Continued from 3 Ways to Boost Metabolism.
There is no shortage of potentially useful weight-loss tricks out there. But not all of them are actually practical or even safe. Sure, clenbuterol boosts metabolism, but it is also illegal to use and rather dangerous for your health. Besides, why would you want to use what I would describe as temporary weight-loss aids? If you want to lose 20 pounds in 1 one month permanently, you do not want to use diet fads and questionable exercise programs or unsafe diet pills. You want to use the following tricks that are effective and safe.
1. Want to burn more calories? Want to lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks? Who does not, right? Find an exercise program that utilizes short bursts of anaerobic activity. The so-called “intervals” jump-start your metabolism. The result? Your body continues to burn calories after you have stopped exercising, not indefinitely, of course, but your heart rate stays elevated longer compared to weightlifting or walking, for example.
2. Some diet experts claim that B-12 vitamins boost metabolism. I think scientific evidence is less than convincing, but this is one of those rare cases when it is a good idea to believe in a myth. Why? Because it is a perfect excuse to load up on spinach, which is not only high in B-12 vitamins, but also in folate, potassium, calcium, iron, and other important nutrients.
3. Here is another questionable weight-loss claim worth ignoring. Does cayenne pepper, which is high in capsaicin, aid weight loss, curb hunger and boost metabolism? Some say it does all of those things. I think it does not, but I do not really care either way. Cayenne adds flavor without calories. It makes me want to cook my own food. Why is that a good thing? Because homemade meals are much healthier than what is available at your local supermarket.
4. Relax. Stress is not your friend. In fact, too much stress can slow down your metabolism. When you are under stress, your body releases cortisol, which slows down your metabolism to prevent a build up of inflammation. One of the best ways to deal with stress is to work out. When you exercise with enough intensity, you sweat. The process of sweating helps release stress. In short, if you are unable to relax, go to the gym, or pound a punching bag, hard.