Quote: True
happiness... is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity
to a worthy purpose.
-Helen Keller
Ways to Boost Your
Metabolism
By: Brian Neal
Everything slows down as
you get older, and your metabolism is no exception. A slow metabolism can lead
to a number of health issues, including obesity and hormonal problems. A
metabolism boost will help your body use the foods you eat appropriately and
avoid weight gain. Here are 10 tricks to boost your metabolism every day.
Speed up
When you're working out,
walking or doing household chores, double your speed for 30 seconds, then return
to your normal pace. Each burst of speed will boost your metabolism, and help
you burn energy more efficiently through the day.
Get plenty of Omega-3s
Omega-3 fatty acids,
obtained from a diet rich in oily fish, will help to boost your metabolism.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Omega-3 fatty acids can
help with the symptoms of depression and diabetes, prevent heart disease and
provide a healthy metabolism boost.
Increase muscle tone
Muscle may weigh more than
fat but it also burns more calories, which makes the metabolism work harder.
Each pound of muscle burns around 6 calories a day, while a pound of fat only
burns 2. That may not seem like much, but knowing that muscle burns three times
as many calories as fat -- as well as looking good -- should be enough to get
you building muscle tone.
Regular exercise will build
muscle and boost your metabolism, and you don't necessarily need to hit the
gym. Walking, swimming, cycling and even housework count as exercise.
Drink green tea
Green tea is an excellent
source of natural antioxidants, which is great news for your general health, as
antioxidants mop up disease-causing free radicals in the body. The active
ingredient in green tea, catechin, helps increase fat oxidation and boosts the
metabolism.
Don't cut calories too
drastically
When you're trying to lose
weight, the first thing you think of is cutting calories. However, if you cut
back too much, your body thinks starvation is looming, and it's likely to slow
down the metabolism to conserve energy for the lean times it presumes are
ahead. This mechanism is a throwback to hunter-gatherer days, so you need to
eat enough calories to circumvent your body's reaction.
Eat early
Don't skip breakfast.
Shortly after waking up, your metabolism revs up for the day ahead. Eating
breakfast helps to get it going early in the day, and once it's revved up, it
keeps going.
Channel your inner cow
Graze -- eat small healthy
snacks -- throughout the day. This keeps your metabolism at peak performance.
Grazing can help you consume fewer calories during the day, since you never
become very hungry, so you're less likely to binge eat.
Buy organic or grow your
own
Fruits, vegetables, and
grains that are grown organically have no pesticide residues that can find
their way into your bloodstream. Exposure to these toxins will slow down your
metabolism by interfering with the internal temperature gauge that determines
your personal metabolic rate.
Drink plenty of water
Your body needs proper
hydration to process calories efficiently and stay healthy. To stay well
hydrated, drink at least one glass of water before each meal and snack, and
don't allow yourself to become thirsty. Water also blunts the appetite, so
you're likely to eat less.
Drink coffee - but not too
much
If you're a coffee drinker,
then you are probably aware of the benefits of increased energy and enhanced
concentration. In addition, black coffee in moderation can help give you a good
boost to your metabolism.
It's good to give your
metabolism a boost at any age, but it's particularly important as you get
older. Whether you are trying to lose weight, or just need more energy
throughout the day, these tricks will give your metabolism the natural boost it
needs, with no risk of side effects.
Always consult your
physician before beginning any diet or exercise program.
