The process of generating energy by burning calories is called metabolism. Weight gain is a result of taking in more calories than you need and a person leading a sedentary lifestyle will need a lot less calories than someone who leads an active lifestyle and exercises regularly. A middle aged person has a slower metabolism than a young person so age also has to be taken into consideration.

There are ways that you can increase your metabolism by eating certain foods and making sure that you have 6 small meals a day at no more than 3 hours apart. Long gaps between meals causes the body to go into panic mode and start storing calories as fat. This is a basic survival mechanism designed for times of famine.

Many dieters make the mistake of missing out breakfast which is the most important meal of the day. During the night the metabolism slows down and unless essential nutrients are replaced the body will start to conserve calories. A good way to boost your metabolism for the day is to eat half a grapefruit before breakfast. Grapefruit can reduce the amount of insulin absorbed for up to 2 hours after eating. It also contains fewer calories than is required to digest it.

Bananas contain potassium which helps to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of a stroke. They can also slightly increase metabolism. Try slicing a banana on to a bowl of oatmeal for a great metabolism booster. Oatmeal is a high fibre food and takes a long time to digest. This process will need lots of calories which is good news if you are on a diet.

Green tea is not only packed full of cancer fighting antioxidants but it also contains catechins polyphenols which speed up the rate at which fat is burned. To get the maximum benefit allow the tea bag to infuse in the cup for 3 minutes before drinking it. Green tea is often found in many weight loss supplements and can also be taken in tablet form if you don't like the taste.

Hot spicy food is an acquired taste, but did you know that spices generate body heat and this increases the metabolism as calories are burned in the process of cooling the body down. Cayenne pepper helps to reduce cholesterol and is packed with vitamins, potassium and calcium. Chilli peppers increase the heart rate and can increase metabolism by up to 50% Remove the seeds if you prefer a milder taste.

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene a powerful cancer fighting antioxidant which also stimulates the production of an amino acid called carnitine. This helps speed up the body's metabolism by one third. Growing tomatoes is easy and anyone even with just a window box can grow some. Tomato soup is easy to make and cooked tomatoes are higher in lycopene than raw ones. Fry an onion and clove of garlic and add 1 14oz tin chopped tomatoes. Stir in 2 teaspoons of tomato puree and add 1 litre of vegetable stock. Simmer for about 20 minutes and blend. Serve with a few slices of crusty wholemeal bread for a healthy fat burning meal.

Use Olive oil in place of other fats as it contains monosaturated fats. These are healthy and can lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. Olive oil can make you feel satisfied and less prone to snacking on junk foods.

Exercising is a very important part of weight loss and just a quick 10 minute walk around the block or over the park before a meal can speed up your metabolism. By combining a sensible eating plan following the rule of 6 small meals a day with a moderate amount of exercise you will find that your weight loss goals are successful.