Medicine doesn't just come in pills.

In many cases, it's as close as your fork or your spoon.

That's right. Your meals can be powerful medicine -- if you eat the right kinds of foods.

Today, I'd like to tell you about my recent trip to China. While there, I was reminded of how the Chinese view the medicinal properties of food -- and the lessons we can learn from this approach.

The Chinese view of food as medicine is evident in their language: Their word for eating is comprised of two characters: chi fan, or "eat rice." 

The word for taking medicine is chi yao, or "eat medicine."

Food contributes taste, texture, delight, energy, and nourishment.  In China, food is all that -- AND a source of medicinal healing compounds to support well-being and health. 

That's because the Chinese recognize that the nutritional value of food goes beyond calories.

Wouldn't it be great if you could boost your metabolism without even changing how much you eat?

Well, you can!

It's true.

You can rev up your metabolic engine, feel more satisfied when you eat, burn more calories, and lose more body fat -- all without even changing how MUCH you eat. 

Recent studies show how three key things -- all of which I discuss in UltraMetabolism - can accomplish these goals.

The first is meal timing and meal frequency; in other words, when you should eat and how often.

The second is the role of protein in controlling appetite centers in the brain, increasing caloric burning, and reducing belly fat and weight.

The third is the role of green tea in turning up your fat burning thermostat.

What do all these things have in common?

They all stem from one central idea: an increase in thermogenesis, the creation of heat in the body -- literally, turning up your metabolic fire.