5 Swaps for a Better Burn

Learn how to stoke metabolism with foods in your kitchen

Everybody wants to know how they can get a high-revving metabolism. But even before you jump on a treadmill to crush calories and deplete your visceral fat, there are simple nutrition tricks you can use to get your flab-torched fast. Check out these 5 simple food swaps to speed up your metabolism—and the workout style you need to ignite your fuel-burning furnace.

WATER

Drink tap or mineral water, not purified water. In a Swiss study, purified water didn't boost men's metabolic activity, but water that contained minerals did.

OIL

Use olive oil, not flaxseed oil. Both are sources of omega-3s, but olive oil triggers a larger postmeal burn than flaxseed oil does, according to a Canadian study.

PROTEIN

Whey protein is better than casein protein. A Swiss study found that it has a larger thermic effect than casein protein has, meaning it requires more calories to digest. (Do you really need that protein shake after a gym session? Find out in The Truth about Post-Workout Shakes.)

TEA

Oolong tea trumps green tea. Both can elevate your energy expenditure, but oolong tea's jolt is more than twice that of green tea, a study from Japan found.

CHEESE & BREAD

Eat cheddar on whole grain bread, not processed American on white. Whole foods can boost your postmeal burn by 87 percent, Pomona College reports.

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