Want A Flatter Stomach? Dietitians Say You Should Add This Metabolism-Boosting Ingredient To Your Smoothie Every Morning

Almonds, almond butter, or almond milk

Although nuts might not be the first thing you think of when you imagine smoothie ingredients—after all, smoothies are most commonly associated with fruit—Lee says almonds are one of the best things you can add to the mix if you want to boost your metabolism and shed pounds quickly. This is because, as she says, these nuts "contain the perfect combo of protein, healthy fats, and fiber," which are all essential components of any great weight loss diet.

The high protein content of almonds is one of the biggest reasons eating them regularly can lead to a faster metabolism. "Because protein takes longer to be used and absorbed, it has a higher thermic effect compared to fats and carbohydrates." Lee explains. Essentially, the more protein you add to your smoothie, the more calories your body uses to digest the meal—and the faster you'll be able to reach your flat stomach goals.

There are several other metabolism-boosting benefits of this protein-packed ingredient. Lee goes on to say that "protein can help preserve muscle mass" which helps to "keep your metabolism at its peak." Additionally, almonds are a low-glycemic food, which means that they can help keep your blood sugars stable. "Another plus, almonds contain some antioxidant properties from Vitamin E," she concludes.

With all these upsides, we're definitely going to start throwing some nuts (or almond butter or milk, which boast many of the same benefits!) into the blender—in fact, we may just forget about the smoothie altogether and munch on some almonds on their own!