A faster metabolism means you will be able to burn more calories even when at rest. The way you eat, your age and even genetics can all play a part in how effective and fast your metabolism is. While there's nothing you can do about what nature gave you, small changes in diet and lifestyle can make a big difference when it comes to speeding up your metabolism.
Eat More
Very-low calorie diets cause your metabolic rate to slow down, according to Liz Applegate, Ph.D., in an article for Redbook magazine. This is a natural reaction of your body, which is trying to preserve calories to ensure that the basic bodily functions, such as heartbeat and breathing, can still go on despite the low energy intake. To calculate the average amount of calories you should be eating to maintain your metabolism working at top rate, multiply your body weight by 11. This will give you a rough estimate of how many calories to eat every day.
Have Breakfast Every Day
Skipping meals affects your blood sugar, wreaking havoc on your metabolism and causing it to slow down, according to an article in Women's Health magazine. Eating breakfast also forces your body to digest food, which in turn burns calories. For best results, have a breakfast that combines lean proteins, whole grains and healthy fats, such as olive oil.
Exercise
Any type of exercise will speed up your metabolism, but interval training is especially effective. Mixing short bursts of high-intensity exercise into your workout routine will cause your body to work harder and your metabolism to rev up in order to meet the higher requirements of the routine. Pumping iron is also effective, as muscle increases your metabolic rate even when you're not working out. By building up your muscle mass, you'll ensure an increase in your metabolic rate of up to 7.8 percent, according to Redbook.
Drink Some Caffeine
Coffee can increase your metabolism by up to 16 percent, according to an article in Women's Health and a study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior. The effect is felt after a single cup of coffee, and it's not available from decaf coffee, so drink the real thing. Green tea also increases your metabolism, although not as much as coffee.
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