What really helps to get your metabolism going?
As we age, it becomes more difficult to lose weight, and it’s often said that metabolism slows down.
1. Eat breakfast
A good start to the day with a tasty and healthy breakfast gets your metabolism going right away. It replenishes what you’ve burned overnight. Many people say they can’t eat in the morning, but it’s really important to eat something within 30 minutes of waking up.
2. Eat protein
Research has shown that eating protein has a significant effect on metabolism. In one study, adult participants were given a high-calorie diet. Some received a diet with 5% protein, others 15%, and a third group 25%. The result? Everyone gained about the same amount of weight, but those on the normal and high-protein diets stored 45% of the excess calories as muscle mass instead of fat.
This doesn’t mean you should replace all your carbs with chicken breast, but it is a good idea to include some protein with each meal or snack — for example, an egg at breakfast or as a snack, a protein shake, grilled chicken at lunch, or a bit of quark (strained yogurt) as a snack.
3. Drink water
Drinking water is good for you — not only for your metabolism but also for keeping your body hydrated. All of our cells need water to function. It has even been shown that poor hydration can reduce calorie burning by 2%. This was demonstrated in a study conducted by the University of Utah. Participants who drank 8 to 12 glasses of water per day had faster metabolisms than those who drank only four glasses.