Do you feel as though you're making an effort to lose weight but have seen little to no results? Maybe the issue is your metabolism. Essentially, your metabolism is your body's ability to convert the foods you eat into energy. The calories you consume combine with oxygen to release the energy your body needs to function. The more calories you burn, the easier it is to lose pounds and maintain a healthy weight.
If your metabolism is at a standstill, you may find it difficult to diminish the extra pounds. Here are a few simple ways you can increase your metabolism, boost your confidence and shed weight while following a plant-based diet:
1. Stick to a Well-Balanced Eating Regimen
You must eat enough throughout the day for your body to process the calories efficiently. Use our Hallelujah Diet Get Started Guide to see what a typical day on a primarily-raw, plant-based diet looks like so you have a better idea of how to meet daily nutritional requirements.
2. Prioritize Protein
According to Healthline, protein causes a large rise in the thermic effect of food - which is how eating certain foods can positively impact your metabolism over a long period of time. Eating proteins doesn't only increase your metabolism - it also makes you feel fuller for longer periods of time, preventing you from overeating. Chia seeds, lentils, quinoa, beans, flaxseed and nuts are great sources of plant-based protein. Adding a scoop of our Essential Protein to your morning smoothie may be just the thing to boost your metabolism through the morning.
Chia seeds are an excellent source of protein.
3. Stay Hydrated
Unfortunately, the body's metabolism slows down when you're dehydrated, because your muscles need water to burn calories effectively. Staying hydrated is a key element of fueling your body properly to aid weight loss, so we recommend drinking water periodically throughout the day - even when you're not thirsty.
4. Exercise Efficiently
It's easy to assume that intense exercise will lead to weight loss, but it's not a stand alone factor. More elements go into boosting your metabolism and shedding the extra pounds. It's all about fueling your body properly and exercising efficiently. Jogging on a treadmill for an hour straight may seem like it's doing the job, but there are more efficient ways to make use of working out. High intensity interval training (HIIT) for example, switches back and forth between high and low intensity exercise. This heightens your heart rate and brings it back down throughout the workout, which is an essential element to losing weight.
Chia seeds are an excellent source of protein.
