▲Caffeine may be able to boost metabolism in the morning, but if you consume too much of it throughout the day, it'll suppress your appetite—making you even hungrier by the end of the day, and causing your body to store food as fat.

▲Or any sort of morning stress! Stress reduces the body's ability to metabolize food as efficiently and causes you to crave high-calorie foods.

▲Toxins in the body cause the metabolism to become sluggish. The gelatin-like fiber pectin found in fruit helps detoxify the body and keep the metabolism running smoothly. Luckily, this fiber is present in many fruits, including apples, oranges, and peaches.

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Your metabolism is responsible for burning fat, and while some aspects of how it works are genetic, others can be influenced by lifestyle choices.

Browse through this gallery to discover all the ways you may be messing up your metabolism rate.

▲Sleep deprivation is the worst thing you can do to your metabolism, as it can cause a decrease in appetite control, cause your body to burn fewer calories, and increase cortisol levels.

▲The body's metabolic function slows down during sleep, making it a good idea to drink water and completely re-hydrate upon awakening before eating or drinking anything else.

▲Our body is constantly trying to balance hormone levels, including insulin and hunger hormones. This task is made harder by hormone residues we end up consuming in non-organic food. Go for organic eggs, dairy products, and grass-fed beef.

▲When your environment, whether at work or home, is too warm, your body doesn't burn as many calories. Turn down the heat and spend time outdoors for an instant boost to your metabolism.

▲When you're not eating enough carbs, your body isn't building enough muscle, which means it's burning less calories overall.

▲Nuts can be fatty, but some (hello walnuts!) have been found to contain fatty acids that are responsible for boosting the activity of genes that control fat burning.

▲Don't take it too easy, as high-intensity workouts have been proven to burn more calories than longer workouts at steadier paces.

▲Getting up and about early in the morning aids with maintaining a regular circadian rhythm, which is responsible for many things, including how much you eat and how much energy you burn.

▲In order to crank up your metabolism, try lowering your weights as slowly as possible—the act of lowering actually requires more energy from your body, and more effort to repair the damaged muscles when you're resting.

▲Both of these chemicals interfere with the thyroid, which in turn will make your metabolism slower. You should drink filtered water whenever possible.

▲Many people take medication for health problems such as diabetes, cholesterol, and high blood pressure. However, these medications also affect crucial metabolic processes. Talk to your doctor to see if you can replace pills with non-pharmaceutical options, such as exercise and diet changes.

▲Chemicals in pesticides may be screwing with your metabolism and affecting your weight loss, as they have been linked to thyroid problems. Opt for organic veggies and fruit whenever possible.

▲The same goes for people who run for about an hour instead of doing shorter bursts of exercise and then resting. Short reps of jumping jacks and burpees followed by a rest period will help boost your metabolism in no time.

▲Try to consume chemical preservatives as infrequently as possible. A diet limited in dietary toxins and refined sugars is sure to crank up your metabolism.

▲Protein keeps you full longer, pumps up post-meal calorie burn, and helps muscle growth, which in turn boosts overall calorie burning, even when the body is at rest.

▲Calcium determines how you're using and burning energy, so don't be afraid to go for Greek yogurt and even other non-dairy, calcium-rich foods, such as sardines or tofu.

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Consuming refined carbs, such as those found in white bread, can produce nutrient deficiencies and lead to the development of chronic metabolic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.

▲If you don't fuel your body for long periods of time, it'll enter starvation mode, in turn slowing down metabolism so as to burn the least amount of energy possible.

▲The gut-friendly bacteria found in probiotics, such as Greek yogurt and kefir, will help boost your immune system and ramp up your metabolism.

▲Most people spend the majority of their day either laying down or sitting, which our body isn't actually designed for. If you work in an office, try getting up and stretching your legs every once in a while.

▲If you're restricting your calories during the day and then eating late at night, your metabolism will slow down because your body will go into starvation mode and store fat overnight.

▲Drinking alcoholic beverages slows down your body's ability to burn fat as your body uses the alcohol as fuel instead.

▲Working overnight and sleeping during the day has been linked to fewer calories burned. This type of schedule messes with the body's internal clock, which influences metabolism rate.

▲It is widely known that sugar is responsible for a spike in glucose levels and is easily and rapidly absorbed into our system, leaving us feeling hungry.

▲Step outside and soak up some vitamin D to keep your body alert and healthy.

▲Divide your calories over the course of the day as evenly as possible. Scientists believe that eating at regular times trains the body to burn more calories.