7 Simple Steps to Boost Your Metabolism

You know those people in your life who always seem full of relentless energy and never get sick. Apart from secretly hating them, you probably wonder what their secret is.

More than likely it has more to do with their lifestyle habits than it does with anything else.

Our immune system is supported by our metabolic energy, and when that is struggling, our whole body becomes a playground for virus and bacteria.

I’d like to share with you 7 simple steps that can have you living sick free and full of energy – all of which are sure fire boosts to your metabolism.

1. Get more sleep.

Our modern world considers sleep a luxury and this is wreaking havoc on our internal clocks and immune system functions. Our health depends on sleep.

One study has even made a connection between insufficient sleep and insulin resistance leading to obesity and diabetes. People affected by these conditions have drastically low metabolic rates and as a result are susceptible to chronic illness and pain.

Whether you are a napper or night owl, it is important to commit your body to between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night to allow for full REM repair. Check out this article if you’re having trouble falling asleep.

2. Eat 5-6 mini meals per day.

Your metabolism is like a fire and the food you eat acts as fuel to keep it burning. To keep a successful fire burning you need to feed it regularly.

The schedule of 3 meals a day does not encourage a healthy fire. Eating smaller meals more frequently will keep your blood sugar levels even and gives your body a steady stream of energy.

Depriving your body of food for longer than 4 hours at a time will spin your metabolism into storage mode. Rather than burning the energy, your body will slow its metabolism and store the energy as fat.

3. Don’t overeat.

This one will be even easier if you abide by the 5-6 mini meals a day routine. Rather than eating a huge meal and leaving the table feeling like a stuffed duck, consider saving 20% of space for your next meal – which should only be 2 hours away.

The body is only able to process so much at one time and will be forced to store excess amounts as fat for the future. In order to boost your metabolism and improve your immune system you need to reduce your muscle to fat ratio.

4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Humans are nearly 60% water. Each and every cell in our body needs water to function properly. Being dehydrated is nearly the worst thing you can do to yourself.

Metabolic rate can be drastically slowed without enough water and studies have found that drinking 17oz of water a day can increase your metabolism by 30%. It really does not get any easier than that!

5. Drink matcha tea.

There are ways besides water to stay hydrated and one of the best beverages that can also boost your metabolism is matcha green tea.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that green tea extract rich in catechin polyphenols with thermogenic properties to promote the conversion of fat into energy.

6. Lift weights and 7. Get your heart pumping fast.

Interval training and weight lifting may sound intimidating but exercising just 30 minutes a day to bring your heart rate up can supercharge your metabolism and fortify your immune function.

The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn when doing nothing! Cardiovascular exercise alone will have little influence on your metabolic rate. More muscle will. Your muscle ratio will help reduce body fat content.