Wellness

8 Easy Ways To Rev Up Your Metabolism

Since the 1980s, businesses have come out with products that guarantee a quick-fix to improving a slow metabolism. Between pills, teas, and dietary routines, consumers fall for one fix after the next, with hopes that their metabolism can be expedited. However, in the last decade, researchers have released studies that support a healthier, safer way of speeding up the metabolism than consuming pills and enhanced teas.

This way encourages the consumer to increase their exercise routine and implement specific foods into one's every day diet to boost one's metabolism. Boosting your metabolism alone will not lead to significant weight loss. Nevertheless, boosting your metabolism in addition to eating healthier, and exercising frequently will lead to weight loss; and it will have you zeroing in on your goal weight in no time.

Below, check out the eight healthy tips, two workout routines and six dietary suggestions, that will inevitably speed up your metabolism faster than you could have ever imagined.

Get Into High Intensity Workout Routines

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Looking to speed up your metabolism? Try replacing your standard workout routine with a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workout routine instead. HIIT is a workout routine set up in a ratio between high-intensity exercise and low intensity/medium intensity exercise. Meaning, the workout routine has you work out at your maximum effort and then it requires you to take little time to rest before you're at your maximum effort again. For example, you could run around a track at your maximum speed, and once you have completed running around the track, you rest for 30 seconds to a minute, and do it all over again.

The benefit of HIIT compared to a traditional workout is HIIT has the ability to increase your metabolism for hours after your workout by stimulating the human growth hormone. This allows you to burn fat faster, burn more calories after your workout is over, and develop the same or better cardiovascular conditioning in faster time.

Be About That Cardio Life

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While choosing a workout routine, it is common for one to turn their nose up at cardio, and shift their mindset towards strength training. However, if you're trying to lose weight or speed up your metabolism, it's time to put down the weights, and lace your sneakers up for a cardiovascular routine.

Whether you're choosing between the treadmill, rowing machine, stationary bike, Zumba, or simply hitting the pavement, there is a limiltless amount of cardio routines to help speed up your metabolism. The results found that those who often perform endurance exercise (cardio routines) experienced a significant increase in the production of the hormone FGF21, which has a positive effect on your metabolism.

Drink Green Tea

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In the last few years, articles have come forth debunking the idea that green tea can actually speed up the metabolism. From researchers arguing that green tea does little to nothing, to researchers arguing that green tea does everything, it's hard to tell which one is right and even harder to know which one to listen to. That is until now. Unlike the HIIT workout routines and cardio-based routines we just mentioned, green tea is not a guaranteed drink to speed up the metabolism.

Instead of increasing the production of hormones, green tea increases one's enegry expenditure, which, in turn, increases the amount of calories and fat burning. So, although green tea does not increase the metabolism with time, it does have short-term effects of increasing the burning of calories, which can result in weight loss. Nevertheless, make sure while consuming green tea, you aren't adding too many additional sweetners or fluids, otherwise the goal of weight loss becomes counterproductive.

Eating A Balanced Breakfast

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When the first attempt to speed up one's metabolism is made, for some reason, everyone chimes in that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Why? Well, eating breakfast is rumored to "stimulate" or "jumpstart the metabolism" for any person wanting to lose weight. But it is just that: a rumor. Studies have found that it does not matter whether breakfast is consumed in the morning or not, either way your body will still burn the same calories it always has.

Nevertheless, this does not mean giving breakfast a try isn't recommended. For those wanting a morning workout, eating breakfast is recommended to provide the energy needed for an advantageous workout routine. Just make sure your morning breakfast remains healthy--like avocado on toast with scrambled egg whites and a smoothie--as opposed to sugary cereals or waffles.

Embrace The Oatmeal

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Contrary to what is advertised, there is not some miracle food that will suddenly make your metabolism run wild, as the weight falls off. To lose weight, a calorie deficit has to occur. In this deficit, it is essential that your body stops storing fat and instead uses the fat for energy consumption. Long story short, you'll need to eat less (therefore consuming fewer calories) and exercise more (therefore burning more calories than consumed).

This is where oatmeal comes highly recommended. Oatmeal is high in soluble fiber, meaning not only will it cut cholesterol and blood fat, but you will also feel full long after it's been consumed. Plus, due to the slow digestion of oats, your blood sugar is never raised. Although, it is important that when you're trying oatmeal to avoid the instant packages. Instead, it is recommended that you create your own oatmeal from oats, water/nut milk, and your fresh fruit of choice, such as blueberries, bananas, raspberries, etc.

Increase Your Water Intake

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Let's play a game. I'll give you a problem and you tell me how it can be easily solved.

Problem: Headaches

When the body finds itself dehydrated, the brain can contract and shrink from fluid loss temporarily. This causes the brain to, naturally, pull away from the skull, resulting in pain and what is known as a dehydration headache. How can this be solved?

Solution: Water. When you start to consume water, your body becomes rehydrated, which allows the brain to return to its normal state. When the brain returns to its normal state, the side effects of its previous dehydration is relieved.

How about this next one:

Problem: "Bad" skin

Lack of water can causes the skin to lose itS elasticity and plumpness. This can lead to flakiness, sagging skin, dryness, and, of course, severe acne. How can this be solved?

Solution: Water. It is well known that water can be good for any skin problem. When water is consumed, toxins are flushed out of your body and clears skin of any dirt and bacteria that commonly causes acne.

Problem: Wanting to lose weight

Solution: Water. As you can see, water is the solution to everything, and this time, it's no different. Drinking the recommended amount of water, eight glasses a day, is a great way to boost your metabolism. With the ability to boost your body's ability to burn fat, studies have shown that drinking water increases the metabolic rate by 30 percent in men and women.

Additionally, in order to see the best results, it is recommended that at least one glass of water is consumed before any meal. This will ensure that you are not overeating and will make the body believe it is consuming more than it is, therefore minimizing your daily calorie intake.

Spicy Foods

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What better time to have a glass of water than with spicy food? Ironically enough, consuming spicy foods can increase your metabolism. Studies have found that eating spicy foods have the same effect as exercising and causes a thermogenic effect on those who consume them. Meaning your body creates more heat as it digests the spicy food, which results in more calories burned. The more calories burned, the more you lose weight. The closer you are to your goal weight, the happier you are. The happier you are--well, you get the gist.

Be careful though, too much spicy food can cause heartburn and chest pains. So, make sure your food is spicy enough to provide a kick, but not so spicy that that kick sends you falling into an infirmary.

Eat Your Omega-3s

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Omega-3 Fats, oh how we love you so. Already recommended to be consumed at least twice a week by the American Health Association, salmon is a great addition to anyone's meal plan, especially if you're wanting to speed up your metabolism. As a protein, salmon requires more energy to digest, and similar to oatmeal, it slows down the rate of blood sugar entering the blood stream. Meaning, it'll make you feel full quicker and keep hunger and cravings throughout the day low.

Studies have found that consuming salmon, which has omega 3-rich fish oil and fatty acids, increases calories burned and resting metabolic rate (RMR). The higher your RMR, the more your body burns energy while at complete rest. So, the next time you're at the grocery store, consider spending a little extra on some salmon; this simple change in protein can be the metabolic kick your body has been waiting for.

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