Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

Readers at Webctor.com constantly ask for ways to boost their metabolism so that they can lose weight.  This can be done through exercise but also through diet changes. Remember that people can have medical reasons for metabolism that are too high or too slow.  They often have illnesses such as a thyroid problem which is easily treated.  If you start getting too thin or are not losing weight despite exercising more and eating less, please see your doctor right away.

Eating Little and Often?

Forget what your parents told you about having three square meals a day.  Divide your usual meals into five or six small meals spaced a few hours apart in the day.  How does this help speed up your metabolism?

Your body takes about 10% of your meal so it can digest it. This 10% is the same no matter if you eat an apple or an entire apple pie.  So it only makes sense to spread your meals out so your body needs to burn more calories in order to eat the same amount of food.

Try Some Kelp

Kelp is an edible type of seaweed.  It’s often available in supermarkets catering to Oriental populations.  It can be used in stir-frys, soups and stews.  It’s still unclear how kelp helps dieters lose weight, but researchers have a good idea.  Its because kelp contains iodine, which helps the thyroid gland function effectively.  Unlike iodized salt, kelp does not contain sodium, which many dieters may be trying to avoid.  Eating kelp is also safer than taking iodine supplements, which can quickly reach proportions that can make you sick.

Kelp helps stimulate the thyroid gland, which in turn helps the body to burn fat deposits.  However, this may not work for people with hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid.

Drink More Green Tea

Green tea, hot or iced, caffeinated or non-caffeinated –no matter what type you prefer, contain polyphenols.  Polyphenols help stimulate the body’s production of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which helps to burn calories.  This energy is used to keep the body warm.  Some studies indicate that people who drink green tea burn up to 4% more calories to keep warm than non green tea drinkers.

This article at Webctor.com notes that green tea also has other health benefits, although some of these benefits have not been backed up with extensive research.  But green tea does contain antioxidants and can help reduce blood pressure.

Use Coconut Oil

Around World War II, farmers tried to fatten their livestock with coconut oil.  It didn’t work, even though their livestock eagerly consumed it.  What happened?  Most fat we consume wind up getting stored in fat cells.  But coconut oil is a little different.  It goes directly to the liver and gets expelled from the body.

Use coconut oil as you would regular cooking oil to help boost metabolism. Some people find the taste of coconut oil to be strong, so experiment with a little before using a lot of it.  Some people prefer to make a half-and-half cooking oil blend with olive oil or canola oil and coconut oil.