1. DON’T DIETThe Health Diet isn’t about eating less; it’s about eating more—more nutrient-dense food, to crowd out the empty kilojoules and keep you full all day. That’s important, because restricting food will kill your metabolism. It sends a signal to your body that says, “I’m starving!” Your body responds by slowing your metabolic rate to hold on to existing energy stores. If the food shortage (e.g. your crash diet) continues, you’ll begin burning muscle tissue, which just gives your enemy, visceral fat, a greater advantage. Your metabolism slows further and fat goes on to claim even more territory.
2. GO TO BED EARLIER A study in Finland looked at sets of identical twins and discovered that in each set of siblings, the twin who slept less and was under more stress had more visceral fat.
3. EAT MORE PROTEIN Your body needs protein to maintain lean muscle. In a 2006 article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers argued that the recommended daily intake of 0.36 grams of protein per half kilo of body weight, is inadequate for anyone doing resistance training and recommend that women get between 0.5 and 1 gram per half kilo of body weight. (If you want to lose weight, use your goal body weight as your guide). Add either 85 g of lean meat, 2 tablespoons of nuts, or 225 g of low-fat yoghurt, to every meal and snack. Plus, research shows that protein can up post-meal kilojoule burn by as much as 35 per cent.
4. GO ORGANIC WHEN YOU CAN Canadian researchers report that dieters with the most organochlorines (pollutants from pesticides, which are stored in fat cells) experience a greater-than-normal dip in metabolism as they lose weight, perhaps because the toxins interfere with the energy-burning process. Of course, it’s not always easy to find—or afford—organic produce. In general, items that you peel—avocado, grapefruit, bananas—are fine. But choose organic when buying celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries and nectarines; they have some of the highest levels of pesticides.
5. GET UP, STAND UP Whether you sit or stand at work may play as big a role in your waistline as your fitness routine. Researchers discovered that inactivity (4 hours or more) causes a near shutdown of an enzyme that controls fat and cholesterol metabolism. To keep this enzyme active and increase fat-burning, break up periods of downtime by standing up—for example, while talking on the phone.
6. DRINK COLD WATER German researchers found that drinking 6 cups of cold water a day (that’s almost 1.5 litres) can raise resting metabolism by about 209 kilojoules daily—enough to shed 2.2 kg in a year, with essentially zero additional effort. The increase may come from the work it takes to heat the water to body temperature.
7. EAT THE HEAT It turns out that capsaicin, the compound that gives chillies their heat, can also fire up your metabolism. Eating about 1 tablespoon of chilli boosts your sympathetic nervous system (responsible for your fight-or-flight response), according to a study published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology. The result: a temporary metabolism spike of about 23 per cent. Stock up on fresh or dried chilli to add to salsa or for tossing into stir-fries.
8. REV UP IN THE MORNING Eating breakfast jump starts your metabolism so it’s no accident that those who skip brekky are 41⁄2 times more likely to be obese. The heartier your first meal is, the better. In one study, volunteers who got 22 to 55 per cent of their total kilojoules at breakfast gained 700 g on average over 4 years. While those who ate zero to 11 per cent gained nearly double.
9. DRINK COFFEE OR TEA Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, so your daily java can rev your metabolism by 5 to 8 per cent—burning about 410 to 728 kJ a day. A cup of brewed tea can raise your metabolism by 12 per cent, according to one Japanese study.
10. FIGHT FAT WITH FIBRE Research shows that some fibre can fire up your fat burn by as much as 30 per cent. Studies find that those who eat the most fibre gain the least weight over time. Aim for about 25 grams a day—the amount in about three servings each of fruits and vegetables.
11. EAT IRON-RICH FOODS Iron is essential for carrying the oxygen your muscles need to burn fat. Unless you restock your stores, you run the risk of low energy and a sagging metabolism. Shellfish, lean meats, beans, fortified cereals and spinach are excellent sources.
12. GET MORE VITAMIN D Vitamin D is essential for preserving muscle tissue. Get 90 per cent of your recommended daily intake (400 IU) in 100 g of salmon. Other good sources: tuna, fortified milk and cereal and eggs.
13. DRINK MILK There’s some evidence that calcium deficiency, which is common in many women, may slow metabolism. Research shows that consuming calcium through dairy foods such as fat-free milk and low-fat yoghurt may also reduce fat absorption from other foods.
14. EAT WATERMELON The amino acid arginine, abundant in watermelon, might promote weight loss, according to the Journal of Nutrition. In a laboratory study, adding this amino acid to the diet of obese mice enhanced the oxidation of fat and glucose. Snack on watermelon and other arginine sources, such as seafood, nuts and seeds, year-round.
15. STAY HYDRATED All of your body’s chemical reactions, including your metabolism, depend on water. If you are dehydrated, you may be burning up to 2 per cent fewer kilojoules, according to researchers at the University of Utah. Drink at least eight to twelve glasses a day.
Courtesy of Australian Women's Health Magazine
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