Protein is beneficial for keeping energy and blood sugar stable while also helping build calorie-burning lean muscle mass. Drinking natural forms of caffeine in moderation, like coffee or green tea, is also supportive of a healthy metabolism.

Green tea consumption has been considered a natural metabolism booster for centuries thanks to special antioxidant compounds in addition to low levels of caffeine.

Naturally warming foods like cayenne pepper, chili and other spicy ingredients are known to increase heat in the body thanks to an active compound called capsaicin. These antioxidant-packed spices also might help decrease appetite and slow the growth of fat cells.

As mentioned above, very low-calorie diets can actually interfere with your ability to burn more calories. Therefore you want to avoid most fat diets when trying to boost your metabolism. While calorie intake varies from person to person, we all need to meet our needs in order to supply the necessary chemicals that are used for building, upkeep and repair of all body tissues.

Very low-calorie diets miss key nutrients. This robs the body of raw materials like carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus or sulfur, which are supplied in carbohydrates, lipids, protein and water from our diets.

Meal timing can look differently for different people, with some choosing to eat three square meals a day with fewer snacks, while others prefer eating smaller meals but more often.

Either approach is OK as long as it keeps your energy, blood sugar and hunger levels stable. In addition, to support a healthy and stable weight, one of the most compelling reasons to work on increasing your metabolism is that this keeps us from prematurely aging and getting sick often.

Another benefit of eating enough calories every day is that it helps you maintain a healthier relationship with food. Popular Posts All Time This Week {position} Detox Your Liver: A 6-Step Liver Cleanse. More Health Dr.

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This article contains evidence-based strategies to boost your metabolism and support your overall health naturally. It converts calories from food to energy for cell function and reproduction.

This process keeps you breathing and walking and keeps your heart pumping. Your body converts the nutrients in food—sugars, proteins , vitamins, carbohydrates , fats, and amino acids—into a molecular form that cells can digest, known as adenosine triphosphate ATP.

This releases units of energy calories that your body uses immediately or stores in body fat for later use. The thyroid gland regulates your metabolism. Overactivity of this gland hyperthyroidism increases metabolism to the degree that makes it hard to store body fat, often leading to unintended weight loss.

Various factors affect your metabolism; some of which are in your control, and others are not. The factors influencing your metabolism you can control are called modifiable risk factors.

These changeable factors include:. Various medical factors can contribute to metabolism function, including:. You can naturally boost your metabolism by modifying your diet, sleep, and exercise habits.

The following are evidence-based strategies for a natural metabolism boost. Diets high in protein , such as meats, eggs, fish, and nuts, increase your metabolism and calorie burn. The metabolism process requires fluids, which is why water intake is essential.

This effect lasts up to an hour due to water-induced thermogenesis, a sympathetic nervous system response that increases your metabolic rate. Drinking water consistently during the day helps your body burn more calories.

High-intensity workouts, such as high-intensity interval training HIIT , involve brief, intense periods of heavy aerobic exercise followed by extended periods of lower-intensity work. Your physical activity influences metabolism, and HIIT has a particular effect.

In one study, the energy spent at rest resting energy expenditure up to an hour following HIIT was higher, even compared to aerobic exercise. Strength training, such as resistance bands or lifting weights, can also positively affect your metabolism.

In a study of sedentary women, six weeks of moderate resistance training increased their resting metabolic rate. At rest, a person who strength-trains regularly burns more calories daily. Green and oolong tea has traditionally been touted to have numerous health benefits. Among them is that regular consumption can boost your metabolism.

Though the evidence is mixed, some research suggests two compounds in this tea—caffeine and catechins —may increase metabolic function.

Chili peppers and spicy foods contain capsaicin , which affects metabolism. In a broad-ranging review, researchers noted evidence that diets emphasizing this substance improved the signs of metabolic disease disorders affecting the metabolism and helped manage obesity.

There are many health benefits to ensuring that you get enough sleep, which for adults should be seven to eight hours a night. Among them is that getting better sleep is linked with improved metabolism, but the growing consensus is that this effect is indirect.

While sleep deprivation may not directly impact metabolism, it raises the risk of weight gain, obesity, and diabetes, which do have an effect on metabolism. This involves:. The caffeine in coffee, tea, or other beverages might be more than just a morning pick-me-up.

People in this study did not make any other lifestyle or dietary changes, further supporting the hypothesis that caffeine contributes to an elevated metabolic rate.

Since the body requires energy to digest food, you can improve your metabolism by snacking regularly throughout the day. Healthcare providers sometimes recommend this strategy to help people manage obesity. While medical literature has shown snacking provides some benefits for certain people, like athletes, there is little evidence of a direct metabolic effect.

If you snack, choose nutrient-dense options over foods like cookies, chips, and those with added salts and sugars. The healthiest snacks are nuts, fresh fruit, and vegetables. Additional ways to boost your metabolism include being active, avoiding crash diets, and reducing stress. Having a sedentary lifestyle can adversely affect your health.

It raises the risk of obesity, affects bone and muscle development, and impacts your metabolism. If you sit for work or are constantly seated at home, take breaks to stand or walk. One study comparing data from Southeast Asia and the United States showed that taking a break to stand or walk every 30 minutes boosted metabolic health in older adults.

Countless dietary fads promise to boost your metabolism and manage your weight. Crash diets focusing on severe food restrictions can prevent your body from getting the nutrients it needs.

Aim to eat a variety of foods that provide sufficient calories and essential vitamins and minerals. Blood flow and energy expenditure are redirected from digestion and metabolism to the muscles and the brain.

This slows your metabolic rate, and if the stress persists, this can cause long-term effects. So how can you tell if your metabolism is slow? Don't discount the importance of keeping your metabolism up at work, especially if you hope to burn enough calories to lose weight.

How can you rev your metabolism on the job? If you work a sedentary job, scheduling mini-activity breaks throughout the day will get you out of your chair and moving more. Regular movement is not only helpful for weight loss, but also for boosting your productivity and ability to concentrate on the task at hand.

For lunch, be sure to plan a nutritious meal full of protein and other metabolism-boosting ingredients. Be mindful of your snacking habits by skipping the high-sugar bars and treats that can leave you feeling sluggish. If you're not hungry, resist the urge to snack out of boredom.

Consider a five-minute walking break instead. Did you know that you can boost your metabolism while you clean your house?

Modify the way that you carry out household chores to increase your range of motion and bump up your heart rate. Depending on how much effort you put in, some housecleaning routines can be just as beneficial as a traditional workout.

Simple changes at home can also help you reduce overeating while infusing more activity into your daily life. Take an extra trip up the stairs, pace around while you chat on the phone, or stand while you work on your laptop to prevent your body from staying sedentary for extended periods.

You may have heard that certain foods help you burn more calories. Although this is technically true, " metabolism-boosting foods " don't burn as much as you may think. The process of chewing, digesting, and storing food requires your body to burn calories.

Scientists call this the thermic effect of food or TEF. Foods with protein are more difficult to digest and support the growth of muscle mass, especially if you strength train.

Your body also has to work harder to chew and break down fiber. Spicing up your food is another way to slightly boost body temperature to burn more calories.

The popular strategy of eating frequently to avoid "starvation mode" may cause weight gain, especially if you end up eating more than your body needs.

Listen to your internal hunger cues to differentiate between true hunger and emotional or mindless eating. Exercise is arguably the most effective way to change your metabolism.

An intense workout program revs up your metabolic engine for hours following a session. Even if you're new to physical activity, there are lots of benefits to gain by working out as a beginner.

Resistance training that builds muscle is particularly helpful for long-term metabolism-boosting effects. Even beginner-level workouts build strength, burn calories, and improve your health.

If you are not ready for vigorous exercise, there's no reason to shy away from a more low-key workout program. Bumping up your daily activity level can benefit both your metabolism and your overall health and well-being. Start by moving more throughout the day, either through mini exercise sessions or by simply changing the way you do housework.

Choose foods that give you sustained energy to maximize your metabolism. Unless prescribed by your doctor, watch out for metabolism-boosting pills and potions that promise to work miracles.

Learning to work with your body, instead of against it, is the key to finding harmony with healthy living. Joshi S, Mohan V. Indian J Med Res. Thomson CA, Morrow KL, Flatt SW, et al. Relationship between sleep quality and quantity and weight loss in women participating in a weight-loss intervention trial.

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Alone, the effects of adding spices to your food may be quite small. However, it may lead to a slight advantage when combined with other metabolism-boosting strategies. Eating spicy food could be beneficial for boosting your metabolism and help you maintain a moderate weight.

However, the metabolism-boosting effect of spicy foods is quite small. Lack of sleep is linked to a major increase in the chance of obesity.

This could explain why many people who are sleep-deprived often feel hungry and may have difficulty losing weight or may gain weight. In a study , researchers also found that a lack of sleep for four nights or longer may slightly decrease how the body metabolizes fat.

Lack of sleep can affect the levels of your appetite-regulating hormones and may slightly affect how your body metabolizes fat, which may lead to weight gain.

Research has shown that caffeine can trigger the body to release neurotransmitters like epinephrine , which helps regulate the way your body processes fat.

However, this effect may vary based on several factors. For instance, one study found that caffeine was more effective at increasing fat burning during exercise in individuals with a less active sedentary lifestyle in comparison with trained athletes.

Drinking coffee can significantly increase your metabolism and may help you lose weight if that is your goal. They may explore underlying causes and offer you a tailored plan. Managing any condition that slows down your metabolism, like hypothyroidism , can help make other efforts more productive.

Jumpstarting your metabolism may also require you to change a few habits like a nutrient-dense diet with limited processed foods, regular physical activity , and optimum sleep hygiene that allows your body to rest and recharge. You may also avoid doing things that slow down your metabolism like restricting too many calories or not doing any strength resistance training.

Every body is different. Signs of a slow metabolism may vary individually but may include fatigue, digestive upset, not losing any weight despite your efforts, and easily gaining weight. Only a healthcare professional may accurately assess your metabolism and the underlying causes of these symptoms.

Restrictive diets may sometimes lead to a slow metabolism, among other health effects. Although for weight loss and fat burning you do want to consume fewer calories than you burn, your body still needs to get enough fuel and nutrients to perform body functions. Instead of eating less, you may want to focus on nutritious foods and move more.

Foods that boost your metabolism typically include protein such as meat, dairy, or legumes. Read more about the 12 best foods to boost your metabolism. Learn about these and other foods you can eat before bed. To lose weight, you need to create a calorie deficit.

This means you need to eat fewer calories than you burn, or better, burn more calories than you eat. You may want to focus on healthy eating habits while you consume enough calories to support your body functions.

Consider reducing processed foods, sugar and alcohol intake, and saturated fats. Resistance training and eating an adequate amount of protein can help preserve lean body mass. Muscle growth helps you burn more calories at rest. Making small lifestyle changes and incorporating these tips into your routine can help increase your metabolism.

Having a higher metabolism can help you lose weight and keep it off, if that is your goal, while also giving you more energy. Try this today: In addition to trying the tips outlined above, you can also add more metabolism-boosting foods to your diet.

Check out this article for a list of some nutritious foods that can support your metabolism. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

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How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based 8 Ways That May Speed Up Your Metabolism. Medically reviewed by Marie Lorraine Johnson MS, RD, CPT — By Helen West, RD — Updated on January 11, Eat protein Do HIIT Try lifting Stand up Drink tea Eat spicy foods Sleep more Drink coffee FAQ Bottom line There are several easy and effective ways to support your metabolism, many of which involve making simple changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Eat plenty of protein at every meal. Do a high-intensity workout. Lift heavy things. Stand up more. Drink green tea or oolong tea. Some studies report similar benefits with doses as low as 6—10 milligrams mg per day. This is equivalent to one jalapeño pepper 4 , 5. According to a review of studies including nearly people, consuming at least 2 mg of capsaicin directly before each meal seems to reduce calorie consumption, especially from carbs 6.

Similarly, adding cayenne pepper to your meal may increase the amount of fat your body burns for energy, especially following a high fat meal. However, this fat-burning effect may only apply to people unaccustomed to consuming spicy foods 7.

The caffeine found in coffee may help increase metabolic rate. Furthermore, caffeine may help your body burn fat for energy. It seems especially effective at boosting your workout performance , according to older research 9.

However, its effects may vary from person to person based on individual characteristics such as body weight and age 9. Tea contains health-boosting compounds called catechins that may work with caffeine to boost metabolic rate. Both oolong and matcha green tea may increase fat oxidation and may help you burn extra calories when part of an exercise plan 10 , In addition, oolong and green teas may help your body use stored fat for energy more effectively, increasing your fat-burning ability Legumes and beans are particularly high in protein compared with other plant foods.

Examples include:. Studies suggest their high protein content requires your body to burn more calories to digest them compared with lower protein foods. This is due to their TEF 1. Legumes also contain dietary fiber , including resistant starch and soluble fiber, which your body can use as a prebiotic to feed the good bacteria in your large intestine In turn, these friendly bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids , which may help your body more effectively use stored fat as energy and maintain normal blood sugar levels Ginger and related spices are thought to have particularly beneficial metabolism-boosting properties.

Ginger may help with weight management, obesity prevention, and energy metabolism For instance, older research shows that dissolving 2 grams of ginger powder in hot water and drinking it with a meal may help you burn up to 43 more calories than drinking hot water alone This hot ginger drink may also decrease hunger levels and enhance feelings of satiety, or fullness Cacao and cocoa are tasty treats that may also benefit your metabolism.

Flavonoids in cacao and cacao byproducts may help support metabolic actions and help reduce hypertriglyceridemia Another research review suggests that cocoa and dark chocolate may help reduce body weight, a factor that can contribute to the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders Processing tends to reduce the amounts of beneficial compounds and add extra sugar and calories MCT oil is a unique type of fat that may offer some metabolic benefits.

Most fats found in foods are long-chain triglycerides, but MCT oil comprises medium-chain triglycerides. Some older studies have shown that MCT oil consumption can increase metabolic rate in humans. Additionally, unlike long-chain fats, once MCTs are absorbed, they go directly to the liver to be turned into energy.

This makes them less likely to be stored as body fat 19 , 20 , MCT oil is typically taken as a supplement, although it can be added to foods like soups or smoothies. Drinking enough water is a great way to stay hydrated. However, the effects only appear to last for 40—90 minutes after drinking water.

The strength of the effect may vary from person to person. Seaweed is rich in iodine , a mineral required to produce thyroid hormones and for your thyroid gland to function properly Thyroid hormones have various functions, one of which is to regulate your metabolic rate 3.

Regularly consuming seaweed can help you meet your iodine needs and maintain your metabolic health. Five foods that can support your metabolism include those high in protein and minerals that benefit your thyroid function, such as:.

Certain foods may help slightly increase your metabolic rate, or how many calories you burn. Consuming them regularly may help you lose weight and manage your weight in the long term. However, these foods will not negate a poor quality diet. For effective, lasting weight loss and weight management, seek a gradual reduction in calories and choose mostly whole, minimally processed foods.

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