I'm on a quest to lose weight quickly, so I've been researching foods that speed up metabolism to help me out. I think my metabolism has slowed down as I've gotten a little older (I'm not old, mind you, just older than I once was!), and so I'm wanting to, as that famous guy on that famous food channel says, "kick it up a notch."

Anyway, I found some great ideas that I thought I would share with anyone else who is also looking to get ahead of the weight loss game.

Almonds. Packed with "good fats," fiber, and protein, and also tasting great, the almond is a good addition for your grocery list. They contain essential fatty acids that raise your body's metabolism just by consuming them. They also contain antioxidants and are just simply a super good food.

Green tea. A great boost for fat burning in the morning to get you going. Another benefit of green tea is its cancer-fighting ability so it really packs a punch to start your day. You'll find green tea in many commercial fat-burning preparations.

Beans. Packed with fiber, beans help you feel full for an extended period of time which will aid you in your weight loss plan.

Eggs. Forget all the "old news" about this food being bad for you. It's not! Eggs are one of the best protein sources and do a great job at increasing your metabolism.

Peanut butter. Another food that you should forget what you've been hearing about it, just clear it out of your mind. This is an excellent source of essential fatty acids, protein, and fiber. Very good for you and super tasty. Avoid the usual name brands and go for the natural peanut butter or make your own at home with raw peanuts and you'll have a great healthy and beneficial snack.

Berries. You've probably heard that berries have tons of antioxidants, but you may not have known they can help with fat burning as well. Add these to your grocery list, and if you can't find them fresh try some frozen blackberries or blueberries which are usually readily available.

Cayenne pepper. This ingredient is another one often used in commercial metabolism-boosting preparations. It contains thermagenic properties which heat up your body and force your system to utilize calories to cool down.

These are just a few of the foods you can eat to boost your metabolism and speed weight loss results, simply because they require more of your body's energy to burn. Remember to eat small meals throughout the day so that your body is continually in a state of burning calories.