5 Ways to Get Your Metabolism Soaring

1. Burn More Calories

More than ever before, new research shows that what we eat to how we work out can actually speed up the body's metabolism sometimes resulting in an extra 200 calories burned per day! At that rate, you can easily lose a few extra pounds per month, which is good news for those seeking a little help with weight loss. What's great is that these little tweaks require minimal effort and only add to a healthy lifestyle.

2. Eat the Right Foods 

When you eat plays a major role in metabolism, especially when it comes to breakfast. After a good night's rest (and eight hours or so without food), the body needs fuel, but if you skip breakfast, it will conserve energy by slowing down your metabolism. Along these same lines, never skip out on healthy meals or snacks during the day. You want to make sure your body is never left wanting to ensure your metabolism is revved up all day long. Besides knowing when to eat, what you're eating also counts since certain foods like lean protein, calcium, green tea, curry, and dark chocolate have been shown to increase metabolic rate.

3. Metabolism Boost: Get Proper Sleep

Besides feeling exhausted, a lack of sleep can lead to several health problems, including weight gain. A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology indicates that women who sleep five hours or fewer per night are 32 percent more likely to experience major weight gain. Not catching enough Zs doesn't allow metabolism to function properly, and instead your metabolism slows down. Making matters worse, poor sleep causes an increase in the hormone ghrelin, which signals the body to eat more. 

4. Metabolism Boost: Intense Cardio

To spike up the body's metabolism, do intense 45-minute cardio sessions a few times a week. A study published in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise journal showed that an intense cardio workout can slash an additional 190 calories post-workout. While research is still not solid on what produces this increase in calories burned, most research leans toward the after burn effect, in which a period of intense activity causes the body's metabolism to spike and burn off more fat than usual.

 

5. Muscle Power 

Building muscle through strength training helps give your metabolism an upward bump. While how much is unclear, one thing is known: muscle burns calories at a higher rate than fat. (Depending on which study you read, a pound of muscle burns anywhere from 15-50 calories per day. Compare this to fat, which averages about two calories per day.) Even if you consider yourself an active gal, make sure to incorporate strength training into your fitness routine. Otherwise you run the risk of losing muscle mass.

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