This story was originally titled "Java Jolt" in the October 2009 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!

Giving your metabolism a little jolt is as simple as having a cup of joe in the morning – provided you drink it without milk or sugar. A study in the journal Metabolism says that the caffeine in two cups of coffee can result in a 66 kilogram (145-pound) woman burning up to 50 extra calories over four hours.

How does it work? Caffeine stimulates your nervous system, telling your body to release a bit of energy from its fat stores. Just don't add milk, cream or sugar; that can cause insulin levels to rise, diminishing the desired effect on your metabolism.


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