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In order to naturally increase your metabolism we need to know some of the factors that can affect it. One of those factors is the health of your thyroid gland. When your thyroid is working properly it produces the necessary amount of hormones which will enable your body's metabolism to operate at optimum levels. It will not be working to slowly or to fast. A condition called hyperthyroidism is when your thyroid is overactive. This causes your body to make more hormones than are needed. While this will speed up the rate that you burn calories it will also speed up the heart rate which is not good for overall health. Another condition which is actually much more common is hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid. It was estimated in the Harvard Health Publications that 12 million people suffer from this. If your thyroid is underactive you will gain weight due to a slower metabolism. Many people that have this condition are not even aware of it. The good news here is that a simple blood test can determine if your thyroid is functioning properly or not. If you think you may have either of these conditions it is best to consult your doctor. THE AFFECT OF AGE ON METABOLISM As we age our metabolic rate slows. This slowdown is more pronounced after the age of 40. For each decade after that the rate slows between 2% and 5%. There are mainly two reasons for this. First, in our cells we have what is called mitochondria. This is where the energy is produced that fuels our metabolic process. As we age these mitochondria slow down. The second reason is that as we get older there is a loss in the amount of overall muscle tissue. These are the cells which contain the most mitochondria because they need the most energy. Loss of muscle tissue can be avoided by staying active and with exercise, especially strength training exercises. CAN SUPPLEMENTATION INCREASE METABOLISM? There are supplements on the market which can aid in increasing your metabolism. The problem is that many people believe if they take these supplements they can sit on the couch and watch those pounds fall off. This is not the case. If you are serious about loosing weight you need to be committed to a lifestyle change. Diet, exercise and supplementation all work hand-in-hand. The way to use supplements is as an energy booster. When you reduce your caloric intake through dieting sometimes you are not getting enough calories to have the energy for the exercise portion of your program. This is where supplementation can be helpful. THE BEST WAYS TO INCREASE METABOLISM Moderate exercise such as dancing, walking or swimming will increase your metabolism and burn calories while you are active. It may also increase metabolism for a short period after. But the best way to use exercise is to build muscle mass. This will increase your resting metabolic rate. The best way to do this is with a high intensity workout such as weightlifting. You have to realize that a pound of muscle will burn 7 to 8 times more calories each day than a pound of fat. EAT SMALLER PORTIONS MORE OFTEN When you eat your metabolism increases due to the energy needed to digest and absorb what you are eating. Proteins will increase your metabolism more than fats and carbohydrates. Start the day out with a good breakfast and eat several low calorie snacks and meals throughout the day. Remember that if you go without eating for a long period of time your metabolism will slow. This is the body's natural way to conserve energy. EATING A BALANCED DIET IS IMPORTANT In order to keep metabolism operating at peak performance your body needs a well balanced diet. Different food groups provide different sources of energy and nutrients that your body needs. If you are lacking in a particular food group you not only lower your metabolism but run the risk of being deficient in vitamins and nutrients that your body requires. Remember that your body will thank you for eating a balanced diet. Are you serious about loosing that weight and keeping it off? Then you need to find out how to naturally increase metabolism immediately. You will be on your way to a happier and healthier life.
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