You will agree with me that there are some foods that will either inhibit or boost your metabolism.

And boosting your metabolism is essential for weight loss as it helps you get rid of unwanted body fat.

On that note, we bring you seven foods that boost your metabolism that is backed by science. Just sit back and read on…

1. Protein-Rich Foods

Protein-rich foods such as eggs, meat, fish, nuts, dairy, legumes, and seeds could be all you need to boost your metabolism for a few hours.

Your body requires more energy to digest these protein-rich foods. This process is known as the thermic effect of food (TEF).

The thermic effect of food (TEF) refers to the number of calories required by your body to digest, absorb and process the nutrients in your meal.

Studies reveal that protein-rich foods have the highest effect on TEF.

It is observed that protein-rich meal increases metabolic rate by 15-30%, compared to 5-10% for carbs and 0-3% for fats (1).

The protein may also help you stay fuller for longer, which prevents snacking between meals (2, 3).

What’s more, the protein-rich meal also reduces the drop in metabolism often experienced during weight loss by retaining muscle mass (4, 5).