Healthful foods help make bodies function properly. When we eat too much junk food, the fats, preservatives, sugars and chemicals can overwhelm our body’s ability to transform the food into energy, resulting in a slow metabolism. However, too little food can also drag down a person’s metabolism. This is what happened to Oprah Winfrey when she went on a liquid diet to lose excess weight fast. The low-calorie diet was unsustainable, and she gained the weight back–then had to put in extra effort to return her metabolism to a normal rate. There are concrete strategies you can employ to boost your metabolism and encourage your body to burn calories efficiently.
Features
A metabolism-boosting diet’s key feature is to eat healthy foods. Rather than binge with a heavy meal and spend the next day fasting to compensate, avoid getting too hungry. Keep a stash of fresh fruits and vegetables on hand, as well as whole grain crackers for snacking. The other central element of a this diet is to incorporate activities that raise the heart rate, which sets the blood circulating. Try a 15-minute power walk during your lunch break and with the family after dinner.
Potential
The metabolism-booster diet has a greater potential of working if you make the move to natural, unprocessed foods. The less that is done to a food before consumption, the easier it is for the body to process it. Try adding some organic foods to the mix, such as organic apples to munch on in the car or an organic strawberry smoothie to start your day.
Types
Some metabolism-boosting diets emphasize the importance of building muscle, which in turn burns fat. This method is one of the most effective ways to raise your resting metabolism. Other diets recommend superfoods that raise the heart rate or keep your insulin levels low after eating. Among these superfoods are complex carbohydrates, spicy peppers, green tea and wild salmon. Other metabolism-boosting diets include a set of meal plans, such as those in Rosemary Conley’s book, “Metabolism Booster Diet.” The website My Fit (see Additional Resources) also lists some snack ideas and menu plans.
Benefits
A healthful metabolism-boosting diet is packed with vitamins and minerals. It can help you lose weight, make your skin glow and your body feel more energized and powerful. It’s possible to do this diet without buying any program, special foods, exercise equipment or supplements. It’s a diet that can travel with you and even get you through special occasions and restaurant meals.
Considerations
Doing breathing or energy work is the ideal complement to a metabolism-booster diet. Try yoga and focus on taking deep, healing breaths that open up your diaphragm. Tai chi and qi-gong also effectively open up the body and get the blood circulating, helping to distribute energy throughout the body.
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