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).
Heredity and age do play a role in metabolism. You can't change either of them, so the focus of this article is what you can do. It is important to note, though, that research suggests metabolism slows by 5% for every decade after the age of 40. If you're there already or just looking to lose weight, here are some things you can do.
Lean protein is a huge piece of the puzzle when looking to boost metabolism. The body uses more calories to break down and use the energy from protein more than fat or carbohydrates, by a wide margin. This rate can be as high as 30% while carbohydrates are between 5% and 10% and fates are below 5%. I recommend eating one gram of protein per pound of body weight in order to really rev up your metabolic rate.
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.
Smaller, more frequent meals can also play a key role. I recommend six meals per day. Your body will burn more calories by kickstarting the digestion process more frequently throughout the day. It is also important to try to eat a serving of protein with every meal. Consistency is also key. Eating six meals one day and three the next can impact your metabolic rate. Skipping meals is dangerous for your metabolism. It is important to eat a high protein meal early in the morning to get your metabolism running again after a night of fasting.
I also recommend eating whole foods rather than those that are processed and typically loaded with chemicals, sugar, and fat. If you choose to eat a packaged food, make sure you read the food labels to understand the nutrition content of the food and what other harmful chemicals and additives may be in your food. Something like high fructose corn syrup tricks your brain and body and doesn't stimulate an insulin response, which can lead to overeating.
Muscle and exercise play a huge part in your metabolic rate. Muscle burns more calories than fat on your body. Also, weight lifting can be very metabolic, sometimes boosting your rate for up to 48 hours. In order to do this, it is important to push yourself to failure on each exercise, choosing a weight that will drive you to failure before 12 reps with 8 to 10 reps being ideal. HIIT or high-intensity interval training is also a great cardio method to boost your metabolic rate. Thirty seconds to a minute of sprinting followed by up to a minute of jogging or walking can really rev up your metabolism in 20 to 30 minutes.
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.
I caution everyone on the use of diet pills and other quick fixes. These rarely have a positive, long-term impact. If they did, our country wouldn't have the obesity rate it does.
Heredity and age do play a role in metabolism. You can't change either of them, so the focus of this article is what you can do. It is important to note, though, that research suggests metabolism slows by 5% for every decade after the age of 40. If you're there already or just looking to lose weight, here are some things you can do.
Lean protein is a huge piece of the puzzle when looking to boost metabolism. The body uses more calories to break down and use the energy from protein more than fat or carbohydrates, by a wide margin. This rate can be as high as 30% while carbohydrates are between 5% and 10% and fates are below 5%. I recommend eating one gram of protein per pound of body weight in order to really rev up your metabolic rate.
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.
Smaller, more frequent meals can also play a key role. I recommend six meals per day. Your body will burn more calories by kickstarting the digestion process more frequently throughout the day. It is also important to try to eat a serving of protein with every meal. Consistency is also key. Eating six meals one day and three the next can impact your metabolic rate. Skipping meals is dangerous for your metabolism. It is important to eat a high protein meal early in the morning to get your metabolism running again after a night of fasting.
I also recommend eating whole foods rather than those that are processed and typically loaded with chemicals, sugar, and fat. If you choose to eat a packaged food, make sure you read the food labels to understand the nutrition content of the food and what other harmful chemicals and additives may be in your food. Something like high fructose corn syrup tricks your brain and body and doesn't stimulate an insulin response, which can lead to overeating.
Muscle and exercise play a huge part in your metabolic rate. Muscle burns more calories than fat on your body. Also, weight lifting can be very metabolic, sometimes boosting your rate for up to 48 hours. In order to do this, it is important to push yourself to failure on each exercise, choosing a weight that will drive you to failure before 12 reps with 8 to 10 reps being ideal. HIIT or high-intensity interval training is also a great cardio method to boost your metabolic rate. Thirty seconds to a minute of sprinting followed by up to a minute of jogging or walking can really rev up your metabolism in 20 to 30 minutes.
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.
I caution everyone on the use of diet pills and other quick fixes. These rarely have a positive, long-term impact. If they did, our country wouldn't have the obesity rate it does.
About the Author:
Please see my website for more information at food labels or my blog at reading food labels
