Ways to fire up your Metabolism

Everyone knows that metabolism slows down after a certain age. There are certain factors which impact this change including: age, muscle loss, poor diet, lack of exercise, and hormones. However, there are certain steps we can take in order to fire up our metabolism.

One way to increase our metabolic rate is to increase our muscle mass. Regular strength training can increase our resting metabolic rate by 8%. Most people are concerned with cardiovascular fitness only; however, as far as metabolism is concerned, a combination of both is necessary. It is also very important to never exercise on an empty stomach. When you exercise on an empty stomach you lower your blood sugar and increase your appetite. It is recommended to have a light calorie snack, such as a banana or yogurt 20 minutes prior to your workout. As far as post workout metabolism, you should schedule your meals approximately 15 to 30 minutes following your workout. In several studies, people who ate their meals 15-30 minutes post exercise ate less than people who ate their meals an hour or more following physical activity. Following exercise your metabolism works faster and food is digested much more rapidly. When food is digested rapidly, your body feels full quicker than when your metabolism is sluggish. That is why physical activity is important in maintaining a healthy weight and a healthy digestive tract.

Another way to rev up your metabolism is to eat smaller meals five times a day. Your digestive track is like a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it becomes. Eating smaller meals will encourage your digestive tract to work quickly and effectively. When you consume large meals your metabolism is sluggish and it stores a lot more calories in the process. These are just a few ways to improve your metabolism effectively.