As temperatures rise, many of us naturally become more active, walking more, eating lighter meals, and spending more time outdoors. But did you know summer can actually be one of the easiest times to support metabolic health? Here’s some advice from a nutrition and wellness specialists at ZAVA.
Rather than extreme diets or “quick fixes”, consistency, muscle maintenance, and lifestyle balance are the real drivers of a healthy metabolism. Longer daylight hours, increased outdoor activity, and lighter seasonal foods can all contribute to a subtle increase in daily energy expenditure. However, experts warn that common habits like irregular sleep, dehydration, or skipping meals can quickly counteract these benefits. Here are 10 expert-backed strategies to help.
1 Use HIIT to stimulate calorie burn
Short, intense bursts of activity such as High-Intensity Interval Training can temporarily elevate post-exercise calorie burn. This afterburn effect means your body continues using energy even after you finish training.
2 Build and maintain muscle mass
Strength training remains one of the most effective long-term strategies for metabolic support, according to an Advance in Preventive Medicine study. Muscle tissue is more metabolically active than fat tissue, meaning it increases baseline energy expenditure.
3 Stay hydrated, especially in warmer weather
Even slight dehydration can reduce physical performance and slow metabolic processes. In summer, fluid needs often increase due to heat and higher activity levels, making consistent hydration essential.
4 Prioritise protein intake across the day
Protein not only supports muscle repair but also has a higher thermic effect of food (TEF), meaning the body uses more energy to digest it compared with fats or carbohydrates. Experts recommend including it in every meal, as it could increase your metabolic rate by 30%.
5 Include green tea in your routine
Green tea contains catechins and caffeine, which may support fat oxidation and mild increases in energy expenditure, when paired with regular movement. A study on middle-aged men and women has shown that after two weeks of intake, energy expenditure increased after ingestion.
6 Increase NEAT (non-exercise movement)
Everyday movement – walking, standing, stretching, and general activity, also called NEAT – represents the main variable component of daily total energy expenditure. In fact, NEAT can vary widely between individuals and is often underestimated, and a low level of it can be associated with obesity.
7 Prioritise high-quality sleep
Sleep plays a key role in hunger, satiety, and energy balance. In fact, regularly sleeping fewer than seven hours per night can negatively impact metabolic health, disrupt appetite-regulating hormones, heighten food cravings, and is associated with a 38% higher risk of obesity in adults.
8 Add thermogenic foods in moderation
Foods containing capsaicin, such as chilli pepper, may slightly increase energy expenditure and support appetite regulation. Studies suggest that capsaicin influences energy metabolism by modulating both fatty acid and glucose pathways. Its consumption has been linked to increased energy expenditure and enhanced fat oxidation, which may support weight management, and help reduce the risk of obesity-related conditions.
9 Avoid skipping meals early in the day
A balanced, protein-rich breakfast can help stabilise blood sugar and reduce energy dips later in the day, supporting more consistent daily activity levels. A study conducted by Public Health Nutrition suggests that skipping meals does not improve metabolic health, as it led to compensatory overeating later in the day and poorer overall diet quality. Instead of “boosting metabolism,” meal skipping disrupted eating patterns and reduced key nutrient intake across multiple food groups.
10 Use natural light to support circadian rhythm
Morning sunlight helps regulate the body’s internal clock, which is closely linked to metabolic hormone regulation. Cell Metabolism’s study shows that exposure to natural daylight during office hours has been shown to improve several metabolic markers, including better glucose regulation and increased fat oxidation.
