Metabolism Boosting Superfoods for 2010! Part 1

by Susan Cross | Posted: January 15th, 2010 | No Comments »

Welcome back! By now you know what your metabolism is, how it works and what the best ways are to boost it. I thought I would give you a list of the very best metabolism boosting foods that exist. Now almost every fruit and vegetable is a metabolism booster. I just picked the best of the best. Some food items you may be very familiar with and others you may just be learning about for the first time.

I know this list is long but I really want you to learn a little bit about each food. It is my belief that once you know what it does and why it’s earned its place at the top, you might want to just give it a try.

Enjoy and remember to buy organic as much as possible. Picture it this way: two people are given the exact same food program for one week; person number one consumes only organic food, person number two consumes only conventional food. Person number one will increase their metabolism and lose weight at a faster rate. Even when consuming the exact same foods. Why? In laymen’s terms our body is designed to meet the slowest digestible food. This is the theory at the root of food combining. In other words, if your diet is full of easily digestible, metabolism-boosting goodies but they are full of pesticides, herbicides, hormones, anti-biotics, arsenic, ammonia and other chemicals, the body is not designed to metabolize those, it has no idea what to do and so it holds on. The entire digestive process slows down, and metabolism is not increased.

Fear not. It is easier than you think. You can shop at the local farmer’s market, chip in and share meals with friends. Even begin by making two organic meals a week. It is a wonderful start and these small steps will increase and add up to huge changes in your health.

TURMERIC
This 3000 year old spice is one of our most powerful healers. Turmeric has shrunk cancerous tumors in mice, and these tumors did not return. This is HUGE! The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Besides being a winner in science labs, turmeric is credited for: reducing the risk of leukemia, preventing and stopping the growth of prostate cancer, preventing melanoma cells to grow, is a natural liver detoxifier (again remember our lesson on metabolism, our cells and the liver), aids in fat metabolism, may prevent and slow down alzheimer’s by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain, is a very powerful anti-inflammatory, which aids with arthritis, natural painkiller and has been used for years as an anti-depressant in Chinese medicine. You can buy turmeric in pill form, this is the easiest way to make sure you get a high dosage each day. I use it in spice form. I sprinkle it over quinoa, in vegetable stir-fries, you can use it on your eggs, in a tofu scramble. I basically sprinkle it on any vegetable I eat.

CINNAMON
Ok this one is my favorite. I am cinnamon crazy. Cinnamon has one of the highest anti-oxidant levels of all herbs and spices. Here is a little known secret I am sharing with you. This is why we want you to LOVE VIB – you get it here first! So you are reading this and thinking ‘I am so good I use cinnamon everyday and must be getting all these health benefits, right?’ Wrong! Sorry, but most cinnamon sold in the USA is not cinnamon. What now? It’s true. Unless you are buying Ceylon cinnamon you are sprinkling something called Cassia on to your toast. Cassia is similar, and is related to cinnamon, but does not have the powerhouse health benefits we are sharing with you. As a matter of fact the compound in cassia, called coumarin, can actually damage your liver and is harmful to those on blood thinners.

So what are these great benefits of real cinnamon? It is fabulous for keeping blood glucose levels even – the holy grail to getting that metabolism working in your favor. So it works very well for people with hypoglycemia and type 2 diabetes, lowers LDL cholesterol, aids in digestion, reduces arthritis pain, boosts memory and cognitve function, helps migraine pain, is an anti-infammatory. I sprinkle mine in tea, in oatmeal, on my Ezekiel bread with almond butter, in my smoothie, in pancake batter, on applesauce, in cereals, in my muffins, everything I can! Really!!!

CAYENNE PEPPER
This is a super spice! It is named for the city Cayenne, in French Guyana, in South America. Cayenne powder comes from red hot chili peppers. The “fruit” of the pepper is dried and then ground and sifted to make cayenne pepper. The active ingredient is capsaicin. Capsaicin is considered a “thermogenic” chemical. Your takeaway is that it speeds metabolism and decreases appetite! Yippee.

It isn’t just a wonderful diet aid it also increases blood flow, maintains healthy blood pressure, is an anti-inflammatory, boosts immunity, has anti-viral properties, promotes a healthy digestive system and helps with regularity. A healing teacher once told me that you can put cayenne pepper on a wound, if someone is bleeding a lot (while you are waiting for an ambulance) acting like a clot, it helps stop bleeding. Hope I never have to try that one! Another friend who was to have oral surgery,brushed her teeth and gums 2x a day for 3 weeks. She never needed that surgery! I have tried this and it is not for the faint of heart. On a separate note, if you are menopausal and/or experiencing hot flashes cayenne pepper will exacerbate them.

KALE
Kale is King. There is no other vegetable that has as many antioxidants, or as high an ORAC rating. Kale is a superfood chock full of phytonutrients. It is part of the cruciferous vegetable family. This family of veggies fights cancers by releasing enzymes that neutralize free radicals and detoxifies the liver. Now remember the lesson on your cells and our metabolism – well this is where kales come in. Anything that detoxifies also helps with your metabolism.

As with all leafy greens, Kale is also an excellent source of iron, omega-3’s, Vitamins A, C, E and K and is very high in calcium. Kale is high in carotenoids, lutein is one of them, which is needed for eye health. Here is where I love to play “connect the dots.” Our country has a high incident of fatty livers, (from high saturated fat diets), we also have a high incidence of glaucoma and cataracts. Remember, Kale is both a liver detoxifier and good for the eyes. Guess where the eyes get just about all of their nutrients from ? The liver! Isn’t this stuff fascinating?

The US is one of the leaders in dairy consumption, but we also have a high incidence of osteoperosis in this country. How could this be? Studies are in, that are proving dairy is not what fights osteoperosis and bone loss. The true preventer is a diet rich in leafy greens and this is where Kale is king!

SPINACH
Another leafy green loaded with antioxidants, vitamins A, C, K and lutein (remember the carotenoid that aids eye health). It is full of iron and folate – remember Popeye! I love spinach. I think I eat spinach and kale more than any other vegetable. They are both so easy and fast to prepare.

SWISS CHARD
Swiss chard got its name to distinquish it from french spinach. Others say it is from the beet family but without the swollen “root.” What I know for sure is it’s a leafy green that’s chock full of antioxidants and minerals; potassium, iron, magnesium. Swiss chard is one of the most powerful anti-cancer foods due to its combination of traditional nutrients; phytochemicals, chlorophyll and fiber. Swiss chard is also a good source of B6, calcium, thiamine, selenium, folic acid, protein and zinc. With all of these vital nutrients in it we just know it is working on our metabolism – talk about a multi-tasker!

BROCCOLI
Also from the cruciferous vegetable family, the chemicals in this powerhouse prevent cancers by fighting excess estrogen in the body. It is also full of iron, calcium, potassium and folic acid. High in anti-oxidants and fiber, of course it is on our metabolism boosting foods list.

For anyone with thyroid issues broccoli, and all cruciferous veggies are considered harmful if eaten raw. They contain chemicals called goitrogens, meaning they can produce goiters. Lightly cooking or steaming your veggies inactivates the goitrogens. I love broccoli but since I have a thyroid issue I eat very little. I gave it up for over a year while healing my thyroid and instead filled up on kale, swiss chard, spinach and many other plant foods. I have since reintroduced it and it is fine. Kale is considered a cruciferous vegetable but contains less of the goitrogens.

BEETS
I love beets, I love everything about them, their taste, color, texture and how easily they blend in foods. Did you know that during the Victorian era women would use beets to make their cheeks look rosy! The beet roots are a real powerhouse for phytonutrients and antioxidants. Beets contain iron, folic acid, potassium, vitamin B6, calcium and fiber. Beets are another wonderful liver detoxifier, are excellent for cleaning the blood, kidneys and gallbladder and for relieving constipation by improving peristlasis in the large intestine. Is it any wonder beets are on our metabolism list? I puree beets and put them in all my baked goods. It lets you cut down on sugar and adds so many antioxidants to your food. For your veggies just cut the greens and sautee them with garlic and then chop and sautee the actual beets and serve together – yum! I predict you will be hearing more and more about the benefits of beets.

FENNEL
The name Fennel comes from a place in Marathon (which meant “place of fennel”). Fennel grew everywhere there. Marathon was town in Greece, which was the battle of Marathon in 490 BC. The Athenian army won and beat the Persians. After the victory, a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens, to announce the victory. The distance between the two towns is 26.2 miles, hence the modern day marathon being 26.2 miles. Another little known fact is that the messenger died during this journey. So we just learned three things: how the word marathon came to be, how the expression “don’t kill the messenger” came to be, and why I don’t run marathons!

Ok I digress, Fennel is used by many herbalists to relieve intestinal issues, it expels gas and gets our digestive tract working, relieves stomach cramps and helps bad breath. It is full of postassium, fiber, folic acid, iron, calcium, magnesium and manganese. Fennel also contains large amounts of anticancer coumarin compounds, ranking it high in antioxidants. Just chop it up and put it in salads, mix it with kale, or top it on fish. Either way don’t run away from your fennel!

TOMATOES
Tomatoes are very high on the antioxidant list. They protect against prostate, cervical and breast cancers. They are great for your blood and your heart. The good stuff in tomatoes is lycopene. The lycopene is reduced at a much higher rate if the tomatoes are warmed – so cooked tomatoes like tomato sauce are a much better source. Also organic tomatoes have almost five times the amount of lycopene so choose organically. Don’t forget organic ketchup as well. Much more lycopene and no high fructose corn syrup. Even Heinz makes organic ketchup now. I just chop up tomatoes, place them on my fish, drizzle with olive oil and bake.

YAMS
More powerful than sweet potatoes. Yams offer a great source of vitamins B1, B6, C, fiber, potassium and manganese. This power house carb. also contains a unique phytoestrogen called diosgenin, which help with the balancing of our hormones, estrogen and progesterone. This is why you will hear of natural progesterone creams being made from wild yam. Yams made our metabolism list because they aid the liver and help to detoxify excess estrogen in the body. Great for anyone over 35! I eat baked yams all the time and I blend them in my soups. Adding just half a yam [skin off] will give the texture of a creamed soup without using any dairy. Also try slicing and baking – yam chips are the best.

AVOCADO
Avocados are a true superfood. Filled with monounsaturated fatty acids (the good heart healthy fats) that actually help you lose belly fat. Good fats are also needed for proper hormone synthesis, brain function and to transport many nutrients and vitamins to where they need to go. The avocado is also a great source of fiber, potassium, magnesium, protein, vitamin b6 and K. This is truly a perfect food. I add avocados to all my blended green soups and to smoothies to give that creamy taste.

SEA VEGETABLES
We just don’t get enough of these and we don’t always know how to do so. They offer the broadest range of minerals of any food. ANY! It is said that all the minerals found in the ocean are the same as found in human blood. Sea veggies are full of lignans, phytonutrients that fight cancer. Lignans aid our metabolism by inhibiting estrogen to be stored in our fat cells. This cuts down our cancer risk considerably. I take my sea veggies for thyroid health. These are natures richest sources of natural iodine which is essential for thyroid health. Because these thyroid hormones regulate metabolism in every cell of the body and play a role in virtually all physiological functions, an iodine deficiency can have a negative impact on your health. How do you get your sea veggies? Well most health food stores have a variety now. I fill nori with tuna and eat it as a sandwich, I throw nori and wakame into quinoa or in soups and I cut nori strips and add to my veggie stir fry. My easiest and most guaranteed way is to have 2 oz. of Life Force Body Balance every single day. This super elixer offers all of the sea vegetables necessary to maintain thyroid health. It is a superior supplement with metabolism boosting properties.

GARLIC AND ONIONS
Garlic and onions are from the allium family. They are superfoods. They have anti-viral properties, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and have antioxidants that have been studied to help prevent cancer. They also have mild stimulant properties, especially garlic. So try not to have too much in the evenings it will keep you awake, and who wants to be wide awake when no one wants to kiss you!

OLIVE OIL
Ahhhhhhh my favorite. I put olive oil on anything I can. Olive oil is a good fat, no make that a great fat! Olive oil is one of the best transporters of vital nutrients to the brain and our organs. New studies are showing it helps prevent Alzheimer’s. Why is oil on our metabolism boosting list? Well did you know when your body is full of the good fats (and proper lean protein) it will not have sweet cravings. It is true. Olive oil, flaxseed oil and coconut oil all aid in metabolism. High temperature oils are bad for you though so try to steam veggies and cook pasta and fish and drizzle the olive oil on afterwards. My favorite is Olio Beato. It is an organic olive oil that has won “great-tasting” award year after year. It is so delicious I could eat it off the spoon. Talk about doing a taste test. One taste of this and you will never eat supermarket olive oil again.

You may have noticed this is only 15 of my 30 metabolism boosting foods. Because this list is so extensive, and I want you to really understand the benefits of each food, I am saving the remainder of the list for tomorrow.

I hope you enjoy reading. More importantly, I hope you enjoy some of these wonderful, life-enhancing foods each day.