How to Boost Your Metabolism

One word that is included in all diet plans is the word ‘metabolism’. Metabolism is an important element of losing weight. Metabolism is required by your body for all its functions. Before you decide to start a weight loss plan, you have to first understand what metabolism is and how to control it.

Your body processes the food you eat and uses it as energy. This process is known as metabolism. If you increase the level of metabolism, your body will burn more calories and help you to lose weight. The calories you consume are used or expended by your body in three ways. About 65% is used as energy for you to live, about 25% goes in physical activity and about 10% is used to process the food you eat. So the calories you consume should be equal to the calories expended. If you want to lose weight you have to reduce your calorie in take, or you have to burn the excess calories.

Tips to increase metabolism level:

Go for Thyroid test:

First of all go in for a thyroid test. If you have undiagnosed thyroid, whatever effort you take to increase your metabolism, will not work.

Strength training exercise:

Our body’s ability to burn calories decreases as we grow older. You then have to increase your basal metabolism by increasing your muscles mass. For this you have to do strength training exercises at least twice a week. These exercises increase your muscle mass, which burns more calories from your body for its maintenance, even when you are sleeping. Weight lifting, using dumbbells, using exercise ball etc are some strength training exercises.

Aerobic exercise:

Aerobic or cardio exercises also help you to increase metabolism. Aerobic exercises increase your heart rate and keep it elevated for some time. Walking, jogging, swimming, treadmill etc are some of the aerobic exercises. About 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise everyday, increases the lean muscles in your body, which increases the level of metabolism, helping your body to burn more calories and lose weight.

Take vitamins:

Sufficient supply of vitamins is also required by your body, to increase the metabolism level. Vitamins cannot be manufactured by the body, so you have to take in adequate amount of vitamins, through your diet, or by taking multi-vitamin supplements.

Drink water:
Drink plenty of water, or it will cause dehydration. When your body is dehydrated, the level of metabolism will be low. Drink at least eight glasses of water in a day. Water helps your kidney to function properly and also helps the liver metabolize fats. If you drink water, metabolism burns calories, 3% faster. Green tea is also found to boost your metabolism.

Don’t skip breakfast:

This is the most important meal of the day, because eating breakfast boosts your metabolism and keeps it going, throughout the day.

Eat a diet rich in protein:

Include foods rich in fiber like fruits, vegetables and grains, in your diet.

Frequency in eating:

Instead of three meals a day, eat six micro meals a day. Digestion takes place more number of times, and this increases your metabolism level.

Exercise and diet are the first step to boost your metabolism. If you want to lose weight, you should boost your metabolism and do it with dedication.

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