Eat These 25 Foods To Speed Up Your Metabolism Slideshow

There are more reasons than just weight loss to avoid a slow metabolism. Your metabolism might seem invisible, but it actually makes itself known in many areas of your life.

A slower metabolic rate can make you feel depressed, lethargic, and stressed. Your hormones could start to shift, making you more irritable, less balanced, and more prone to acne. You might start to sweat more and experience problems with your circulation. You could even experience painful cramping and embarrassing indigestion.

Truth be told, weight gain — which, according to many studies, isn't really indicative of health at all — is the least of your problems with it comes to your metabolism. The reasons to keep it revving stretch far above the BMI reported by your doctor.

Having a high metabolism can help you live your most balanced, most energized, and least inhibited life. Luckily, these foods can help you get there.

An apple a day keeps the weight gain away, apparently. According to a study conducted at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, women who ate three small apples or pears daily lost more weight than women who didn't. These fruits are hiding a high fiber content, tons of essential vitamins, and a few other secrets, too.

These fruits — yes, they are a fruit — contain metabolism-enhancing monounsaturated fat. They're also hiding antioxidants, which help cells' mitochondria to metabolize effectively. Essentially, the superfoods are wonderful for your metabolism, energy levels, and overall health.

These nutrient powerhouses contain the rare compound selenium — a mineral that works with your thyroid to regulate the T3 and T4 hormones. These hormones are partially responsible to regulating your metabolism. Plus, these nuts are so full of selenium that you only need one Brazil nut per day to hit your beneficial quota.

When you skip breakfast, your metabolism takes a nosedive. Start your day with some healthy breakfast foods right when you wake up to maximize your metabolism.

Have you ever started sweating after eating a spicy dish? While this is partially due to the harsh nature of the spices on your digestion and body heat, it also is partly caused by a short sprint of your metabolism. Hot peppers contain capsaicin, a compound proven to rev up metabolism.

Chocolate has been clinically proven to reduce stress and, as a result, regulate metabolism. We're talking a few squares per day — a whole bar would wreak metabolic madness. But the science doesn't lie. Sometimes, chocolate truly is the answer.

Citrus fruits such as grapefruits have proven to maintain a quick metabolism. This could be impacted by their vitamin C content or fiber. Either way, they make a refreshing snack, especially during warmer weather!

According to one study, coffee can increase your metabolic rate by up to five percent. This is because caffeine is a stimulant. Boosting your metabolism is just one of many benefits that these caffeinated cups have to offer.

Magnesium is essential for keeping your body's processes moving efficiently. Protein-rich edamame are a tasty and simple source of the underrated nutrient, and can be eaten in a tasty recipe, roasted, dried, or simply steamed.

We recommend you eat the whole egg, too — not just the whites. Eggs contain protein, healthy fats, and choline, a compound that inhibits fat storage and encourages a faster metabolism. These nutrient-rich breakfast staples also have a plethora of other health benefits on their side, as well. To keep your cholesterol at a happy medium while still reaping all the benefits of eggs, limit your intake to two eggs in any given day.

Calcium, vitamin D, protein, and healthy fats all contribute to maintaining a quick metabolism and a healthy thyroid. Full-fat cheese has all three — the time for fearing fat is over. Low-fat yogurts aren't healthier, and studies suggest they can actually increase your risk of Parkinson's. Throw away your low-fat "slimming" yogurt cups and go for the good stuff. Your metabolism will thank you.

Yogurt is rich in vitamin D, which can help protect against thyroid disease. Since your thyroid regulates your metabolism, this is great news. Additionally, the probiotics and protein found in Greek yogurt can be beneficial to speeding up your body's ability to burn fat.

According to a study published in Science Daily, probiotics have a positive impact on the rate of your metabolism. Kefir, a yogurt product infused with probiotic bacteria, aids your digestion and regulates gut-balancing bacteria. The more balanced the bacteria is in your gut, the more regulated your metabolism becomes.

Chicken, lean beef, and other lean meat sources are loaded with iron and protein. Both of these nutrients can help your metabolism keep up its usual speed, if not accelerate it higher. Amino acids from lean meats help the body to build and repair its cells more efficiently, resulting in a boosted metabolism.

In order to work properly, your body needs a daily dose of iron — with this nutrient flowing through your bloodstream, your metabolism is freer to speed up at will. Luckily, lentils have lots of it, and we have lots of lentil recipes.

At the Nutrition Institute at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Michael Zemel conducted studies that suggested calcium has the potential to boost your metabolism. Milk and other dairy products are loaded with it. If you don't like to drink milk, try having it with cereal, fruit, and nut butter in the morning or pouring it into oatmeal to make breakfast way more flavorful than it would be using water.

Loaded with heart-healthy fats, olive oil has the potential to help your body absorb nutrients from food, increase your brain health and longevity, and speed up your metabolism. Use olive oil while cooking, drizzle it over salads, or use it as a dip for bread.

Yes, pasta can actually increase your metabolic rate. Lambasted as a diet-killing food, pasta (as long as you buy the whole wheat kind) actually contains healthy whole grains and fiber. Whole grains from pasta stabilize hormone levels and blood sugar, resulting in a steadier, speedier metabolism.

This is an appealing option for vegetarians and vegans, who can't get the metabolism-boosting proteins from lean meats and fish. With up to 20 grams of protein per serving, protein powder is a quick and easy way to keep your metabolism up high.

Salmon has large amounts of omega-3's, fatty acids that decrease the production of leptin. Leptin is a hormone notorious for slowing down metabolism. Additionally, foods rich with healthy fats keep you satiated and stave off hunger for longer. The Mediterranean diet might have something right, after all.

Chia seeds, sunflower seeds, and other kinds of seeds all contain healthy fats that help keep you full and energized. Not only do fats contribute to brain health, but they also keep your metabolism going throughout the day by supplying sustainable long-term energy.

Scallops, oysters, and shrimp are delicious and popular sources of two metabolism-assisting nutrients, zinc and iron. They're also a favorable source of lean protein, which contributes to fat-burning muscle growth.

When you go hungry between meals, your metabolism dips into dangerous territory. Once you do eventually eat, your metabolism is so low that it doesn't process all the energy you're consuming at your meal (where you're also more likely to overeat). Avoid the crash and snack on foods containing nutrients that provide sustainable energy. The best snacks usually consist of a mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

According to the Global Healing Center, a Canadian study found that using spices enabled people to burn up to 1,000 more calories daily than those not incorporating spices into their diet. Cinnamon, cayenne, and garlic have proven to be most effective alongside their other benefits.

This gorgeous green is a nutrition goldmine. It contains calcium, zinc, and iron, three nutrients that contribute to a speedy metabolism.

We have 12 spectacular spinach recipes for you, if you're not sure where to start.