What Is Metabolism and Why Is It Important To Healthy Weight Loss?

What Is Metabolism

Metabolism begins when we are conceived and ends when we die. In very simple terms, it is your body's engine, it's what gives your body power, it's what keeps you alive and enables you to move, and think, and grow. If you had no metabolism, you would be dead. It is the process of generating power for your body. Just as your car engine generates power for your car by burning gasoline, your metabolism generates power for your body by burning calories.

The rate of your metabolism also has a significant relationship to your weight. A fast metabolism burns more fat than a slow metabolism. Just as your car burns more gasoline when it's going fast than it does when it's going slow. So, if you're wanting to burn fat, simply increase the rate of your metabolism. However there is more to it than that.

Increasing your metabolism alone does very little for weight loss unless you combine it with other basic weight loss principles. What are those principles?

1 - Drink plenty of water

Ample water is vital to weight loss and to optimum body health. For your metabolism to function at top efficiency all of your body organs and systems need adequate water. What is adequate water? Half of your body weight in ounces of water each day. In other words, if you weigh 150 pounds, you need to drink 75 ounces of water every day.

Not so-called fruit juices, soda, or coffee (especially coffee), just good, clear water. These processed fruit juices are full of sugars, flavorings, and preservatives, which are extremely detrimental to weight loss and your health in general. Coffee is nothing more than an addictive drug. It is the biggest drug habit in the world. It offers no health benefits whatsoever, in fact, it actually dehydrates your body.

2 - Get 8 to 9 hours of sleep every night.

3 - Cardio and weight training exercise.

It doesn't have to be body-building exercise. A light 15 minute workout 2 or 3 times a day will get the job done.

4 - Get out of bed, go through your first exercise session, and eat a light, healthy breakfast

5 - Eat several small, healthy meals every day

Your body loves being fed good, healthy food every few hours. It hates being fed sporadically. When you feed your body sporadically, it begins storing fat because it doesn't know when it will be fed again.

So, eat all three meals. Make them light meals of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber. Stay away from the starchy carbohydrates like breads, pasta, and potatoes. Starchy carbohydrates turn to sugar in your body very quickly and your body ends up storing most of this as fat.

Eat a mid morning, mid afternoon, and evening snack of an apple and raw nuts, or a banana and raw nuts.

When you eat like this, you'll find you have no hunger pangs and you will never feel deprived of food. Your body will love it and it will stop storing fat. In fact, it will start burning fat.

10 Foods That Will Increase Metabolism

There are some foods that are great metabolism boosters. They act just like jet fuel in your body. They kick in your metabolism's after burner.

What are these foods?

1 - Salmon

Salmon is one of the healthiest meats you can eat. It is a great source of monounsaturated fat and healthy protein.

2 - Turkey

Turkey contains less fat than chicken and is very high in protein.

3 - Lean, skinless chicken breast

Low in fat and high in protein

4 - Broccoli

Without a doubt, the healthiest vegetable on earth

5 - Whey protein shakes

Excellent source of protein and other vital nutrients

6 - Apples

Great source of fiber

7 - Oatmeal

Tremendous source of fiber and studies have shown it actually reduces cholesterol

8 - Olives

Excellent source of monounsaturated fats

9 - Beef Liver

Loaded with a ton of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients

10 - Grapefruit

Lowers blood insulin levels

To receive the full benefits of these weight loss foods, make sure you consume protein, carbohydrates, and fiber with every meal, and eat small portions. Eat your healthy snacks between meals, and drink water, nothing but good, clear water.

5 Herbs and Spices That Will Speed Up Metabolism

1 - Garlic

Perhaps one of the most valuable and versatile foods on the planet.

2 - Ginger

Stimulates your tissues, thus using more energy and burning more calories. Ginger is also excellent for enhancing joint efficiency, reducing cholesterol, and many other health conditions.
3 - Cinnamon

Has a positive effect on blood sugar, and a great source of fiber and calcium.

4 - Cayenne Pepper

Also known as chili pepper, red pepper, and paprika. Boosts metabolism to burn fat and reduces appetite.

5 - Gensing

Boosts metabolism, energy, strength, and increases endurance.

Conclusion

To lose weight and maintain a healthy body you must increase metabolism. You do this by drinking plenty of water, getting 8 to 9 hours of sleep every night, instituting a light, consistent exercise program, eating healthy food every few hours. And last, but not least, eating metabolism boosting foods.

What if you simply can't control your body weight, no matter how hard you try?

I know how hard it is to try a new program, lose a few pounds, only to gain it all back again and again. The depression and discouragement that comes from failing time after time, no matter how hard you try, is truly devastating.

There is a solution. It's simple and easy, no dangerous pills, no expensive foods, no hunger pangs, and your body will naturally gravitate to your perfect, optimum weight.

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