How to Increase Your Metabolism Without Pills or Boosters

Torch fat. Slim your waist. If you’ve ever looked at weight loss supplements, you’ve probably seen metabolism pills and boosters that claim to burn fat in no time. But what does that actually mean, and can supplements really help your weight loss goals? Here’s what you should know, plus tips to support a healthy metabolism.

How does your metabolism actually work?

Simply put, your metabolism is the process of turning calories into energy. According to Alex Robles, MD, physician and certified personal trainer from the White Coat Trainer, metabolism can be broken down into two phases:

• Catabolism, when your body needs to break down molecules to produce energy
• Anabolism, when your body takes molecules to rebuild tissue and energy stores

“The actual part of metabolism that everyone cares about is how your body takes the food you consume to make energy, and how much of that energy is used up,” says Robles. The rate at which you burn calories is known as your basal metabolic rate (BMR). Broadly speaking, you burn calories just by existing — whether you’re sitting, exercising or sleeping, your metabolism is converting calories from food into energy. That energy powers your cells and maintains all your systems, from your brain to…