Metabolism Boosters
Our metabolism can slow down as we get older, suffer certain medical conditions, or even as a result of gaining weight - truly trapping us in a vicious cycle!
The right nutrients and supplements can help nudge it back in the right direction.
Remember
These supplements are a support for dieting, not a replacement! You'll only get results if you're also following a weight-loss diet and exercise routine that puts you into calorie deficit.
The 6 ways Supplements Can Boost Your Metabolism
Thermogenesis: Some herbal supplements increase thermogenesis, which is the process by which our bodies generates heat. This can lead to a higher calorie burn. The B vitamins, iron and magnesium are essential for this. Ingredients like caffeine, green tea extract, and capsaicin from chili peppers are popular botanical examples.
Oxidising Fat: Certain supplements can enhance the body's ability to break down fats, making them available for energy use. Vitamin D, iron, L-carnitine, apple cider vinegar, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) are examples that can support fat oxidation.
Balancing Blood Sugar: Balanced blood sugar levels can prevent insulin spikes, which make us store fat instead of burning the calories for energy. Chromium, berberine, and alpha-lipoic acid are supplements that can help balance blood sugar.
Making More Energy: B vitamins, particularly B12, B6, and B3, play crucial roles in energy production. A deficiency in these vitamins can slow down your metabolism noticeably.
Controlling Appetite: Some supplements can help regulate your appetite by helping you feel fuller after eating or reducing cravings. Fibre supplements, ashwagandha, maca root, apple cider vinegar and certain herbs like fenugreek can help control the appetite, which can indirectly support a healthy metabolism.
Thyroid Support: The thyroid gland plays a central role in metabolism regulation. Supplements like iodine, selenium, and zinc are essential for thyroid function.
Thermogenesis: Some herbal supplements increase thermogenesis, which is the process by which our bodies generates heat. This can lead to a higher calorie burn. The B vitamins, iron and magnesium are essential for this. Ingredients like caffeine, green tea extract, and capsaicin from chili peppers are popular botanical examples.
Oxidising Fat: Certain supplements can enhance the body's ability to break down fats, making them available for energy use. Vitamin D, iron, L-carnitine, apple cider vinegar, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) are examples that can support fat oxidation.
Balancing Blood Sugar: Balanced blood sugar levels can prevent insulin spikes, which make us store fat instead of burning the calories for energy. Chromium, berberine, and alpha-lipoic acid are supplements that can help balance blood sugar.
Making More Energy: B vitamins, particularly B12, B6, and B3, play crucial roles in energy production. A deficiency in these vitamins can slow down your metabolism noticeably.
Controlling Appetite: Some supplements can help regulate your appetite by helping you feel fuller after eating or reducing cravings. Fibre supplements, ashwagandha, maca root, apple cider vinegar and certain herbs like fenugreek can help control the appetite, which can indirectly support a healthy metabolism.
Thyroid Support: The thyroid gland plays a central role in metabolism regulation. Supplements like iodine, selenium, and zinc are essential for thyroid function.
Lifestyle Changes to Speed Up Your Metabolism
Speeding up your metabolism can help you burn more calories throughout the day, even when you're at rest. Here are some active steps you can take to boost your metabolism.
Strength Training: Building muscle mass can increase your resting metabolic rate, meaning you'll burn more calories even when you're not active.
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): HIIT workouts involve short bursts of intense exercise followed by periods of rest or low-intensity exercise. These workouts can boost your metabolism and help you burn more calories in a shorter amount of time.
Stay Active Throughout the Day: Even outside your workout sessions, try to stay active throughout the day. Take breaks to stretch or walk, stand up and move around regularly, and look for opportunities to be more active in your daily routine.
Eat Protein-Rich Foods: Protein needs more energy to digest compared to fats and carbohydrates. Including protein-rich foods like lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, and nuts in your meals can help boost your metabolism.
Stay Hydrated: Drinking enough water throughout the day can help keep your metabolism running efficiently. Some studies suggest that drinking water can temporarily boost metabolism by increasing calorie burning.
Eat Regular Meals: Skipping meals or going for long periods without eating can slow down your metabolism. Aim to eat regular meals and snacks to keep your metabolism active throughout the day.
Limit Processed Foods and Sugars: Processed foods and added sugars can lead to weight gain and slow down metabolism. Focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Get Enough Sleep: Lack of sleep can disrupt your metabolism and lead to weight gain. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night to support a healthy metabolism.
Manage Stress: Chronic stress can lead to hormonal imbalances that can slow down metabolism. It gives lots of people the munchies too. Find ways to manage and reduce stress if at all possible, and consider adaptogens Ashwagandha or Maca Root that help the body keep functioning as normal while you're under stress.
Speeding up your metabolism can help you burn more calories throughout the day, even when you're at rest. Here are some active steps you can take to boost your metabolism.
Strength Training: Building muscle mass can increase your resting metabolic rate, meaning you'll burn more calories even when you're not active.
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): HIIT workouts involve short bursts of intense exercise followed by periods of rest or low-intensity exercise. These workouts can boost your metabolism and help you burn more calories in a shorter amount of time.
Stay Active Throughout the Day: Even outside your workout sessions, try to stay active throughout the day. Take breaks to stretch or walk, stand up and move around regularly, and look for opportunities to be more active in your daily routine.
Eat Protein-Rich Foods: Protein needs more energy to digest compared to fats and carbohydrates. Including protein-rich foods like lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, and nuts in your meals can help boost your metabolism.
Stay Hydrated: Drinking enough water throughout the day can help keep your metabolism running efficiently. Some studies suggest that drinking water can temporarily boost metabolism by increasing calorie burning.
Eat Regular Meals: Skipping meals or going for long periods without eating can slow down your metabolism. Aim to eat regular meals and snacks to keep your metabolism active throughout the day.
Limit Processed Foods and Sugars: Processed foods and added sugars can lead to weight gain and slow down metabolism. Focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Get Enough Sleep: Lack of sleep can disrupt your metabolism and lead to weight gain. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night to support a healthy metabolism.
Manage Stress: Chronic stress can lead to hormonal imbalances that can slow down metabolism. It gives lots of people the munchies too. Find ways to manage and reduce stress if at all possible, and consider adaptogens Ashwagandha or Maca Root that help the body keep functioning as normal while you're under stress.