We're all familiar with the knowledge that in order to lose weight we must speed up our metabolism. Exercise is a great way to do this - especially aerobic or cardiovascular exercise. But there is another way - by eating certain foods you can also increase your metabolism, lose weight and get all around healthier!
Enzymes are the key factor here. Enzymes are proteins that trigger practically every chemical reaction in the body from digestion to moving your muscles. However, these aren't your muscle building proteins - they are non-digested catalysts that must be present in order for all other bodily processes to happen.
Usually when enzymes are mentioned, digestive enzymes are what come to mind. However, the enzymes we are talking about are metabolic enzymes. These are responsible for fat burning, strengthening the immune system and alleviating tiredness. Adding raw foods to your diet can help your body restore healthy enzymes levels of both kinds.
You can start by incorporating raw foods into your diet. The more raw foods you eat, the faster your metabolism will get. But as with anything - don't overdo it. If you are not used to eating raw foods, your body may have a difficult time digesting them. Read on for easy tips to get your fill of raw foods right away.
Start your day with raw, fresh, organic fruit. The morning is your body's normal cleansing time when your body's ability to metabolize fat peaks. Since fruits are the natural cleansers of the body, having one or two servings of fruits in the morning will help this process. But eat it alone - you want to give it time to digest. If you are having protein or cereal for breakfast too, wait about thirty minutes after you eat the fruit. Eating these foods too close together may give you a tummy ache.
For lunch, have a large raw veggie salad with protein. This is time of day when your digestion is at its strongest and your body is ready to rev up your metabolism. For protein, there is a variety to choose from such as sprouts or beans. If you prefer some cooked food, you can add chicken, lean beef or fish with your meal. If you prefer more cooked food at lunch, that's okay. Just be sure to start your lunch with a small, raw veggie salad - skip the high fat dressing, though.
To end your day, start your dinner with a raw veggie salad. Again, this gets your body ready to work and can help digest your dinner. Including this salad will help stabilize blood sugar as well as help your weight loss goals.
If you can't find time to eat your salads or snack on raw veggies (or want to do more), try drinking your vegetables. Raw, fresh made vegetable juice from carrots, celery and beets have plenty of live enzymes. These enzymes not only strengthen digestion, which can speed your metabolism, but they can also strengthen your immune system and keep you from getting overly hungry between meals.
Eating more raw foods will supply many benefits. Adding raw fruits and veggies will increase your metabolism, control blood sugar, help your body detoxify and can even minimize the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
You can keep your diet easy by simply replacing meals - or parts of your meals - with raw foods. Start with 50% raw and work your way up to 75% or even 100% raw. Search your local health food store for raw food recipe books to keep your meals interesting. The more raw foods you eat, the faster you will lose weight and the quicker you will receive all the other health benefits.
