7 Tips to Increase Your Metabolic Rate

The first thing we should establish is exactly what is metabolic rate? It is quite simply the rate at which our bodies convert the food we eat into energy which is then burned off in the form of calories.
In order to lose weight we have to burn those calories off more quickly even though the same quantity of food has been consumed as before.
To do this we have to give our metabolism a boost, in this article we will look at a few of the many ways in which we can achieve this through our diet.
On a day to day basis we all burn off calories and this can be divided into 3 main areas: 1.
The basal metabolic rate also known as the resting metabolic rate is the energy we use to keep our bodies functioning.
This usage accounts for about 60% of the energy we produce.
2.
Another 30% of our energy is used to carry out physical activity.
3.
The remaining 10% is used by the body to allow the food we eat to be digested and converted to energy.
So how can you boost your metabolism? The following are 7 very effective ways of doing just that.
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Get away from the traditional 3 large meals per day.
You will increase your metabolic rate simply by eating more often.
Try to eat 6 small meals per day and keep your metabolic rate high.
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It is important that you eat less in the evening to allow more calories to be burned off before going to bed, therefore try to make dinner the smallest and lightest of your 6 meals.
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Diets are all about cutting down on the amount of food we consume right? Wrong! For a healthy adult the average calorie intake should be in the region of 1200 per day.
This will keep the basal metabolism at its optimum level.
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By cutting down on the amount of calories consumed the body automatically fears famine and cuts the metabolic rate to conserve energy.
Keep in mind that the biggest percentage of the energy we produce is used purely to maintain basic body functions.
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Ensuring that your diet is rich in whole grains found in breakfast cereals, wholemeal breads, brown rice etc.
as well as lots of fruit and vegetables will ensure your metabolism is boosted.
This is due to the fibre in such foods taking longer for the body to digest thus using more energy in the process.
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Protein is very important in our diet, by eating lean cuts of meat and chicken or fish the body has to use extra energy to digest it, much more than is required for digesting other foods like carbohydrates.
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Just as we need water to live, we also require water to aid the process of burning calories.
Drink as much water as you can, the recommended amount is 8 large glasses per day.
By following these 7 tips we can do a lot to increase our bodies metabolism and burn more calories thus promoting weight loss.