Natural ways to raise metabolism (not pills)?

Question

Are there particular foods/ drinks/ seasonings/ herbs that naturally raise metabolism? I'm not looking for a food supplement, like a pill--I have heard that with some of the fad diets, you pay for a pill that raises your metabolism but if you stop taking it your metabolism will go back to lower than original level. Advice?

Answer 1

My ideas? Try to do 200 minutes of cardio a week. Remember fat does not turn into muscle, so you need to lose your fat while putting on muscle. Work hard, but don't over 60 minutes at a time. Do planks and other abs exercises on alternate days.

On training days, do 5-10 minutes of cardio to warm up, then do your weight training. Do 30 to 60 minutes more of cardio, then go home.

The best time to eat is just after your workout within an hour when your metabolism is raging. For your muscles, incorporate some isolated soy protein or whey protein. Whey is more potent but the soy tastes better!

Don't look at your scale as the be all and end all, but get a measuring tape to check your progress, and that will show more tangible results.

Read magazines like Shape, Womens Fitness, Fitness, etc to get tips and to stay motivated.

Good luck and stick at it. This plan has lost me 20 lbs in 12 weeks so far, just go for it!

Answer 2

The healthiest way to boost your metabolism is to exercise. If you don't now, start out slow. Depending on your age and general fitness, try something low impact like walking anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour a day. Gradually boost it up, adding 10 to 20% every week. Once you get cardio-fit, add on weight training. Muscles use a lot of calories. Fat uses none. So even at rest your metabolism will be higher. Anything under 1600 calories a day is bad for your metabolism. Believe me if you eat that and exercise daily you will lose weight if you are overweight. In fact I find it almost impossible to lose weight UNLESS I am taking in 1600 calories or more. My body goes into starvation mode.

Answer 3

Digestive enzymes break down food in your stomach.
Digestive enzymes are available naturally in live food. i.e. uncooked fruits and vegetables.
It is better for digestion to eat things warm and not cold and chew chew chew, so your mouth does most of the work and your body won't be taxed by trying to break down and pass huge chunks of food that will eventually go undigested and clog your system.
Also, stay away from white flour and refined (white) sugar.
Ginger, lemon and licorice root (real black licorice) are excellent for digestion but don't overdo it, you don't want to tax your kidneys.
Steep a bag of lemon ginger tea once or twice a day.
Exercise helps metabolism too. Go for a walk after eating a big meal.

Answer 4

Here is what you need to do, if you are serious about losing weight and keeping it off. Eat 6 small meals a day about every 4 hours. Here what that will do for you, your metabolism will increase (i.e. Loose weight) and you will have more engry. If you go on a diet and eat less, your metabolism will slow down and store to fat. That is why diets dont work. Only the size of your fist, carbs (examples:baked potato, pasta, oatmeal, beans, corn, melon, apples, fat free yogurt, whole wheat breads)in one and protien (examples:chicken breast, swordfish, shrimp, turkey breast) in the other. You can also eat vegetables and salads with any meal, they dont have none or little fat). 30min cardo exercise every day. Any of these(examples: walking, jogging, swimming,running, biking, ect), Monday cardo, tues upper body (arms: curls, tricep extensions,pull ups, front press)(abdominals: leg pull crunch, leg raises), (chest: bench press, butterfly, pullover)(shoulders: front press, arm pullover, cross county skier machine)(back:seated row, lat pull downs, back extension)(YOU DONT HAVE TO DO IN ONE DAY, mix it up) wed cardo, thurs lower body (legs: leg pull,leg press, squats, lounges) fri cardo, sat upper. Sunday eat anything you want and dont exercising, you do this on sunday so your body doesnt go into starvation mode. YOU NEED TO TAKE SUNDAY OFF. If you stilck with this you will have a great body. also drink aleast 8oz of water daily! Stay away from Mcdonals, Wendys, ect because there is nothing good for you on the menu's even the salads are bad (beaon bits, cheeze, dressing, ect) Good Luck :)

Answer 5

Just want to jump in and agree that excerise is the way to go. Combining aerobic and anaerobic is a great way to boost your basal metaboic rates. You don't have to go crazy or anything; even just some free weights (5-10 lbs) and a 15-20 minute jog 3+ times a week would be a great start.

Answer 6

Green tea supposedly helps.

Good luck finding something. I have incredibly low metabolism and I would love to know if you find anything that works ;D

Answer 7

I don't know if it raises metabolism, but when I added weight training to my exercise routine the weight started to come off. muscle burns fat faster and requires more energy to maintain than fat, so it stands to reason if you build muscle it will burn more calories for you.

Answer 8

Eat breakfast.
It is well documented that this "Jump-starts" your metabolism for the day & keeps you from over-eating later in the day.

Answer 9

Try eating Papaya daily

Answer 10

I cant say it enough.EXCERCISE! EXCERCISE! EXCERCISE! Remeber...it takes 21 days to develop a habit...You will notice your metabolism changing