If you’ve fallen victim to a secret or trick “guaranteed to boost your metabolism,” only to have it fall flat, you’re not alone.
Shortcuts to increase our metabolism and quicken our weight-loss goals abound, and they can be as attractive as they are abundant. Products such as appetite suppressants and dietary supplements promise fast results, but you shouldn’t buy into the buzz.
“Every medicine that’s been designed so far to increase metabolism to help patients lose weight has been withdrawn from the market because it’s dangerous and could cause health issues such as heart disease, stroke or seizures,” said Dr. Bradley Eilerman, an endocrinologist with St. Elizabeth Physicians. “A lot of the medicines are either so weak they’re ineffective or so strong they’re dangerous.”
An example of an ingredient used in dietary supplements that was pulled from the market because of its potential risks is ephedra. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the U.S. sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra because it found the supplements had an unreasonable risk of injury or illness ““ particularly cardiovascular complications ““ and a risk of death.
Another quick fix often touted for speeding up metabolism is caffeine, but Eilerman said that while caffeine works as an appetite suppressant and might increase metabolism slightly, the increase won’t be enough to affect weight loss.
With regard to so-called “super foods” that are credited with boosting metabolism, there just isn’t any scientific evidence.
“We can’t say it’s patently false, but we do know there’s no science behind it, so it’s hard to lean on,” Eilerman said. “People should be good consumers and not pay for something without proof.”
It is true, however, that the digestion of foods that contain protein and fiber takes longer, so eating foods high in protein and fiber will help you expend more calories.
“It’s a subtle way to manipulate your diet,” Eilerman said.
The best thing you can do to improve your metabolism, though, is to make sure the calories you’re expending are greater than the calories you’re consuming. In other words: exercise.
“Many people think that if they exercise, they can eat whatever they want,” Eilerman said. “That’s not true, though. There has to be a limit.”
And, if you feel as if something is wrong, it’s never a bad idea to ask your doctor. Conditions such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are easy to check for, and treatable.
