Want your body to become a more efficient fat-burning machine? Try these tips!
- Be sure that you are eating enough. Starving yourself will make your body slow your metabolism — not speed it up! For most women, eating around 1400 calories daily will keep your metabolism moving. Less than 1200 calories per day is less than your body needs for basic biological function — so your body will be forced to break down muscle for energy. That’s not a good thing.
- Make sure you include breakfast in your day. That early morning meal gives you a burst of energy AND jump-starts your metabolism. There are plenty of healthy choices out there, even if you have to eat on the run.
- Make sure you get plenty of fiber in your diet. Studies have shown that eating around twenty-five grams of fiber per day can increase your body’s fat burn by as much as thirty percent! How do you get that much fiber? Aim for three servings of fruits and three servings of veggies every day.
- Make sure you include protein in your diet. Protein is essential for your body to maintain lean muscle. Eating protein with each meal can increase your body’s fat burn by as much as thirty-five percent.
- Drink milk! Evidence is beginning to suggest that calcium deficiency can slow your metabolism. Drink milk — or get your calcium in other ways — to keep your metabolism moving. As an added benefit, if you get your calcium through dairy foods, you may find your fat absorption reduced from other foods.
- Drink coffee or tea (just don’t abuse it). Caffeine in coffee and tea stimulates your central nervous system and can increase your metabolism anywhere from five percent (for coffee) to twelve percent (for tea). Tea has other health benefits, too, in case you didn’t know.