Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis
This is some pretty fascinating stuff. It turns out that we burn most of our fuel just keeping our body warm or by fidgeting (and, overall, that is probably more than what we burn when we exercise).
This can result in a fair amount of fuel! Therefore, some have talked about how to raise your non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT).
While you can deliberately fidget and move more, it might not be the game-changer some are making it out to be.
The tough thing is that if you do work hard enough to increase it radically, you are going to be hungrier. In proportion, your appetite will increase. At this point, all you are doing is fighting against your appetite.
Cold Exposure
Ever heard of cold exposure? It is exactly as it sounds, and it can include things like:
- Living in cold climates
- Coldwater plunges
- Spending time in cold rooms
This may increase metabolism upwards of 50-100 calories per day. Which going back to my previous example, constitutes about a dozen almonds. What we do see here, though, are changes in your appetite in order to compensate.
Spicy Foods
Enjoying more spicy foods in your diet may boost your metabolism around 30-50 calories per day. If you like things spicy, this might be good for you but try not to enjoy too much as you may begin to irritate your esophagus.
In general, it is nice to have a wide variety of culinary spices in one’s diet. By themselves, though, they do not cause radical weight loss, so do not try to rely on them as your only strategy. Do feel free to include them in your diet.