Your metabolism controls how your body converts food into energy, as well as its ability to efficiently burn calories. Increasing your metabolism can provide you with more energy to get through your day, while at the same time promoting healthy weight loss. Certain simple homemade remedies can go a long way to fueling the "fire" of your body's metabolism.
Step 1
Eat a healthy homemade breakfast before you start your day. For increasing metabolism, breakfast truly earns its title as the "most important meal of the day," since it jump-starts the body's metabolic rate, helping burn calories throughout the day. Stick to whole-grain breads and cereals, fresh fruits, and low-fat dairy products to boost your metabolism while keeping your body healthy and trim.
Step 2
Snack around the house at three to four hour intervals, while keeping your three main meals of the day smaller in portion size. This will keep you from feeling both famished or overfull, while at the same time stoking the fire of your body's metabolism. Celery sticks with peanut butter, baby carrots, fruit and granola are healthy metabolism-increasing snacks.
Step 3
Spice up your homemade meals. Reports the University of New Mexico, spices such as chili and hot peppers do increase metabolism by slightly elevating body temperature. If you've ever taken a bite of a spicy dish and had to mop sweat from your forehead, you've already felt this metabolic property of spices in action.
Step 4
Drink green tea every day. Green tea contains chemicals called polyphenols, and in higher amounts than black tea. Research suggests that these chemicals may be responsible for green tea's metabolism-boosting properties, according to the University of Maryland--although the tea also contains caffeine, a stimulant which also can increase metabolism.
Step 5
Replace alcoholic "nightcaps" with relaxing, soothing teas containing chamomile or valerian. Alcohol interferes with both the quality and quantity of sleep, especially REM sleep, reports Loyola Marymount University. Getting a good night's sleep is essential in keeping your circadian rhythm -- or body clock -- set to start up your metabolism in the morning.
Tips and Warnings
- Drink plenty of water every day to help your metabolism work by flushing waste and toxins from your body.
- If you have a history of heart disease, diabetes or another medical condition which affects your diet, consult your physician about increasing your metabolism.
Things You'll Need
- Chili spice
- Hot peppers
- Green tea
- Chamomile tea
- Valerian root tea
References
- University of California: Body clock regulates metabolism, UC Irvine study finds
- Loyola Marymount University: Alcohol and Sleep
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Green Tea
- Arkansas Department of Health: Weight Management
- University of New Mexico: Controversies in Metabolism (Paige Kinucan and Len Kravitz, Ph.D.)
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