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HOW TO BOOST YOUR METABOLISM

Did you have green tea every day in the morning for a year and still didn't lose weight? Tired of drinking mint water to speed up your metabolism? Ever chugged on black coffee to make those extra pounds disappear?

I wish I could tell you that there is a magic wand that you can wave and start losing weight, but unfortunately, there's neither any magic wand nor any superfood that will help speed up your metabolic rate. Though some studies have shown that green tea and hot chillies are great metabolic boosters, but the boost isn't good enough to show significant results physically.

The question stands; what actually speeds up your metabolism? Here are a few tips to do it:

1. Exercise

Yes, there’s no shortcut to success. Workout makes your body burn calories faster. Post-exercise, your oxygen consumption increases that comes chiefly from body’s fat stores (bad news for all the stored fat!). Start off with simpler exercise and then keep up the pace.

2. Add muscle

For long term increased metabolic rate, you need to add muscle. Weight training (two sessions a week) will start giving results in approximately three months.

3. Eat small meals throughout the day

No unhealthy dieting you guys! You can eat throughout the day, no skipping meals. Plan three meals and a couple of snacks a day at two-three hour intervals. Do not go more than five hours without eating.

4. Get enough protein

Protein is the most satisfying nutrient; it makes you feel full and prevents you from overeating. Some common protein sources are meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, beans etc.

5. Eat a good breakfast

Do not skip breakfast! Break-fast kick-starts your metabolism and allows the whole day to burn up those calories. Take a combo of protein and carbohydrates (such as milk and porridge).

6. Walk more; Sit less

Walking more increases your NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis). And it leads to an increase in metabolic rate. Basically, all daily life activities and house/office chores are included as NEAT.

7. Check portion sizes

Use smaller plates and smaller packages. The bigger your portion sizes are, the more calories you are to consume. 

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