Top 10 healthy snacks to boost your metabolism and lose weight

Growing up with an aerobics instructor mother, I took an interest in health from an early age. In college, I took courses on human nutrition, and shortly after graduation, I landed a job as a freelance fitness journalist for Prevention Magazine. But despite the amount of research I've conducted on health and weight loss, the most helpful discoveries have been found in paying attention to the way my body reacts to certain foods.

Having said that, I'm not compiling this article based on the same foods that you see over and over again in every metabolism-boosting article (although some important foods, such as grapefruit, will be included). I'm compiling this article based on a combination of research and my own personal experiences.

Greek yogurt has an extremely high amount of protein combined with an extremely low amount of carbs. Just be sure to buy the regular flavored yogurt, as the fruit flavored are high in sugar/carbs and lower in protein (I recommend adding real fruit for taste). My personal favorite brands are Fage or Chobani. And because the yogurt contains a high level of protein, it requires a lot of energy to process, thus boosting your metabolism. They also include pro-biotic cultures that help regulate your digestive system.

I am the protein bar queen. Literally. I'm that annoying person who stands in the health food aisle for 20 minutes, reading the labels on each protein bar until I find the one that contains the least amount of calories combined with the least amount of carbs and highest amount of protein, and still tastes good.

Based on my findings, the Mojo bar wins. Clif makes the Mojo bars, and the Mountain Mix is my personal favorite. They're comprised mostly of almonds, with a little dash of peanuts, pretzels and dark chocolate chips thrown in for taste. They're about 180 calories (70 from fat, but since it's almonds it's a healthy fat), with 21 carbs and 9 grams of protein. The healthy fatty acids in almonds help raise metabolism, and the mountain mix bars also help with those chocolate cravings :)

Grapefruit is probably the most commonly known food to booth metabolism. The grapefruit's chemical properties are full of citrus and vitamin C which reduce insulin levels, thus resulting in boosted metabolism and weight loss.

Kale is extremely high in fiber, which helps suppress your appetite. It also keeps your insulin levels stable, which helps your body prevent fat storage. Personally, since de-stemming and boiling kale can be time consuming, I like to make kale juice for a quick, easy healthy snack. You can find my Kale Juice recipe here (which Gwyneth Paltrow also uses for her diets, and we all know how good she looks.) You basically just combine kale leaves (I add a few cucumber slices also) and water in a blender, strain it, and then combine it in a glass with the juice from one lemon.

To anyone that has ever struggled with constipation issues, I highly recommend Fiber One. I used to look at people like they were insane when they'd ask me "Well, do you eat enough fiber?" Coming from someone who has tried magnesium pills, cleansing pills, and everything else under the sun, my answer was always,"Of course! Nothing works!" What I didn't realize was that I was eating the sugary Fiber One (the one with flakes, raisins and nuts that is EXTREMELY high in sugar and carbs). No, no,no. The CORRECT Fiber One to eat - the one that is low in sugar/carbs and high in fiber/bran - is the original Fiber One. The one featured in this photo that contains just the fiber sticks. And as mentioned above, fiber is a great metabolism booster.

Have you ever noticed how you can eat a million sushi rolls and still not feel terribly full afterward? This is one food that I can honestly say boosts your metabolism based solely on my experiences. That little belly pouch you wake up with the morning after eating not-so-healthy foods? That's never happened to me with sushi. I can eat massive quantities and still wake up feeling great. This is most likely because most sushi rolls contain healthy veggies such as cucumbers and avocados, and the fish is packed with omega-3 fatty acids which lower your leptin hormones and increase your metabolism.

Jalapenos contain capsaicin, which is a chemical that stimulates your body to release stress hormones, which also boosts your metabolism and causes you to burn additional calories. Personally, I like to put them in my omelets with tomatoes and avocados.

Green Tea contains Epigallo Catechin Gallate (EGCG) which is the main ingredient that helps increase your metabolism. I like to add lemon juice to mine.

I don't care how many articles say there is no medical proof that apple cider vinegar boosts your metabolism. I am here to say: IT DOES! I'd heard of AC Vinegar from a few friends who all swore by it, and after trying it out, I could already feel a weight loss difference after only two days. The trick is to buy the organic, unfiltered vinegar (I purchase mine at Trader Joe's), mix a teaspoon with water and sip on it throughout the day. There is a fiber ingredient in AC vinegar called pectin that helps sustain your appetite, and it also has a high amount of potassium which helps flush sodium out of the body to reduce water weight.

Oatmeal contains fat-soluble fiber that takes a long time to break down, thus lowering your body's insulin level and speeding your metabolism. Just make sure to buy the plain oatmeal, not the flavored, sugary kind high in carbs. I add some fruit to mine for flavor. When Mila Kunis was dieting for "Black Swan," she was only allowed to eat oatmeal and salad. So hey, if Hollywood approves, it might be doing something right :)