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5 Tips to Speed Up Your Metabolism
Your metabolism – the process of breaking down the food we ingest for energy, development and repair – works a lot like a campfire. It’s tough to start one simply by throwing down a thick log and holding a lighter to it. Instead, you must use twigs and paper to spark a small flame, and feed it with larger pieces of wood to keep it burning strong.
While you might be surprised at this analogy, the fact is we have a huge amount of control over our metabolic rate. A few diet and lifestyle changes can help you burn hundreds more calories per day!
If you’re looking to get and stay in shape, here are five simple tips to help speed up your metabolism.
Sip Coffee
Java lovers can revel in the fact that the average metabolic rate of people who drink caffeinated coffee increased 16% over those who drank decaf, according to a Physiology & Behavior journal study. On top of that, researchers writing for the International Journal of Sports Physiology & Performance found that cyclists who took a caffeine supplement were able to ride about a mile farther than those who took a placebo. Coffee’s ability to stimulate your central nervous system increases your heart rate and pace of breathing, leading to a faster metabolism.
Drink More Water
Aside from numerous other health benefits, an ice-cold glass or bottle of water is the perfect remedy for speeding up your metabolism. Researchers at the University of Utah found that people who drank eight or more eight-ounce glasses of water per day had higher metabolic rates than those who drank four or less glasses. For better results, try drinking water as soon as you wake up in the morning, since your body’s metabolic function slows during sleep.
Drink Less Alcohol
Researchers at UC Berkeley found that drinking just two glasses of wine (or two bottles of beer) slows down your metabolic rate by more than 70%! The reason is because your liver converts alcohol into acetate, and uses that as energy instead of body fat.
Hit the Hay Earlier
While you may enjoy falling asleep to your favorite TV show, it may be time to DVR the show and hit the hay a bit earlier. A lack of sleep can cause several metabolic problems – fewer calories burned, lack of appetite control and an increase in cortisol (which stores fat) levels, just to name a few. And don’t think you can cheat by napping throughout the day! Researchers at UC Boulder found that participants who slept during the day burned more than 50 fewer calories than those who slept in the evening – likely due to interference with your circadian rhythm.
Stop Stressing
Yes, stress can actually cause your body to metabolize food slower, according to research in Biological Psychiatry. Additionally, the food we crave when we’re stressed tends to have more fat and sugar, leading to a slower metabolism and rapid weight gain. If you’re looking for ways to reduce stress, try yoga or meditating!
Whether its sipping coffee or drinking more water, Absopure can help! Call us today at (800) 422-7678 – or visit our website – to learn more about our home and office water/coffee delivery services.
