Natural Metabolism Boosters: 7 Ways to Increase Your Basal Metabolic Rate

Did you know that there actually natural metabolism boosters? You don't need to buy risky diet pills or fat burning pills to kick your metabolism into high gear. These pills contain caffeine and other stimulants that aren't good for your heart. They can cause rapid heart rate, the jitters, headaches, cramping and a host of other side effects. For these reasons and more, let's look at 7 different ways we can increase our metabolism the natural way.

One of the most important natural metabolism boosters is exercise. Just 30 minutes of exercise will help elevate your metabolism for up to 24 hours. This means even after you've finished exercising, your body will continue to burn more calories. Whether you're sleeping or watching TV on the couch, your body will burn more calories than it would had you not been physically active for 30 minutes. Some good cardiovascular activities include walking, jogging, running, riding bike or walking up and down stairs.

You don't have to look like a bodybuilder to get results. Simply increase the muscle mass in your body by performing strength training exercises. The more muscle you have the more calories you will burn - even at rest. Be sure to hit all of your major muscle groups including your back, chest, arms, legs and core.

Ladies! Don't be afraid to lift heavy. You aren't going to walk away looking like a wrestler - I promise.

Most of us grew up thinking 3 large meals spread out throughout the day - breakfast, lunch and dinner, was the way to go. However, this is not the case. Eating smaller meals throughout the day is one of the other natural metabolism boosters you should try. 

The first thing you probably need to know is how many calories you need to eat each day. You can do this by using an online calorie counter and many of them are free. Once you know, simply divide that number by 5 or 6 so you can balance out each meal. Be sure to include some carbs, proteins and fats with each meal for best results.

To make sure your metabolism is working efficiently try to eat healthy all the time. If you implement some of these natural metabolism boosters without eating right, they probably aren't going to get you the results you're looking for. This doesn't mean you have to skip eating all of the things you like. However, try your best to include healthy foods with each meal. Be sure you're consuming enough protein and complex carbohydrates. Opt for whole wheat breads and pastas if you can and don't be afraid to eat fat. There are plenty of food items that contain healthy fats and they include nuts, flaxseed and olive oil.

Breakfast is one of the most important natural metabolism boosters because it helps to set your metabolism level for the day. Your body has been starving all night - so usually for 6-8+ hours - and during that time your metabolism is going to slow way down. Eating breakfast will help get it humming again and help you burn more calories throughout the day.

Spicy foods such as chilis, peppers and salsas have been shown to be natural metabolism boosters. Eating these foods will help elevate metabolism momentarily allowing your body to burn a few more calories.

Our body needs water in order to stay hydrated. If we are hydrated then it's easier for our bodily systems to function properly and at normal speeds. When we become dehydrated, those systems tend to slow down. Water helps to flush out toxins and keep our bowels moving too.

One little extra tip is to drink ice cold water. When you drink cold water your body has to work harder to keep itself at it's normal temperature of 98.6.

You can't expect to lose pounds of weight just by utilizing these natural metabolism boosters but they're going to help you a lot on your journey. If you exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes, build lean muscle, eat healthy and stay hydrated, you'll be well on your way to a healthier you!