Your body's energy is determined largely by what you eat and drink. MayoClinic.com defines this conversion of food and drink into energy as metabolism. Although your age, sex, height, muscle mass, family history and health play a part in your metabolic rate, your eating habits can too. By adjusting your diet and eating habits, you can speed up your metabolism.
Step 1
Eat breakfast. While you are asleep, your body conserves energy, resulting in a slowed metabolism. Eating breakfast shortly upon waking will jump-start your metabolism. Eat a balanced breakfast that includes complex carbohydrates, protein and fruit. Whole grain bread, oatmeal, yogurt, egg whites, bananas and blueberries are a good start for most people.
Step 2
Consume five to six small meals daily. Eat three meals plus two snacks or eat five to six meals of roughly the same amount of calories daily.
Step 3
Do not skip meals. Because your metabolism starts to slow down after three hours of fasting, do not skip a meal, advises Penn State University. Eating a small snack every two to three hours keeps your metabolism from slowing down.
Step 4
Eat more protein. Because it takes about 25 percent more energy to digest protein than it takes process fats and carbohydrates, your metabolic rate speeds up to generate the additional energy need to digest protein, according to Penn State University. Additionally, protein helps build muscle mass, which helps to speed up metabolism.
Step 5
Drink more water. Increasing your water intake can speed up your metabolism, according to Montana State University. Try to drink at least 64 oz. of water daily in order to keep your metabolism revved up.
Step 6
Enjoy green tea. Green tea extracts have been suggested to improve metabolism based upon clinical studies, reports the University of Maryland. Studies have indicated that green tea offers other health benefits, as well.
Step 7
Watch calorie cutting. Redbook's Hallie Levine reports that if you cut calories significantly, your body will think it is starving and conserve energy, resulting in a slowdown in your metabolic rate.
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