten the mix? Just add an apple into the mix.

Water is a major factor for weight loss. Dehydration slows down metabolism: calories aren't burned as easily and fat cells aren't flushed out of the body Researchers from the University of Utah found that adults who drink eight or more glasses of water a day burned more calories than those who drank four or less. 

Watermelon juice is a great drink for a smaller waistline. Watermelon contains arginine, an amino acid that prevents fat storage and promotes fat burning. It's a win-win situation.