As the proverbial saying goes, “You’re what you eat”. This has true meaning once you understand that what you eat helps you be healthy and fit.
Your body converts food and drinks into energy. This is a process known as metabolism.
There’s a lot of misinformation about this process, but one thing is clear. Over time, it can slow down. You have to know the signs of slow metabolism.
Read on to learn three signs of slow metabolism and how to boost your metabolism.
What’s Metabolism?
Before going over the signs of slow metabolism, let’s discuss what this process is all about. Metabolism is a chemical process that allows the body to convert food and drinks into energy.
This is an essential metabolic process that helps the body get energy. It needs energy to perform body functions.
Think of the energy as fuel that powers your body. Metabolism combines calories and oxygen. It needs both elements to create and release energy.
The body needs calories to sustain its basic functions. These functions include breathing, digestion, and circulation of blood. They also include the management of hormone levels.
Your body needs a certain number of calories to keep functioning without issues. This is known as the basal metabolic rate. You must know how many calories you need when resting.
Three Signs of Slow Metabolism
There are several signs to be on the lookout for that can signal you have a slow metabolism. Most of the signs are noticeable.
Take a look at your weight. Do you notice an issue with it?
Gaining weight without explanation can be a problem. You may be exercising and eating right, but still have trouble keeping the weight off. A sluggish metabolism can cause these issues as it leads the body to burn fewer calories.
Signs of a slow metabolism also include fatigue. If you have a lagging metabolism, you may feel lethargic and fatigued. You may even experience this during the day when you normally should feel like you have lots of energy to spare.
Having low energy levels can be due to the body not properly converting food into energy. This can cause you to not have the energy you need to do your daily activities. Tasks that most people find easy may become a challenge for you.
Do you find yourself cold even if the temperature isn’t low? You may be experiencing cold sensitivity.
Feeling colder than others may be due to a slowing metabolism. This happens when the body is unable to generate heat. A constant feeling of coldness may follow as a result.
How to Speed Up Metabolism?
Do you have any of these three slow metabolism symptoms? If you do, there’s no need to be alarmed as there are ways to boost your metabolism.
The best ways to speed up your metabolism involve making lifestyle changes. You may need to change the way you eat.
It’s important to eat your fair share of protein at every meal. A balanced diet should include lean, protein-rich foods. Think beans, turkey, and white meat chicken.
Don’t overdo it, but you should eat every few hours to increase your metabolism. The thermic effect of food applies to this area. The protein you eat can help to increase this effect.
Add green tea or oolong tea to your diet. These types of teas can turn body fat into free fatty acids. These can indirectly increase fat burning.
Eating spicy foods that contain capsaicin is also a good idea. This compound can boost your metabolism.
Working out can do more than just help you keep your body in shape. It can also indirectly speed up your metabolism. This is the case with a high-intensity workout.
Getting in this type of workout can help you burn fat and build muscle. Biking and running are ideal options.
You should also start to lift heavy things to build muscle as it increases metabolism. Your goal should be to retain muscle as it can counter the drop in metabolism when weight is lost.
Getting a good night’s sleep is a must. Sleep deprivation can often make people feel hungry. In turn, this can cause people to experience difficulty losing weight.
Can Age and Certain Diseases Affect One’s Metabolism?
A common question that most people have regarding the slowing of metabolism concerns age. Does metabolism slow with age? The answer is ‘yes’.
Metabolism slows with age. Most people notice that by the time they hit 30, it becomes harder to lose weight. By age 40, one’s body starts to lose muscle naturally.
Metabolic disorders can affect one’s metabolism. These disorders include diabetes and galactosemia.
Hypothyroidism is another condition that can wreak havoc on one’s metabolism. It affects thyroid hormone production as it lowers the levels which slows metabolism.
Obesity also affects metabolism. People with obesity should focus on managing their health to avoid any issues related to slow metabolism.
It can be hard to do so, especially when making lifestyle changes isn’t a possibility as is the case with women who have diabetes.
The good news is that there’s a way women can treat their diabetes and promote weight loss. Tirzepatide for women is available to treat this condition. This medication can help women manage their diabetes as well as help them experience an improvement in metabolic health.
Know the Signs of Slow Metabolism and How to Boost It
Now that you know the signs of slow metabolism, you take action to boost your metabolism if it’s slow. There are foods you can eat that slow down your metabolism. You can also make several lifestyle modifications to address this issue.
Make sure to explore the rest of our blog to continue reading more articles.
