8 Best Metabolism Boosting Drinks

When we talk about weight loss, the conversation often centers around food. What you drink, however, can have an impact on not only your weight but your overall health. Metabolism-boosting drinks can help you manage your weight, while also providing excellent health benefits.

The Best Metabolism Boosting Drinks

Before we begin, let’s clear the air a little here. The core of weight loss for most generally healthy people is a calorie deficit. There are no magical pills, potions, or drinks that will do all the work for you. However, there are certain foods and drinks, outside of their calorie content, that can be helpful when trying to lose weight. On top of that, there are many types of beverages that can contribute to weight gain and have negative health effects. These include sugar-sweetened beverages like soda or energy drinks, as well as some fruit juices with added sugar. In excess, these are not your friends. On the other hand, there are some drinks that can actually help you lose weight. If you have a weight-loss goal, try adding some of the following metabolism-boosting drinks to your regime to help you lose those unwanted pounds.

1. Green Tea

The weight-loss effects of green tea are thanks to catechins. These are antioxidants that have been shown to increase fat-burning and boost metabolism [1]. Green tea also contains caffeine, which can help increase your energy levels and improve your performance when you exercise. Not only can moderate caffeine intake help you lose weight, but it can help you maintain your weight loss as well [2]. Matcha green tea is even higher in catechins than looseleaf green tea, which may make it an even better choice for weight loss. One study showed that women who drank matcha green tea everyday burned more fat while exercising than women who did not [3].

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2. Coffee

Just like green tea, coffee also contains high amounts of caffeine. Several studies have shown that caffeine increases metabolism and promotes fat-burning [4].  Additionally, drinking caffeine may also help you maintain your weight loss. In One study of over 2100 participants, people who were successful at maintaining their weight loss over time drank significantly more caffeinated beverages than the control group [5].

3. Black Tea

Black tea is high in polyphenols, which help reduce calorie intake and stimulate the breakdown of fat [6]. It can also promote the growth of good gut bacteria [7]. Specifically, black tea contains a group of polyphenolic compounds called flavonoids. A study including nearly three thousand women found that those who consumed more foods that were rich in flavonoids had significantly lower body and belly fat than those who consumed less [8]. While this particular study didn’t specifically look at black tea, its findings should theoretically apply.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

A beverage made with apple cider vinegar can act moderately as a metabolism-boosting drink because of its acetic acid content. Acetic acid may stimulate weight loss by improving your metabolism, suppressing your appetite, and burning fat [9].   A study of 144 obese adults had participants drink a daily beverage containing two tablespoons of vinegar each day. Compared to a placebo group, they saw reductions in body weight, waist circumference, and belly fat [10].

5. Ginger Tea

Ginger tea and ginger water are both drinks that provide a number of health benefits. It has been proven to be an effective remedy for nausea, and colds, and to improve digestion. Ginger tea has also been shown to help with weight loss. In one study, ten overweight men drank hot water with two grams of ginger powder for breakfast. The participants found that they felt fuller after eating, and experienced less hunger in general than when they didn’t. The study also demonstrated that ginger had the benefit of increasing the thermic effect of food. That means that the number of calories needed to digest and absorb food increased [11].

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6. Protein Drinks

Protein increases hormones like GLP-1, which reduces hunger. It also decreases ghrelin, which is a hormone that increases feelings of hunger [12]. Protein drinks can help you increase your protein intake to keep you satiated throughout the day. In a 2011 study, ninety adults who consumed 56 grams of whey protein per day for 23 weeks lost five more pounds than those who didn’t consume protein [13]. For those who have difficulty digesting whey, hemp, and pea proteins are also great choices for increasing protein intake.

7. Vegetable Juice

Drinking low-sodium vegetable juice, as opposed to fruit juice, can significantly increase your vegetable consumption while decreasing carbohydrate intake. Both of those dietary changes can help with weight loss [14]. While this drink doesn’t necessarily “boost” your metabolism, it’s a great lower-calorie, nutrient-dense addition to your diet.

8. Water

Drinking more water can have an incredible number of health benefits, including increasing energy and brain function, and lowering your risk for heart disease. Water can help you lose weight by boosting your metabolism and increasing your satiety levels. In one study, dieters who drank 16.9 ounces of water half an hour before meals lost 44 percent more weight over twelve weeks than those who didn’t [15]. Drinking more water can also replace other sugar-sweetened beverages in your diet, which can help you lose weight.

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Other Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

It is important to remember that boosting your metabolism alone likely won’t result in significant weight loss without the necessary diet and lifestyle changes that lead to a calorie deficit. That being said, it can help. Think of it as a small cherry on top of your weight loss sundae. The most effective ways to increase your metabolism are:

Aerobic Activity

Aerobic activity is the most effective way to increase calorie burn. Even just thirty minutes, five times per week can help you lose weight

Strength Training

Muscle tissue is more active than fat tissue, therefore it burns more calories. For this reason, having more muscle can help you lose weight. Just two days per week doing activities like weight lifting (or even heavy yard work) can increase your muscle mass and boost your metabolism [16].

Weight Loss Takes Work

Physical activity is the best way to burn more calories. Metabolism boosting drinks, however, can help you increase your metabolic rate, and provide a number of other health benefits as well. Another great thing about these drinks is that in their raw form, they’re either zero-calorie or low in calories. So if you’re replacing other high sugar calorie-laden beverages with these, even better!

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