Most of us have struggled with losing weight at some point, that struggle can be a result of anything – an unhealthy lifestyle, lack of regular exercising, a bad diet or simply a sluggish metabolism. Your metabolism is something that can really test your patience, it can make weight loss a cakewalk or make you put in extra efforts just to achieve something what your friend achieved in under a month. So, what exactly do we mean when we say that ‘metabolism slows down as you age’? What is metabolism and how can we boost it by managing what we eat?
Metabolism, or the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) of your body is the one at which the body is able to extract energy out of the food consumed and use it for various bodily processes. Interestingly, our body requires energy for some of the simplest activities like breathing, blood circulation, and digestion and also for more complex functions that are performed within the body. Metabolism is nothing but the rate at which the calories consumed are broken into energy and used by the body. The faster the metabolic, the easier it is for the body to use the calories consumed and burn fat.
The body type also influences the metabolic rate of a person. The more lean mass a body has, it will be easier to lose and maintain weight. Men tend to burn more calories, even at rest, as compared to women as they tend to have more muscle mass. The metabolic rate is believed to decline by 5-10% every decade.
One of the most common and easiest ways to boost metabolism is by including regular exercise in your routine. As you lose fat and build more muscles, you automatically give a significant boost to your metabolism. As your stamina goes up, your metabolism also soars. However, those with a sluggish metabolism may need to put in extra hours and undertake some dietary tweaks to boost their metabolism.
While regular exercising and eating a balanced diet may go a long way in boosting your metabolic rate, adding few herbal ingredients in your diet may bring world of a difference. Shilpa Arora ND, a renowned Health Practitioner, Nutritionist and certified Macrobiotic Health Coach shares a list of natural ingredients that are excellent for ensuring a faster metabolism.
“It speeds up your metabolism by better utilization of carbohydrates and prevents the body from storing fat. Have cinnamon tea couple of times in a day especially with a high carb meal,” shared Shilpa.
This ancient Ayurvedic herb is excellent for boosting stamina, metabolism and tackling insomnia.Ashwagandha helps in balancing hormones and can even heal thyroid issues helping you lose weight. The powder can be mixed with milk and consumed twice a day.
A lot has been written about the good old haldi doodh and its miraculous health-benefiting properties. Curcumin present in turmeric helps in burning fat effectively and boosting your metabolism.
This remedy is extremely effective for weight loss. It revs up your metabolism and facilitates burning calories. “Boil a teaspoon of jeera in a glass of water and drink first thing in the morning for best results,” shares Shilpa.
Adding black pepper to your regular diet is probably the easiest way to polish your metabolism. From your morning eggs and your cup of steaming chai to a bowlful of soup, curries or dals, you can add black pepper to just about everything. Just a pinch of black of pepper in your meals will help strengthen your metabolism.. Also, do not forget to add a pinch of pepper to your haldi doodh. Piperine found in pepper goes well with the curcumin present in turmeric and gives your health a much needed boost.
“Fenugreek seeds are a good source of mucilaginous (gumlike) fibre that soothes and protects the digestive tract from free-radical damage. A tonic and antioxidant, fenugreek seeds also help boost metabolism,” as mentioned in Dorsling Kindersley’s Healing Foods. Some of the best ways to include the goodness of fenugreek in your diet is by adding fresh fenugreek leaves in your meals. You can also take a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds, soak them overnight in a cup of water and have the water on an empty stomach the next morning. You can even consume the soaked seeds or let them sprout and have them later.
It is important to understand that the metabolic rate varies from person to person. Get in touch with a certified diet expert or nutritionist to learn more about various ways through which your diet can be tweaked to boost your metabolism.