Boost your metabolism

What is metabolism?

The word metabolism can refer to the sum of all chemical reactions that occur in living organisms, including digestion and the transport of substances into and between different cells.

The metabolic system of a particular organism determines which substances it will find nutritious and which poisonous. For example, some prokaryotes use hydrogen sulfide as a nutrient, yet this gas is poisonous to animals. The speed of metabolism, the metabolic rate, influences how much food an organism will require, and also affects how it is able to obtain that food.

How to boost?

Eat enough

You need to cut calories to lose weight but going too low delivers a double whammy to your metabolism. When you eat less than you need for basic biological function (about 1,200 calories for most women), your body throws the brakes on your metabolism. It also begins to break down precious, calorie-burning muscle tissue for energy. Eat just enough so you're not hungry—a 150-calorie snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon between three meals (about 430 calories each) will keep your metabolism humming.

Drink More Cold Water

Water can help you lose weight and keep it off. It increases your metabolism and helps fill you up before meals. It also fulfills the requirement of water in different organisms of our body.

Always include protein

Your body needs protein to maintain lean muscle. Add a serving, like 3 ounces of lean meat, 2 tablespoons of nuts, or 8 ounces of low-fat yogurt, to every meal and snack. Research shows protein can up post meal calorie burn by as much as 35%.

Get more vitamin D

This vitamin is essential for preserving metabolism-revving muscle tissue. Get 90% of your recommended daily value (400 IU) in a 3.5-ounce serving of salmon. Other good sources: tuna, shrimp, tofu, fortified milk and cereal, and eggs.

Do a High-Intensity Workout

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) involves quick and very intense bursts of activity. It can help you burn fat by increasing your metabolic rate, even after your workout has finished.