1 / 6 Practise these habits daily to speed up fat burn.
Losing fat is never easy, and it becomes harder as you age, largely due to the loss of muscle mass and increasing levels of inactivity. Age aside, what you eat affects your metabolism too. Metabolism is the process of your body breaking down the food you eat for energy.
For example, having sugary drinks slows down metabolism. When your body becomes overloaded with sugar, some of the sugar is unable to break down, and gets converted into fat and stored in your body. To avoid weight gain and stay in tip-top shape, follow these eating habits.
A daily cup of tea or coffee can increase your metabolism just three hours after drinking, according to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Caffeine is a natural stimulant that gives you an energy boost, making you more active and alert than usual.
Coffee also contains a compound chlorogenic acid that is said to promote weight loss and regulate blood sugar levels, while tea has disease-fighting antioxidants called catechins that reduce the risk of heart diseases as well as promote fat burn.
You may have heard that eating small and frequent meals throughout the day helps to boost metabolism. According to a study by the University of Ottawa in Canada, there was no difference in the weight loss of participants who ate three full meals a day as compared to those who ate six smaller meals.
Find out what satisfies your tummy – noshing on small portions throughout the day or having three full meals. As long as you keep your portions in check and make healthy choices, you will beat the bulge.
Chilli lovers, rejoice. The compound capsaicin that’s found in chilli peppers promotes fat loss and naturally suppresses appetite. According to a UK research review, just 2mg of capsaicin in your meals can help you torch up to 74 calories. Capsaicin-rich foods include all peppers except bell peppers. If you aren’t a fan of spicy food, remove the chilli seeds before adding chilli to your meals.
Drink up as you read this. The daily recommended amount of water you should have is eight glasses. If you worked out, you should drink more. According to a German study, drinking just 500ml of water can increase your calorie burn by 24 per cent within an hour.
The next time you are feeling peckish, drink a glass of water and wait for 20 minutes. Sometimes, dehydration might be mistaken for hunger.
If you often feel hungry before bedtime, reach for some cherries instead of chips. Cherries contain melatonin, which helps to improve the regularity of your sleep. Insufficient sleep causes your metabolism to slow down, leading to weight gain over time.
According to a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, drinking cherry juice for a period of two weeks significantly reduces the effects of insomnia. Plus, cherries are chock-full of antioxidants to reduce inflammation and balance your metabolism-regulating hormones.
Practise these habits daily to speed up fat burn. Losing fat is never easy, and it becomes harder as you age, largely due to the loss of muscle mass and increasing levels of inactivity. Age aside, what you eat affects your metabolism too. Metabolism is the process of your body breaking down the food you eat for energy. For example, having sugary drinks slows down metabolism. When your body becomes overloaded with sugar, some of the sugar is unable to break down, and gets converted into fat and stored in your body. To avoid weight gain and stay in tip-top shape, follow these eating habits. Photos: 123rf.com Have tea or coffee daily A daily cup of tea or coffee can increase your metabolism just three hours after drinking, according to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Caffeine is a natural stimulant that gives you an energy boost, making you more active and alert than usual. Coffee also contains a compound chlorogenic acid that is said to promote weight loss and regulate blood sugar levels, while tea has disease-fighting antioxidants called catechins that reduce the risk of heart diseases as well as promote fat burn. (Also read: Eat These Calorie-Burning Foods To Lose Weight Faster) Do not worry about the frequency of your meals You may have heard that eating small and frequent meals throughout the day helps to boost metabolism. According to a study by the University of Ottawa in Canada, there was no difference in the weight loss of participants who ate three full meals a day as compared to those who ate six smaller meals. Find out what satisfies your tummy – noshing on small portions throughout the day or having three full meals. As long as you keep your portions in check and make healthy choices, you will beat the bulge. Add spices to your meals Chilli lovers, rejoice. The compound capsaicin that’s found in chilli peppers promotes fat loss and naturally suppresses appetite. According to a UK research review, just 2mg of capsaicin in your meals can help you torch up to 74 calories. Capsaicin-rich foods include all peppers except bell peppers. If you aren’t a fan of spicy food, remove the chilli seeds before adding chilli to your meals. (Also read: 4 Amazing Health Benefits Of Spicy Food) Drink more water Drink up as you read this. The daily recommended amount of water you should have is eight glasses. If you worked out, you should drink more. According to a German study, drinking just 500ml of water can increase your calorie burn by 24 per cent within an hour. The next time you are feeling peckish, drink a glass of water and wait for 20 minutes. Sometimes, dehydration might be mistaken for hunger. (Also read: 8 Ways To Make Water Taste Better) Have cherries before bed If you often feel hungry before bedtime, reach for some cherries instead of chips. Cherries contain melatonin, which helps to improve the regularity of your sleep. Insufficient sleep causes your metabolism to slow down, leading to weight gain over time. According to a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, drinking cherry juice for a period of two weeks significantly reduces the effects of insomnia. Plus, cherries are chock-full of antioxidants to reduce inflammation and balance your metabolism-regulating hormones.