Metabolism. It's a complicated subject. Most people I know would like a faster one. What is it? Your metabolism is the process your body goes through to break down nutrients to provide energy for your body. It works around the clock, but sometimes not so well. The purpose of this article is to offer a number of different ways for you to boost your metabolism if you would like to lose weight or just eat more (for energy of course).
Some people do have slower metabolisms based on heredity. Age can be a factor as well, with the average person's metabolism slowing about five percent every decade after forty. But these are things out of our control and harping on them do nothing, but keep us from doing things that will actually have an impact on improving our metabolic rates. I offer you some of the best metabolic boosters known today.
The first order of business is to eat more lean protein. There is something called the thermo effect of food, which relates to how many calories that are burned from actually consuming and digesting the food that you've eaten. Your body can use up to 30% of the calories you've consumed to break down protein with the break down of fat at about 5%, perhaps less. Carbohydrates have a thermo effect above that of fat, but it is not believed to be above 10%.
I highly recommend increasing your water intake. First, it will help your kidneys better digest your increased consumption of protein from the previous step. But it also has its own metabolic kicker of its own. Dehydration can limit proper functioning of metabolism so proper hydration is necessary. Drink an ounce of H2O for every pound you weight. Add a cup of water for every fifteen minutes of exercise you do during the day. Ice water can take your water consumption up another level as it adds the thermo effect to the aforementioned benefits. Cold water needs to be warmed up to match the temperature of the rest of your body.
Meal timing and the amount of calories per meal can have a large impact on metabolism. I recommend starting the day with a high protein breakfast within an hour of waking and six meals throughout the day, all with protein is preferable. Skipping meals is to be avoided and it seems to pay to keep the number of meals per day pretty consistent. Wide ranges in meals per day can negatively impact the thermo effect of your digestion.
Eating whole foods is highly recommended as opposed to those that are processed with chemicals and heavy in fat, sodium, and sweeteners. If you do include processed foods in your daily diet, I recommend always reading your food labels so that you are aware of exactly what is in your foods. You would be surprised by some of the dangerous chemicals that are approved for use in our food supply. Some of these can inhibit your metabolism or lead to overeating. It's best to avoid highly-refined foods.
In terms of exercise, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for cardio is much better for metabolism than long, slow and low-intensity training. Implementing a program that cycles through frequent bursts of sprinting followed by moderate jogging or walking can give you a great metabolic workout in just twenty minutes. Weight lifting can also have a huge impact. Not only does more muscle on your body mean more calories burned, but each individual workout can boost your metabolism for up to two days, assuming you work out until failure while targeting no more than twelve reps per exercise, but preferably eight.
I also recommend getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night. If you're tired, it's likely you'll skip workouts and crave unhealthy carbs. Proper sleep allows your body to function at its best.
Other food and drinks that can help boost metabolism are green tea, cinnamon, healthy fats like those from cold-water fish, avocados, nuts, and fish-oil supplements, caffeine (in moderation), and hot spices like cayenne. Also, be mindful of the quick-fix cures. If you could take a pill to be skinny, the American obesity rate wouldn't be 35%.
Some people do have slower metabolisms based on heredity. Age can be a factor as well, with the average person's metabolism slowing about five percent every decade after forty. But these are things out of our control and harping on them do nothing, but keep us from doing things that will actually have an impact on improving our metabolic rates. I offer you some of the best metabolic boosters known today.
The first order of business is to eat more lean protein. There is something called the thermo effect of food, which relates to how many calories that are burned from actually consuming and digesting the food that you've eaten. Your body can use up to 30% of the calories you've consumed to break down protein with the break down of fat at about 5%, perhaps less. Carbohydrates have a thermo effect above that of fat, but it is not believed to be above 10%.
I highly recommend increasing your water intake. First, it will help your kidneys better digest your increased consumption of protein from the previous step. But it also has its own metabolic kicker of its own. Dehydration can limit proper functioning of metabolism so proper hydration is necessary. Drink an ounce of H2O for every pound you weight. Add a cup of water for every fifteen minutes of exercise you do during the day. Ice water can take your water consumption up another level as it adds the thermo effect to the aforementioned benefits. Cold water needs to be warmed up to match the temperature of the rest of your body.
Meal timing and the amount of calories per meal can have a large impact on metabolism. I recommend starting the day with a high protein breakfast within an hour of waking and six meals throughout the day, all with protein is preferable. Skipping meals is to be avoided and it seems to pay to keep the number of meals per day pretty consistent. Wide ranges in meals per day can negatively impact the thermo effect of your digestion.
Eating whole foods is highly recommended as opposed to those that are processed with chemicals and heavy in fat, sodium, and sweeteners. If you do include processed foods in your daily diet, I recommend always reading your food labels so that you are aware of exactly what is in your foods. You would be surprised by some of the dangerous chemicals that are approved for use in our food supply. Some of these can inhibit your metabolism or lead to overeating. It's best to avoid highly-refined foods.
In terms of exercise, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for cardio is much better for metabolism than long, slow and low-intensity training. Implementing a program that cycles through frequent bursts of sprinting followed by moderate jogging or walking can give you a great metabolic workout in just twenty minutes. Weight lifting can also have a huge impact. Not only does more muscle on your body mean more calories burned, but each individual workout can boost your metabolism for up to two days, assuming you work out until failure while targeting no more than twelve reps per exercise, but preferably eight.
I also recommend getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night. If you're tired, it's likely you'll skip workouts and crave unhealthy carbs. Proper sleep allows your body to function at its best.
Other food and drinks that can help boost metabolism are green tea, cinnamon, healthy fats like those from cold-water fish, avocados, nuts, and fish-oil supplements, caffeine (in moderation), and hot spices like cayenne. Also, be mindful of the quick-fix cures. If you could take a pill to be skinny, the American obesity rate wouldn't be 35%.
About the Author:
Please see my website for more information at food labels or my blog at food additives to avoid
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