We have all heard it before; a fast metabolism means a skinnier body, more calories burned and ultimately being less fat. All of this is true and here is the great news, this article contains some of the best ways to speed up your metabolism. Check out these great metabolic boosting tips to get your metabolism going full speed ahead.
1. Eat Hot and Spicy
Eating foods that contain chili peppers will definitely rev up your metabolic rate; this is because all chilis contain an amazing metabolism boosting compound called capsaicin. Capsaicin helps your body produce heat, and can quickly boost your metabolism up to 25%.
2. Eat more protein
Eating meals containing protein will help maintain your muscle mass and this is great news for those of you who work out as well as a pound of muscle burns more calories than a pound of fat. Try adding protein sources such as eggs, yogurt, lean turkey breast or tuna to your meal in order to get the positive benefits of adding protein to your meal.
3. Drink Ice Cold Water
Drinking ice cold water will help boost your metabolism and burn calories as well. This is because your body needs to burn calories in order to heat the water to your body’s internal temperature. Drinking ice water is the easiest way to burn a few extra calories and it is virtually effort free.
4. Lift Weights
Pumping iron is an excellent method of adding momentum to your metabolism. After a tough weight lifting session, your body will work hard to repair the damage your muscles went through during your tough workout. This recovery period will boost up your metabolism for up to 3 days afterwards.
5. Do Not Drink too Much Alcohol
A night drinking alcohol can be detrimental to your body’s metabolism. Drinking alcohol can cut your metabolic rate by up to 75%, all because your alcohol is turned into acetate by your liver, then is used as a source of energy. This source of energy is being used instead of body fat.
6. Get the Right Amount of Sleep
Try to get a recommended 8 hours of sleep; this will make sure you get the right amount of hormones your body needs to function. These hormones help your body with appetite control and energy needs. There are many studies showing that people who get less than 8 hours of sleep tend to gain weight, so make sure to get the right amount of shut eye in order to boost your metabolism.
7. Eat Dairy Products
Try adding low fat and no fat dairy products into your diet, this will help metabolize bodyfat by increasing the speed your body eliminates fat as a waste product. This is all because dairy products contain Calcium. Try getting your daily calcium intake from milk, yogurt, cottage cheese or low fat cheddar cheese. Unfortunately only natural sources of calcium contain these fat eliminating effects.
8. Eat Iron Rich foods
Iron helps carry oxygen to the blood. Many people who do not get enough iron in their diet can feel tired and groggy because their muscles are simply not getting enough oxygen. This causes extreme fatigue and totally whacks out a person’s metabolism. The good news is that by eating foods like lean red meat, beans, spinach and broccoli you can get the right amount of iron in your diet and gain more energy.
9. Take Fish Oil Pills
If you workout regularly then you may want to try supplementing with fish oil. Taking fish oil supplements while working out several times a week can help the body lose up to an extra pound per month – with proper diet of course. The best fish oil supplements contain the fatty acids DHA and EPA. Stock up on this supplement to boost your metabolism.
10. Never Skip Breakfast
Eating a nice hearty breakfast will provide your body with the fuel it needs to operate throughout the day. Try to eat 30% - 45% of your total daily caloric needs during breakfast; this will keep your body from going into starvation mode (the slowing down of your metabolic rate in order to save precious energy). People who think they will lose weight by skipping out on breakfast are wrong; skipping out on a good breakfast has been show to increase risks of obesity up to 5 times the normal rate. Try eating a breakfast containing low glycemic carbohydrates, heart healthy fats and lean protein. A great example of a metabolic boosting power breakfast would a small bowl of oatmeal, low fat yogurt with added blueberries, a banana and 2 egg whites. Add a cup of green tea and you are on your way to a great energy filled day.
11. Drink Green Tea
Green tea contains a compound called ECGC. ECGC is as close to a metabolic magic elixir as can get because it has a positive fat burning effect. Green tea has been shown to boost a person’s metabolic rate by 3% and studies show that drinking 3 or more cups of green tea a day over an extended period can help people drop up to 5% of their total body weight. Make sure to let your green tea brew for at least 5 minutes to get the very best fat burning effects.
12. Go Organic When Choosing Fruits and Vegetables
Normal produce that can be found in your local grocery store is full of pesticides that can have a negative effect on your metabolism. Try eating home grown fruits and vegetables in order to avoid the negative effects of eating non-organic produce.
13. Sprint Through Your Workouts
If you are interested in burning more calories at the gym while not working out longer then you should try interval training. People who incorporated sprints into their cardio workouts burned up to 300% the amount of fat over an extended period compared to those who avoided interval training. This is because incorporating sprints during your workouts causes your body to deplete its stored glycogen much quicker, the result is that your body starts converting stored fat into energy rich glycogen. This means that you will literally burn the fat off your body. Try adding 8x20 second sprints to a 30 minute cardio routine to get the best fat burning benefits.
14. Eat Fish
Fish are an excellent source of heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids help your body feel full. Fish like salmon contain a great amount of Vitamin D, which is another benefit as it will help preserve muscle mass.
15. Enjoy a Cup of Coffee
If you are one of the millions of people who enjoy drinking a great cup of coffee, then you are in luck. Coffee contains caffeine, which is an amazing stimulant that will boost your heart rate and increase your metabolic rate.
Try out some of these great metabolic boosting tips in order to get you body into the right fat burning mode. You can be sure you will lose weight and feel healthier.