Metabolism is basically how fast our body burns energy (calories). The faster our metabolic rate, the more we can eat without gaining weight. Sadly, after 40, that metabolic rate slows down roughly about 5% every ten years. Here are a few ways of keeping your metabolism up, so that you don’t gain weight as you get older.

EAT BREAKFAST! Yes, ladies, make sure you eat something in the morning to give your metabolism a kick in the butt.

Have healthy snacks or eat 5-6 small meals a day instead of 3 big ones. Snacking or grazing ensures that your blood sugar levels stay stable. Almonds are a great thing to snack on, as they are full of protein and high in magnesium.

Don’t eat the entire bag though! 6-10 in one go are adequate.

Do make sure you get enough Omega 3s. Omega 3s balances the blood sugar and reduces the body’s inflammatory response, thus increasing metabolism. According to experts, 1000-2000mg would be sufficient to give you this benefit.

Drink green tea! Green tea is excellent for speeding up the metabolism, as it contains caffeine and antioxidants called catechins that both give your metabolism a natural boost. 5-6 cups a day would probably do the trick.

Keep hydrated! Make sure you drink 5-6 glasses of water a day.

Stay away from trans fats. Trans fats actually slow down the metabolism, so don’t make a beeline for doughnuts and cookies when you are looking for a snack to boost the metabolism.

Increase your protein intake. Protein actually uses up more energy during the digestion process, thereby also increasing the metabolism.

Keep moving! Try and get in 30 minutes aerobic type exercise every day. That is to say some sort of exercise that gets your heart rate up. This will get your metabolism up and running even after you have stopped to have a rest!

Especially important, as we get older, is to maintain muscle mass. This can be achieved by working out with weights at least twice a week for 30 minute stretches. Muscle uses more energy than fat, and this is why our metabolisms tend to slow down as we age and loose muscle mass.

I hope these tips have helped! Please share if you have any other tips that will get our metabolisms going.

Article by: Maryanne Young