What is Metabolism?
Metabolism is the biochemical process by which the food you eat is broken down into energy that your body needs to function.
There are a lot of things that can affect the metabolism of your body, ranging from your body composition to the food you eat.
At a younger age, your muscle mass stores up energy, thereby preventing the addition of unnecessary weight. Nevertheless, as you get older, that muscle mass is lost and this gives way to more body fat.
But don’t worry!
Here are 7 tips on how to boost your metabolism:
- Focus on eating well
In order to lose weight, you’ll need to cut calories to lose weight. However, cutting too low might not be too good for your metabolism.
When you eat less than what you actually need for the biological functioning of your body (around 1,200 calories for some women), it affects your body’s metabolism rate and when this happens, your body begins to break down calorie-burning tissue for energy. You’ll need to eat well enough that you’re not hungry!
- Always eat your breakfast
The importance of eating your breakfast every morning cannot be overemphasized! Breakfast is one of the most important aspects of a good metabolism diet, and should never be skipped if your weight is of utmost concern to you.
Maybe you don’t know this, but women who skip their breakfast are 4 and half times more likely to be overweight! No matter how busy your schedule is, try to eat something in the morning. If nothing else, try to grab a yogurt on your way out for later on!
- Drink tea or coffee
One Japanese study claimed that a cup of tea can increase your metabolism rate by 12%. Moreover, many researchers have come to agree that the antioxidant catechins in tea or coffee can be an effective metabolism booster.
- Use fiber to fight fat
Studies have shown that some fiber can help with your fat burn by as much as 30%. The same studies revealed that women who eat high fiber-content foods, don’t gain unnecessary weight over time.
You should aim at eating at least 25g of fiber in a day. This can be done easily from eating about 3 servings of vegetables and fruits.
- Don’t Forget Protein
The human body needs protein in order to maintain lean muscle. Studies have shown that protein can rev post-meal calorie burn by as much as 35%, so include protein in your everyday diet!
- Drink enough water
According to some German researchers, drinking at least 6 cups of water every day can increase your resting metabolism by about 50 calories every day. This is just enough to shed 5 pounds of fat in a year!
- Eat foods rich in iron
Iron-rich foods are essential for a fast metabolism diet because they carry the oxygen that your body needs to burn off excess fat. Good sources of iron include:
- Beans
- Lean meats
- Fortified cereals
- Shellfish
- Spinach.
If you have tried to boost your metabolism before, what did you do to do it? If you haven’t do you think you will try any of these tips out?
Share your experience with us in the comments below!