Metabolism Boosters

Metabolism is one of the popular buzzwords these days. Like to make sure your metabolism – basically the process of converting food into energy and using that energy (calories) to run your body – is at its peak? If you are having trouble shifting a few kilograms, feeling a little sluggish or just want to stay energised and feeling great, try these.

1. Food: ‘Spice it up’

GENERALLY INCREASE…

Chilli’s…chilli powder (sparingly!) – Avoid if any ‘heat-based’ conditions or problems stemming from nervous system ‘overstimulation’.
Ginger – fresh or powder, Mustard seeds, Black pepper, Cumin, Fenugreek,
Linseed – *good for reducing cholesterol – needs to be freshly ground though!
Bitter foods: Leafy greens, spinach, bitter gourd, eggplant etc

Reduce…

Sugar – Sugar directly impacts metabolism (adversely) by encouraging ‘fat storage’. Reduce the simple sugars and get the ‘sweet’ taste, through juicy fruits, rice etc

2. EXERCISE: ‘DON’T JUST GET AEROBIC…MUSCLE UP & GET LEAN’

We all know exercise increases our metabolism, but don’t just focus on ‘aerobic’ activities. The greatest determinant of your overall metabolic rate is your ‘lean body mass’ (i.e muscle tissue – muscle is more ‘metabolically active than fat). Supplement your walking/jogging etc with 2-3 mini-sessions/week of Body Toning/Weight Training to build/maintain strong muscles and a good lean body mass to fat ratio. This helps boost your ‘basal’ metabolic rate (resting metabolism), which is far more important for long-term weight management than the somewhat temporary metabolism boosts via high intensity aerobic exercise.

3. SLEEP:

While not directly related to metabolism as such, a lot of research is now showing the clear link between inadequate or poor sleep and weight gain. During sleep is when your body processes most of the toxins & impurities built up during the day. So while you ‘spice’ things up during the day, be sure to ‘settle’ things down at night and make use of Nature’s most powerful health-promoting & weight management therapy – a good night’s sleep.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

While modern science recognises inadequate/poor sleep as being associated with weight gain, it’s important to differentiate between quantity & QUALITY of sleep. It is known from the ‘Natural’ science of Maharishi Ayurveda, that it is the hours BEFORE and just after midnight that produce most of the rejuvenation & metabolic benefits of sleep. Unless you have a chronic sleep deficit, the longer one sleeps in after 6.00am, the more likely you are to gain weight! So get your sleep, but get it when it has its most profound effect – EARLY!
Remember – “the early bird catches the worm”…though the second mouse gets the cheese. Hmmmm!