7 Ways to Regulate Your Metabolism
Metabolism is a combination of chemical reactions that take place in one’s body to convert food into energy that can be used by body organs. Any activity we do during the day – from thinking to running – is fueled by the energy produced through metabolism. Here are 7 tips to regulate your metabolism.
Exercise daily: This includes aerobic exercise and strength training. You can divide your daily exercise regimen to combine the two, or do it on separate days. To be more efficient, consider interval training which is switching between high-intensity exercise to low-intensity recovery. Interval training activates more mitochondria that are your cells’ powerhouses.
Do not skip meals: Focus on small, frequent meals that are nutritious. When you eat less frequently, your metabolism slows down to compensate.
Add more fiber to your meals: This can be accomplished by adding vegetables to every single meal. Half of your plate should be a combination of different vegetables. Moreover, fruits and vegetables are wonderful snack choices.
Focus on protein rich meals: Protein needs differ between individuals; however, for most people, 0.8 to 1 gram of protein per every kilogram of body weight provides a sufficient amount of daily protein.
Start your day with a breakfast that is nourishing, such as oatmeal, egg, yogurt, fruits, etc. Breakfast is the ignition to the metabolism engine.
Stay hydrated: Water is involved in almost every biological function; therefore, being dehydrated slows down the metabolism. Waiting to feel thirsty to drink water is not a way to keep hydrated. The way to calculate your daily water consumption is to take half of your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds then you need to drink 60 oz. of water during the day. Of course, this number will increase if you are more active during the day.
Green tea is proven to enhance metabolism through one of its active ingredients called catechin. It promotes fat oxidation via the thermogenesis process.
Schedule a visit with myself, Dr. Hilla Asadi or with Rachele Wright, ARNP for metabolic care.
