Everyone wants to lose weight fast, but experts agree it must be done safely. You need a balanced diet, daily exercise, sleeping eight hours a day, and keeping yourself hydrated. A great–and healthy–way to lose weight quickly is to boost your metabolism. Harvard Health Publishing describes metabolism as, “the series of chemical reactions in a living organism that create and break down energy necessary for life.” To put it simply, it’s the rate your body uses energy or burns calories. So, by eating or drinking things that boost your metabolism, you could be that much closer to your weight loss goals.
We checked in with doctors and a personal trainer for beverages that you can drink every day to boost your metabolism and they agreed: water and green tea. Read on for insight from Dr. Josh Axe of Ancient Nutrition, Dr. Nikola Djordjevic of Health Careers, and Hannah Daugherty, NASM and ACE-certified Personal Trainer and Health Coach.
Water
Ok, we probably don't have to tell you twice that water is important. Water can really only do your body good. It turns out it's also one of the easiest ways to help your metabolism. Drinking water increases your metabolism by up to 25% for almost an hour after drinking it.
That means if you drink a few cups of water every hour, you metabolism will be at its highest the whole day. Water is important for metabolizing stored fat into energy. We know this because we see how the body’s metabolism can be slowed down by even relatively low levels of dehydration. Slower the metabolism, the slower the weight loss. Daugherty emphasizes the power of hydration when it comes to metabolism and weight loss, "Water can increase your energy and help decrease cravings and unnecessary eating throughout the day," she says. Water is also a natural appetite suppressant.
Exactly how much water should you be drinking every day, though? Daugherty says, "The daily goal is half of your body weight in ounces of water." So, say you weigh 140 pounds, you should be drinking 70 ounces of water every day to meet your metabolism goals. Keep sipping from a big water bottle throughout the day. And, if plain old water is boring, you can always try infusing it with fruit. Just remember to take lots of bathroom breaks!
Green tea
While you’re drinking water throughout the day, it’s also important to start your morning off right with a cup of green tea. What’s more soothing than sipping on a hot cup of tea? Green tea is a great beverage to have in the morning: it smells great, it warms you from the inside out, it gives you a little caffeine boost, and it even offers an abundance of health benefits—including when it comes to boosting your metabolism. Green tea is a cozy, relaxing drink that also helps you lose weight. Talk about an ideal beverage!
Dr. Axe says, "Green tea is a healthy addition to your diet since its consumption has been considered a natural metabolism booster for centuries thanks to special antioxidant compounds." Additionally, Dr. Djordjevic notes, "Green tea is a magic drink loaded with antioxidants that can even prevent diseases such as cancer, tumors, high cholesterol, and heart diseases."
Green tea contains metabolism-boosting compounds called catechins. Catechins are flavonoids that are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and more. They’re also present in almost all types of tea, green tea in particular, making it one of the best options for a slimmer waist and a healthier body. Who knew!
Just remember, weight loss takes a lot of hard work, exercise, and a balanced diet. However, incorporating metabolism-boosting beverages like water and green tea into your daily diet is a great way to lose weight.
