Metabolism is a most talked about word by experts in health and wellness, and for a common man it sounds to be a big, heavy & confusing term….but actually it is not.
There is the process of body to maintain functioning of internal organs and the energy consumed to do is termed as Metabolism. Now you got it; it is simply the amount of energy being spent to maintain internal activities like respiration, digestion, excretion, maintain internal homeostasis, managing immunity, etc.
Now if it is that simple then why the fuss about it? The question must be baffling you; right…the answer lies in the variability of metabolism among humans. There is a range of it and termed as SLOW or FAST metabolism.
Can one change the metabolism? Yes you can; there are few simple tips to be followed and you can shift it from being slow to fast.
There are numerous factors effecting metabolism
Physical activities – Exercise helps to increase your
lean body mass. The secret is that each muscle cell spends five times more energy than a normal cell; so now you know why it is important to have a toned body rather than focusing on weighing scale only.
Water intake – Each body cell needs water to function properly so it is must to drink plenty of liquids (water, buttermilk, coconut water, lemon water, etc) to stay fit and active. It is recommended to avoid fruit juices (high in simple sugar), excess of caffeinated drinks, alcoholic beverages, and aerated drinks as they are liquid in appearance but actually they dehydrate the body.
Sleep – Sounds a bit unusual; but it is a proven fact. When you sleep your body gets into maintenance mode, cells are repaired, immunity is being build, many hormones are released and this all needs energy. So while you are sleeping the body is spending a good amount of calories for your upkeep, sounds interesting.
Eating – You must have heard dieticians suggesting to eat at every two hours. Does it works? Yes it is really true and works wonderfully; eating at every two hours is like engaging your body to spend energy on digesting the food. The caution is to limit the quantity of food you eat. Portion size should be small and food items chosen must be easy to digest. The idea is to make your body keep working and burn calories to make you lean.
Are there any food items which help in boosting metabolism? Yes, there are many of them; Mother Nature has made it all for you, simply pick the right food item and see the wonders.
Citrus fruits – Grapefruit, Berries and Lemons are an excellent food source for giving your metabolism an overdrive. These help in detoxifying your liver and cleansing the digestive system. The enzymes and vitamin ‘C’ in lemons help in clearing toxins from the body by turning them into compounds that are eliminated from the body in the form of waste. This ultimately helps in improving your metabolic function.
Black Coffee – Caffeine blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter adenosine and increases the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and nor epinephrine. These neurotransmitters help improve metabolism and release fat from the body.
Cinnamon – It is a delicious way to speed up your metabolism and lose weight, simply pot a pinch of it in the tea or gravy you cook and be assured for the results. Apart from being low in calories, cinnamon is rich in antioxidants and phyto-chemicals that help speed up your metabolism rate.
Green tea, Celery, Ginger, Garlic, Pepper, Oats, Broccoli, Lean meat (fish, chicken), Low fat dairy products, Avocado, Apples, etc also helps in boosting metabolism. So start your drive to boost your metabolism so that you can relish your life.