Byrdie CURRENTLY READING This Centuries-Old Practice Is the Key to a Speedy Metabolism UP NEXT 4 Natural Hangover Remedies That Actually Work  9   DIET This Is the Unhealthiest Vegetable You Can Eat, According to Harvard Scientists  HAIR Beyoncé Debuted a Rare Hair Transformation, and We Can't Look Away  SKIN How to Wear Sunscreen Without Screwing Up Your Makeup  FITNESS Yogis, Rejoice: These Yoga Accessories Are Actually Chic  SKIN If You Love Eve Lom, You'll Love These Other Cleansing Balms  FITNESS An Editor Who Hates Exercise Ranks 5 Workouts From Most to Least Torturous  HEALTH Psychologists Weigh in on the "Therapy App" Trend  SKIN This Lip Peel Fixed My Chapped Lips in Less Than 24 Hours  MAKEUP Turns Out the Coolest Natural Beauty Products Come From Australia  HAIR Deep Breaths: Your Hair Might Be Thinning, but There's a Fix SEE WHATS TRENDING! This Centuries-Old Practice Is the Key to a Speedy Metabolism APRIL 14, 2017 DIET  by VICTORIA HOFF  PHOTO: Lisa Says Gah For all the different things that we're told can slow down our metabolism, there seem to be countless more pointers on how to rev it back up. (Eat spicy food! Try interval training! Balance your hormones!) Some of these tips (including the ones mentioned above) are backed by science; others are a bit more anecdotal. But the vast majority of them require some semblance of effort, whether it's selecting the right kinds of food or working out in a certain way. What if it didn't have to be so complicated? According to research, boosting your metabolism can be as simple as rethinking the way you chew your food. Studies show that eating your food really slowly can actually help you burn up to 10 extra calories per meal—which could amount to up to 2000 extra calories per month. And believe it or not, this practice actually has roots that go back thousands of years. In Ayurveda—the centuries-old, holistic-minded school of medicine based out of India—chewing slowly and thoroughly is crucial for optimal digestion, and optimal digestion is crucial for overall health. And while most modern scientists agree that the way you chew your food doesn't have an impact on how well its nutrients are absorbed, there is something to be said for its connection to mindful eating. By eating slowly and deliberately, you're able to better monitor the experience as well as your feelings of fullness—and that's why people who eat slowly tend to gain less weight and consume fewer calories than fast eaters. Now for the obvious question: How slow is slow enough? It'll take your brain about 20 minutes to register how full it is, so try to stretch out your meal for at least that long. A 2011 study also showed that participants who chewed each bite 40 times lost 12% more fat than those who chewed 15 times, so aim high. Check out more sneaky ways to get your metabolism going, and shop some our favorite energy-boosting supplements too. EXPLORE: ... SHOP BYRDIE ADD A COMMENT TRENDING  HAIR Kylie Jenner Debuts Highlighter Hair at Coachella (Then...  VIDEOS Watch This Buzzy Face-Sculpting Device in Action  CUPCAKES AND CASHMERE Leslie's List: Frosé, Rock 'n' Roll, and Unicorn Lattes PARTNER  TOTAL BEAUTY 11 Celeb-Inspired Haircuts to Put on Your Summer To-Do List PARTNER  Celebrities Who Are Completely Unrecognizable Without MakeupTHELIST.COM  There May Be a Fix to Regrow Thinning HairBYRDIE.COM  14 Short Hairstyles We Want Right NowTHELIST.COM  9 Hair Mistakes That Are Making You Look OldTHELIST.COM  7 Makeup Mistakes That Make You Look OlderTHELIST.COM  DIET Good News: Kate Hudson's Eating Plan Is Totally Doable  HEALTH You Can Actually Train Yourself to Stop Stress...  NAILS Your 2017 Spring Nail Trend Report  HEALTH How to Be an All-Around Healthier Person This Spring