Life
9 Unexpected Habits That Speed Your Metabolism
When it comes to keeping your body running, your metabolism is at the center of the action, creating enough energy to fuel your body day and night. If you're looking to get more energy throughout the day, there are ways to speed up your metabolism. By adding in certain habits to your daily lifestyle, you'll be able to improve your body's functionality, helping you feel better and more ready to take on your day.
As a certified health coach, I work with clients on keeping their bodies in tip-top-shape, health-wise, so they can feel their absolute best selves. And, when their metabolism is up and running, and they have tons of energy in the day, it can instantly improve confidence, mood, and overall wellbeing. Even when you sleep, your metabolism is working to help you breathe, circulate your blood, and repair damaged tissue from the day. Making sure you do everything to keep your metabolism working efficiently will contribute to how you feel, and experts say it may even help prevent certain diseases in the long run. Between eating the certain foods, exercises, and lifestyle changes, you'll be able to make sure your metabolism is going as efficiently as possible. Here are nine ways experts suggest to increase your metabolism and know that you're body is functioning properly.
1Drink Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is becoming more well known due to its benefits as a natural remedy. "[Apple Cider Vinegar] is largely made up of acetic acid, which is what gives it its sour taste and pungent smell," Rebecca Lee, a registered nurse, tells Bustle. "Most of the health benefits of vinegar...comes from acetic acid." According to Lee, some of the health benefits of ACV include cancer fighting properties, an increase in immunity, a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, and a lowering of cholesterol. Take it in the morning or use on leafy greens.
2Use Coconut Oil
Swap other cooking oils for coconut oil. "Coconut oil is made up of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) that are metabolized differently in the body than most fats," says Lee. "MCTs quickly bypasses the digestive tract and goes straight to the liver. There it is converted into an immediate source of energy," says Lee. It tastes great in baked goods or soups. Plus, those fats are good for you. "It lowers your bad cholesterol (LDL & triglycerides) while raising your good cholesterol (HDL)," says Lee. "Lowering your bad cholesterol decreases your risk of heart disease and stroke."
3Use Avocado Oil
Another great option is avocado oil, says Lee. "Avocado oil contains healthy fats, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals," Lee says. "Most of the fats contained in avocados consist of oleic acid...Oleic acid has anti-inflammatory benefits that are believed to reduce the chances of cancer" Avocado oil is perfect for cooking, so Lee suggests to use it for stir-fry meals or frying.
4Have More Probiotics
Probiotics are gaining more respect in the superfoods world, especially with the growing popularity of the health drinks, kombucha, and kefir. "Probiotics protect our natural flora (health bacteria) in our gastrointestinal tract and help to keep our digestion optimal," says Lee. "The microorganisms within probiotics also helps to perform many important functions in our body such as...protect the lining of our gut, fight against harmful invaders, and keep our immune systems strong," says Lee. You can also get it in capsule form.
5Drink Water
Time to keep a water bottle handy at work. "Drinking water boosts the metabolism due to a process known as water-induced thermogenesis," says Lee. This means that when when cold, or even lukewarm water enters your body, your body responds by spending energy to heat it back up to your normal, core temperature, Lee says. Lee also notes that in one study, researchers found about 16 fl oz. of water was able to increase both men and women's metabolic rate by 30 percent. Simple, yet effective.
6Eat More Fiber
Increasing your fiber intake can help speed up your metabolism. "Soluble fiber travels to the large intestine where bacteria convert it into fatty acids which are then used as an energy source," says Lee. The way fiber is digested also helps you feel fuller, longer, Lee says. Good sources of fiber include whole grains, legumes, beans, and fruit with edible skin, like apples.
7Drink Green Tea
Green tea is a cozy way to keep the metabolism going. "Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants called catechins and caffeine," says Lee. "Both of these substances can increase metabolism, but when consumed together they have a synergistic effect." What that means is together, these components in green tea tell the body to use stored fat as energy, Lee says.
8Increase Your Protein Intake
Hello, steak. Because protein takes longer to digest, the amount of energy it takes to break it down will boost your metabolism, Lee says. Great sources of protein include lean meats, fish, legumes, tofu, and ancient grains, like quinoa.
9Eat Eggs For Breakfast
Lee says that eating eggs is preferable to other breakfast foods higher in carbohydrates, which can actually slow down the metabolism. According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, those who ate eggs instead of a bagel reported feeling fuller for a longer period of time. Eggs are also simple and take little time to make.
If you notice your metabolism is slowing down you can easily add in these foods, drinks, and lifestyle tweaks to your routine. Besides, there's nothing too bad about waking up to a cheesy, warm omelet, right?
