Kick-start Your Metabolism

This time of year is perfect for shaking off those metabolic cobwebs. Here are some metabolism kick-starters to get your body feeling fit, strong and ready for summer.

Spring is around the corner, which means that a lot of things are starting to come out of hibernation. You might count your social skills among them, and maybe those Hawaiian shorts you secretly love. But this time of year is also perfect for shaking off those metabolic cobwebs. It’s time to get your body feeling fit, strong and summer-ready with these metabolism kick-starters.

“Very simplified, your metabolism determines how much energy you burn in a day,” says Amanda Weber, a registered dietician based in Cape Town. “It’s based on all the chemical reactions that happen in your body and is largely dependent on the food you eat. If your metabolism isn’t working optimally, you gain weight. On the other hand, if your metabolism burns more energy than you consume, you lose weight.”

The good news is that speeding up your metabolism doesn’t require dramatic diet changes and endless workouts. In fact, sudden and severe shifts might do your metabolism more harm than good. Rather, you can help your metabolism along by making just a few lifestyle adjustments.

The healthy habits provided below, says Amanda, will help you on your way:

  • Don’t skip breakfast: Skipping breakfast tells your body to conserve energy and slows down its ability to burn fat. Amanda recommends incorporating protein into your breakfast by eating oats with some whey protein and cinnamon, scrambled eggs with avo and mushrooms, or yoghurt with crushed nuts and slices of banana.
  • Enjoy metabolism-boosting snacks: Amanda suggests munching an apple and a small handful of lean biltong shavings, roasted chickpeas with a few sultanas or raisins, half an avo filled with chunky cottage cheese and some chilli flakes, or a grilled pear with ricotta and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
  • Reach for the hot sauce: Chillies contain capsaicin, which help the body to burn calories after a meal.
  • Become a fan of green tea: Studies show that three cups of green tea a day can increase your metabolism by up to 10%.
  • Don’t hold back on the H20: A German study found that drinking half a litre of water first thing in the morning can your boost metabolism by 30% for up to an hour or more. Being dehydrated impairs your metabolism – don’t let it happen.
  • Move your body: Regular exercise (ideally daily) increases the production of the human growth hormone, a hormone that plays an important role in regulating your metabolism, helping you recover from injury and disease, and aiding weight loss.
  • Hit the hay: Irregular sleep patterns can disrupt the circadian rhythm of your cells, throwing your metabolism out of whack.

The bottom line is that if you want to lose weight, improve your strength, and live a life full of energy, your metabolism needs to be firing on all cylinders. Make it happen, there’s no time like the present.

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