5 Vital Tips for How Men Over 50 Can Boost Metabolism

An increase in your girth is just one of the signs that you’ve completed more revolutions around the sun than you care to name. It’s also one of the most visible and annoying aspects of getting older, which can lead to a whole host of other health challenges.

Increasing weight in older age has two leading causes; we slow down because it hurts to move, and our metabolism also crunches down a few gears as we hurtle ever closer to our golden years.

There are things you can do to slow the inexorable decline. Here are five tips showing how men over 50 can give their metabolism a boost and feel like they never left the 40s.

Drink Coffee

Depending on where you get your information, coffee can either be good for your health or an evil elixir to be avoided. However, if you have any respect for WebMD [*1] then you’ll be adding a cup of morning coffee to your routine soon.

Of course, you will need to adjust to black coffee without the extra calories of milk and sugar to get the most benefit. Milk and sugar may add more calories than the moderate boost in metabolism can account for.

Chew Some Gum

In a surprising revelation, the act of chewing gum can boost your metabolism by up to 5% – at least according to a report by Livestrong.com. [*2]

A slightly revved up metabolism isn’t the only benefit, as the study also revealed that people who regularly indulge in gum chewing consume 67 fewer calories throughout the day.

And just so you know, the study involved chewing sugar-free gum for three 20-minute intervals per day. A pack of P.K or a roll of Hubba Bubba probably won’t achieve the same results.

Yoga

A few minutes of downward facing dog and other yoga poses [*3] is a relaxing way to start the day and add a bit of oomph to your metabolism. The act of stretching and posing activates the large muscle groups and forces the smaller muscles to chime in with supporting roles.

The deep and slow breathing accompanying each pose improves the circulation, which means more oxygen and nutrients to the cells, better digestion, and a speedier metabolism.

Use Sneaker Net at the Office

Sneakernet is the old school way of sharing information around the office – by getting out of your chair and delivering the information directly.  These days it’s all emails and texting, which means the average office worker is even less active than they were before ethernet and wireless came to town.

It’s recommended that you stand up for a few minutes at least once every half-hour. [*4] Instead of emailing your co-workers, try walking over to their cubicle instead. You could also try using a desk with a standing option, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and park further away from the office entrance.

Eat All Your Meals

Skipping meals is not a recommended way to lose weight. Arranging your meals so you’re eating something every few will help keep your metabolism at full speed.

Snacks between your main meals will also help if they are of the healthy variety such as carrot sticks instead of donuts. [*5]