Your body needs food for fuel to stay in good working order. Any excess calorie consumption will be stored as fat in the body. However, the amount of fuel that is needed varies from person to person, according to several factors, including metabolism.
Eat a Healthy Breakfast
Eating a healthy breakfast when you first wake up prevents your body from going into starvation mode, which causes you to store energy in the form of fat. According to Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., at the Mayo Clinic, skipping breakfast may increase your body's insulin production, which can cause weight gain.
Balance Activity and Sleep
Movement is critical for metabolism. Exercise gives your metabolism an instant boost, then keeps it high for several hours afterward. You'll also want to do some strength training because muscle requires more energy to sustain, which means more calories will be burned. Alternate your workouts between aerobic activity and strength training for the most effective metabolism boost. Every other day, keep your activity level fast-paced for at least 20 to 30 minutes. On the other days, pump some iron and tone up in all your major muscle groups.
The body needs a certain amount of sleep to perform at maximum levels. If you don't get enough of it, the hormones that regulate your metabolism are out of balance, which can cause your body to store fuel as fat. Most people need seven to nine hours of sleep per night.
Eat Frequently and Healthily
Instead of eating three large meals per day, switch to five smaller meals to keep the metabolism at a steady, high rate. This also keeps your digestive system constantly working and burning calories without putting too much of a strain on it after long periods of not eating.
According to WomensHealthMag.com, calcium-rich food may increase your metabolism by increasing its rate of fat elimination. The article claims that the best sources are dairy products. Supplements don't have the same effect.
Fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids provide fuel, feed the muscles and make you feel full faster. Some of the best fish to eat include salmon, sardines, halibut and tuna.
Drink Green Tea and Avoid Alcohol
According to an article on the University of Maryland Medical Center website, green tea may help elevate your metabolism and burn fat. Researchers are giving polyphenols, substances found in green tea, credit for helping overweight people lose excess pounds.
Alcohol, on the other hand, slows down the metabolism. According to WomensHealth.com, two mixed drinks can slow down your body's ability to burn fat by approximately 73 percent.
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