Metabolism is your body’s way of converting calories into energy or blood sugar that feeds every cell in your body. Everyone has a different metabolic rate and is influenced by genetics but there are still ways to keep your metabolism strong and healthy.

Here’s how to increase your metabolism naturally in 10 ways:

1. Eat enough protein daily

Your body requires more energy to digest protein than other nutrients and can increase post-meal calorie burn by as much as 35%! Remember to include some protein in each meal.

2. Limit added sugar

When we eat more sugar than our body needs, it gets stored as excess fat mainly around the abdominal area. Excess sugar is also linked to a host of diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

3. Keep healthy snacks handy

Have healthy snacks handy for whenever you feel peckish or when the day gets hectic so you don’t end up skipping meals. Keep your energy levels up by reaching for a protein bar or nut snack instead of resorting to a bag of chips out of sheer hunger!

4.Drink more water

Drinking water can increase the rate at which your body burns calories and it also aids in weight loss. Drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning wakes your body up and kick starts your metabolic function for the day.

5. Sleep more

Poor sleep disrupts your the daily fluctuation of appetite hormones which makes you more likely to overeat. Studies have shown that people who are sleep-deprived are 55% times more likely to be obese than people who sleep enough.

6. More Fibre

Fibre-rich foods help increase the feeling of fullness which means you naturally eat less. Fibre also helps to lower insulin levels after digestion and cause your body to store less fat.

7. Spice up your meals

Chilli peppers contain a compound called capsaicin that boosts metabolism and increase the burning of fat, so bring on the spice!

8. Manage stress

Constant stress can wreck havoc on your hormones and slow down your metabolism significantly. What’s worse, the food we crave under stress is usually fatty and high in calories. This combination of sluggish metabolism and high calorie intake can result in significant weight gain.

9. Probiotics

Probiotics are the friendly bacteria that live in your gut and have a significant influence on the rate you burn calories. Research has shown that certain strains of gut bacteria can influence your metabolic rate. Fermented foods like yoghurt, miso, kimchi and sauerkraut are good sources of probiotics.

10. Interval training

Interval training is the best way to shed fat and increase metabolism, so sign up for a HIIT class at the gym or step up regular cardio workout with periods of intense speed (30 to 60 secs) and rest (same period) at normal speed.