When it comes to healthy breakfast, few meals offer the flavor, versatility, and waist-slimming benefits as a hearty bowl of oatmeal. Whether you like your oatmeal warm or prefer to whip up your favorite overnight oats recipe you can eat straight out of the fridge in the morning, the ingredient possibilities are practically endless. One of the best things about oatmeal is the fact that you can add anything you want to the mix—and that means there are so many opportunities for packing in metabolism-boosting, nutritious ingredients.
To discover one of the absolute best oatmeal additions you can throw in every day to boost your metabolism and lose weight, we spoke to health experts Melissa Mitri, Registered Dietitian, Jay Cowin, NNCP, RNT, RNC, CHN, CSNA, registered nutritionist and Director of Formulations at ASYSTEM, and Dr. Virginia Blackwell, MD, nutrition and health expert at Eve Mag. They all raved about the benefits of chia seeds!
Chia Seeds
Oatmeal is already packed with fiber and protein, but adding chia seeds to the mix can really pump it up both texture-wise and health-wise—especially if you want to boost your metabolism to burn fat faster than ever before. "Fiber has been shown to support a healthy metabolism and aid in weight loss, and adding in chia seeds is a super simple way to sneak in more fiber," Mitri points out. Thanks to all the fiber they provide (in addition to other nutrients like protein and healthy carbs and fats), chia seeds act as a natural weight loss since they can keep you satisfied longer.
Hunnes seconds this, noting that these seeds are "extremely high in protein and fiber and hold onto 10x its weight in water," and are therefore "very satisfying, making oatmeal stick-to-your-ribs a bit better."
It doesn't stop there, either. Not only are these life-changing seeds filled with fiber to keep you fuller for longer, but they also offer anti-inflammatory benefits that can help your body stay happy and healthy.
