Your metabolism is one of the key differences between feeling okay, feeling good, and feeling great. When it’s slowed down, you’re sluggish and out of sorts. But when it’s revved up and at optimum levels of performance your mind and body will feel great, you’ll be sharp, focused and even shed unwanted pounds. So, how do you tap into the power of your most powerful metabolism?
We went to the experts for 25 tried and true tips and tricks–all of which can be applied to any time of day and any type of lifestyle! And then keep the smart strategies going with these 25 Overnight Oats Recipes That Boost Your Metabolism in the Morning.
When it comes to the game of weight loss and weight management, metabolism is the star player.
Think of your metabolism like a fire. In order for it to continuously burn, you have to keep feeding it. But if you feed it the wrong things, like water for instance, you can cause it to dwindle. And if you don’t feed it often enough or at all it goes out. So here’s the biggest diet dilemma: How do you ignite a dull metabolic fire?
These series of Overnight Oat Recipes are easy to prepare and stacked with metabolism boosting ingredients so that you can start tipping the game in your favor.
1. PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE OVERNIGHT OATS
Nutrition per serving: 199 calories, 7.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated), 276 g sodium, 27 g carbs, 3.6 g fiber, 4 g sugars, 6.1 g protein (calculated without salt)
Peanut butter and cheesecake at breakfast—this is one decadent combo you don’t want to pass up. Rich in healthy fats and protein, peanut butter provides an amazing energy boost and helps stabilize blood-sugar levels. Incorporating this metabolism-revving food into your breakfast means you’ll have more energy to start your day and fly through that mid-morning slump. And things get deadly (for fat anyways) when dairy is thrown into the mix. In fact, studies conducted at The Nutrition Institute at the University of Tennessee suggest that consuming calcium-rich foods, like yogurt and milk, may help your body metabolize fat more efficiently. Need we say more?
2. CINNAMON ROLL OVERNIGHT OATS
Nutrition per serving: 360 calories, 9.5 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 225 mg sodium, 51.2 g carbs, 6.2 g fiber, 18.3 g sugars, 18.6 g protein (calculated with unsweetened almond milk, non-fat vanilla Greek yogurt, and no powdered sugar)
Skip the sticky cinnamon roll and spoon this recipe instead. Thanks to the Greek gods, this recipe is a metabolism trifecta. Not only is yogurt is packed with gut friendly bacteria, calcium and satiating protein, studies indicate that eating it as part of a reduced-calorie diet can increase metabolism. Plus probiotic rich foods help the gut process food more efficiently. This recipe will satisfy your morning sweet tooth and get that metabolism humming!
3. CARROT CAKE OVERNIGHT OATS
This is one breakfast cake that isn’t as naughty as it is nourishing. Banana, dates, carrot, almond milk, chia seeds, cinnamon, coconut yogurt...the wholesome list goes on and on. At this point you probably recognize a few metabolism increasing ingredients like bananas, dairy and chia seeds. However, let us introduce you to cinnamon. A series of studies printed in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that adding a heaping teaspoon the brown powder to a starchy meal may help stabilize blood sugar and ward off insulin spikes, which allows your body to metabolize carbohydrates more efficiently. As a nutrient bonus, this recipe meets 100% of daily Vitamin A requirements.
Nutrition per serving: 286 calories, 5.3 g fat (<1 114="" 25.1="" 58.5="" 6.7="" 9.1="" calculated="" carbs="" fiber="" g="" mg="" p="" protein="" salt="" saturated="" sea="" sodium="" sugars="" without="">
4. APPLE CRUNCH BREAKFAST PARFAITS
Nutrition per serving: 495 calories, 32 g fat (5.5 g saturated), 30 mg sodium, 35.6 g carbs, 10.5 g fiber,
18.9 g sugars, 15.9 g protein (calculated without coconut flakes, 1.5 tbsp coconut oil, agave nectar)
An apple a day does more than just keep the doctor away—it can help prevent metabolic syndrome, reduce abdominal fat and even limit the amount of fat your cells can absorb. So how does Golden Delicious shrink your waist? A recent study at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found that for every 10-gram increase in soluble fiber eaten per day, visceral belly fat was reduced by 3.7 percent over five years. Luckily for you, this recipe contains just that!
5. SWEET POTATO PIE OVERNIGHT OATMEAL
Nutrition per serving: 343 calories, 10.5 g fat, 1.1 g saturated fat, 8.3 g fiber, 19 g sugar, 11.2 g protein (calculated for two servings)
You probably don’t typically throw sweet potatoes into your oats, but we’ve got a slew of reasons why you need to start. These orange spuds are packed with energy boosting nutrients and contain a low cal, high fiber ratio that makes them a metabolic power player. Plus, they’re low in the glycemic index, meaning the body slowly absorbs them, keeping you fuller longer. Did we mention they’re one of our 30 Best Foods For 6-Pack Abs?