Metabolism refers to the processes of the body that use energy, according to Medline Plus. This can include simple involuntary tasks your body performs such as breathing, digesting food or controlling your body's temperature. Boosting your metabolism simply means ensuring your body works more efficiently and uses more calories for these everyday tasks.
Weight Training
Strength training is a very important to your metabolism. The Mayo Clinic reports that muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue does and is a key factor in weight loss. Work out regularly with weights to help burn calories and push your metabolism along.
Sleep
Get your eight hours of shut-eye every night to keep your metabolism at its full potential. "Redbook" magazine says that people who get four or less hours of sleep every night have a harder time digesting carbohydrates. If you have trouble falling asleep, try scheduling a workout or taking a warm bath a few hours before you turn out the lights.
Eat Breakfast
Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day--especially for a healthy metabolism. "Women's Health" magazine says that if you skip breakfast you risk putting your body into starvation mode, which can slow your metabolism to nearly nothing. In fact, they report that woman who regularly skip breakfast are 4.5 times more likely to be obese. To keep your metabolism in full gear, aim for a hearty breakfast full of lean proteins, complex carbs, and healthy fats.
Protein
To help burn an extra 150 to 200 calories everyday, "Redbook" magazine suggests adding more protein to your diet. Protein consists of mostly amino acids and are hard for your body to break down. As a result, you'll burn more calories through the digestive process then you would if you ate carbs or fat. "Redbook" suggests having one serving of protein in every meal and snack.
Spicy Foods
For a temporary 23 percent increase in metabolism, add chili peppers to your diet, recommends "Women's Health" magazine. Just one tablespoon will boost your body's heat production and will speed up your sympathetic nervous system. Add chopped red or green chili peppers to your food and enjoy the metabolic benefits.
Dairy
Getting plenty of dairy can help to rev up your metabolism. "Redbook" cites a January 2003 study published in the "American Society for Nutritional Sciences Journal of Nutrition" that states that women who consumed dairy three to four times per day lost 70 percent more body fat than women who consumed no dairy. Calcium speeds up your metabolism and helps your body to metabolize fat quicker. Aim for three servings of dairy and 1,200 mg of calcium everyday for optimal results.
Avoid Alcohol
"Women's Health" magazine says that overindulging in alcoholic beverages can dampen your metabolism. It only takes two drinks to lower your metabolism by 73 percent because your liver converts the alcohol into fuel and uses that instead of your stored fat deposits.
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