The metabolism is the body's ability to convert food into the energy needed to live. It enables the body to perform a variety of functions, including breathing, circulating blood, contracting muscles and digesting food. Certain medications, poor eating habits, age and little exercise can slow down the metabolism, leading to weight gain. Fortunately, there are many ways to give your metabolism a boost.
Step 1
Eat six small meals instead of the regular three meals a day. The Redbook website explains that this can help speed up the metabolism. For an extra boost, add a protein-rich food to each meal and make sure to eat at least every four hours.
Step 2
Sip on three to five cups of green tea every day. Dietitian Tammy Lakatos Shames on the Women's Health website explains that tea contains the ECGC compound, which encourages fat burning. "It's the closest thing to a metabolism potion." she explains.
Step 3
Consume at least three servings of dairy products every day. Calcium jump starts the metabolism, helping you to burn fat faster. A 2003 study in the American Society for Nutritional Sciences "Journal of Nutrition" found that subjects lost 70 percent more body fat when they consumed three to four servings of dairy a day.
Step 4
Take two fish oil capsules two hours before exercising. Fish oil can boost the activity of the body's fat-burning enzymes, helping you to lose fat more quickly. For maximum effects, look for a brand that contains approximately 300 mg of EPA and 200 mg of DHA in every capsule.
Step 5
Exercise in two smaller routines to rev up the metabolism. For example, do a 15-minute aerobic routine before work and then walk for 30 minutes after lunch.
Tips and Warnings
- Even though premenstrual symptoms can be uncomfortable, the Redbook website explains that a woman can increase her metabolism if she works out during the two weeks prior to menstruation. This is when the hormones progesterone and estrogen are at their highest concentrations. Because both hormones help encourage the body's use of fat, you can burn more fat during this time.
- The Mayo Clinic warns that a slow metabolism could be the sign of a serious medical condition such as Cushing's syndrome or hypothyroidism. Talk to you doctor if you are concerned about your weight.
Things You'll Need
- Green tea
- Dairy products
- Fish oil capsules
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