How to increase metabolism

You might not know this but you can set the pace and increase metabolism from the moment you wake up in the morning. Weight loss products and baseless tips make boosting your metabolism sound tough. In reality, it is easy and achievable. All you have to do is know what to eat, when to eat, understand the organs in charge of your metabolism and supplement your diet with exercise.

What is metabolism?

To dieters, metabolism might be a fat-burning process but it is actually much more than that. It is a collective term for all the processes your body performs to keep you alive. Cells break down foods and substances every day to get the energy they need to help you breathe, sleep, heal and keep your organs functioning properly.

There’s a difference between a poor metabolism and a slow metabolism. A poor metabolism can cause many different symptoms to appear. Since it affects your entire body, symptoms can range from digestive conditions to mental disorders. A slow metabolism usually results in weight gain because it is have to do with how fast the calories you consume are burned. A fast metabolism is desirable because it causes the body to burn the fat in your cells.

The best way to increase metabolism is to increase the amount energy your body needs. Your cells get their energy from foods, regardless of whether they are carbohydrates, proteins or fat. Normally, cells use carbs and proteins but if they need more energy than usual, they’ll start burning the fat in your cells. You want cells to extract energy from existing fat because it will lead to a healthier, trimmer body.

Ways to increase metabolism

You’ve probably read that muscle burns fat and this is absolutely true. You don’t have to have the physique of a bodybuilder to be healthier. Try incorporating cardio and strength training to your lifestyle to build muscle. You also need to eat plenty of protein and calcium-rich foods like eggs, beans, chicken, beef, lamb and dairy. Protein and calcium play crucial roles in muscle building, muscle repair, strong bones and healthy joints.

Another great strategy to increase metabolism is combining interval training with a diet of fiber-rich foods. Interval training is preferred because of the “afterburn”, which means that you keep burning calories hours after a workout. Burning energy can make you hungry and when you feel pangs, dish up on foods with fiber like brown rice, whole wheat bread, whole pasta, fruits, vegetables and nuts. Fiber is digested slowly so you can be full for longer. If you burn more calories and don’t overeat, you’ll shed pounds in no time.

Increasing metabolism with fish is also a great idea. The fatty acids in fish increase the population of metabolism-boosting enzymes and reduce the storage of fat.

Despite all the hoopla about green tea, coffee and peppers, these foods don’t do much to increase metabolism. Their effect is minimal and you’re better off benefiting from the nutrients and antioxidants they contain.