When you have a slow metabolism, it becomes much more challenging to reach your fitness. Unless there are specific reasons for your sluggish metabolism - like genetics or an illness, there are things you can do that will help speed your metabolism up.
You likely know someone who has a fast metabolism; they seem to be able to eat whatever they want and never gain a pound. Not only that, but they don’t seem to work out all that often, either.
Well, if you don’t fall into that lucky category, here are a couple of ways to increase your metabolism.
Water
While many people state that all the liquids they drink keep them hydrated, and they do contain water - there is nothing as good as water for helping all of your bodily functions - including speeding up your metabolism.
As soon as you become dehydrated, which is a state that most of us are in daily, the body struggles to complete all of the functions it has. Your metabolism will be noticeably more sluggish. However, you may not even notice this issue until you spend a few days drinking the right amount of water! Try it out and see how you feel after a few days; being more in tune with thirst signals is great for our overall health anyway.
Spice It Up
You may have noticed that spicy foods seem to get processed much quicker in the body - and there is a good reason for that. Spicy foods, as well as being very tasty, have capsaicin in them. The capsaicin company helps to boost the metabolism. And it is one of the reasons that Beyonce's cayenne pepper and honey drink was so highly recommended for people who wanted to drop a few pounds.
The reason behind eating spicy foods is two-fold, though, because not only do they speed up your metabolism, but they also suppress your appetite - so if you struggle with cravings, this can help - but be careful because skipping meals has an adverse effect on your metabolism.
Vitamins & Minerals
Unless you have an incredibly balanced diet, you will likely need some support in the form of vitamins and minerals to increase your metabolism. Many different options can help your body get the support it needs to burn better. Zinc is great for protein synthesis and energy; magnesium is directly involved in the metabolism process, and iron helps with oxygen transport. Aside from those, you can also check out chromium, L-theanine, CLA, and MK-677.
Protein
If you’re looking for ways to increase your metabolism, then working on your muscle mass is top of the list. But muscles that aren’t getting the right building blocks aren’t going to help you out.
You need to do some maths on how much protein you should be eating because it varies based on your weight and your workout routine. Many people don’t realize they are not eating enough protein until they have been in a plateau for months.
Look for good sources like lean meats, fish, and eggs.
For those who need to perfect their diet, here are some tips from the pros: The Eating Habits of Superstar Athletes.