How to Boost Your Metabolism

 "The COVID-19 pandemic really decimated physical activity for a lot of people," says Dr. Tabatabai. "There's a good chunk of people who haven't gone back to their workout classes or other types of organized exercise, but even things as simple as walking through the grocery store every week has been replaced by the convenience of curbside pickup."

To make matters worse, Dr. Tabatabai adds that a lot of us consume more calories than we need. And, sure, some of this can be fixed by adjusting our food intake. But perhaps more importantly — in terms of promoting metabolism, at least — we must get back to making time to move every single day.

The recommended amount of physical activity is 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every week. And to be successful long-term, it's critical to approach this goal as realistically as possible. (Related: What Counts As Moderate-Intensity Exercise?)

"Don't go and buy a bunch of expensive exercise equipment and expect it to magically make you fit," says Dr. Tabatabai. "What you need is a workout routine that's sustainable for you. Whether it's a 30-minute walk every day or something else, find something you can commit to and make the choice to be active every single day."

2. Eat a plant-based diet

First of all, it's not what you think — we promise.

Eating a mostly plant-based diet doesn't require you to go strictly vegetarian and give up meat. It simply means prioritizing plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and plant-based sources of protein and fat. Meat, dairy and other animal products are allowed, they just shouldn't comprise the majority of your diet.

"We get so much nutrition and energy from eating plants," says Dr. Tabatabai. "Plant-based diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, are highly beneficial to metabolism because your body becomes more metabolically active after consuming high-fiber, high-liquid food sources — which is what plants are."

As an added bonus, these foods also help with satiety, filling us up faster and feeling full longer. This also makes a plant-based diet a great tool for weight loss and weight maintenance.

(Related: Everything You Need to Know About Plant-Based Diets, Including How to Get Started)

3. Build and maintain muscle

It's time to get more specific about how physical activity benefits your metabolism.

"Moving every day is better than not moving at all but when it comes to improving metabolism, the type of exercise matters," explains Dr. Tabatabai.

In the '80s, '90s and early 2000s, exercise was almost synonymous with cardio. Jazzercise, treadmills, elliptical machines — all have been championed by fitness enthusiasts as the ultimate way to burn calories