Metabolism is the sum total of the chemical reactions that happen inside your body. It helps regulate the normal functioning of our body in order for us to stay alive. Metabolism works best when we’re younger since we are more active in our youthful years and as we get old it gets slower and slower because there is a significant decrease in the muscle mass of older people and there is an increase in fat storage.
Is there something we can do to stop the metabolism from slowing down? Unfortunately, we can’t do anything to stop it. Aging and slow metabolism come as a package. There are, however, some things we can do to optimize our body’s metabolism. Here’s a guide on how to raise your metabolism:
Being physically active can help increase your metabolism. Doing a regular cardiovascular exercise is said to be a great way to increase metabolism. High intensity workouts are also recommended. The concept of after-burn in this type of exercise helps you increase your metabolic rate even after the end of your exercise that could even last up to 24 hours post-workout.
Researchers have claimed that omega 3 plays an important role in decreasing the hormone leptin which has affects fat burning. Omega-3’s also help in reducing inflammation and glucose levels in the blood which aids in regulating normal metabolism rate. Flaxseed oil and walnuts are some of the food that are rich in omega-3.
It’s true that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is important to NEVER skip your morning meal since it helps maintain a high energy all day. Breakfast essentially jumpstarts your metabolism. What happens when you skip a meal is that the body would think that the times are hard and pushed a pause button on the fat burning activities so as to conserve some of the energy. Studies have claimed that women who skip breakfast are more likely to be obese.
Studies done by German researchers have showed that drinking large amounts of water daily can wake up the resting metabolism and could help lose at least 50 calories daily. This may be contributed to the fact that the water we take in needs to be heated to match the body temperature and this process requires work.
Muscles are more active metabolically speaking compared to fat. That’s why building muscles can also have an effect on raising your metabolism.
Now that you have some ideas on how to raise your metabolism, it’s time to act on it. Grab your shoes, plan your diet, and let’s get you started on burning calories.