Make note of these 3 mistakes that can mess up your metabolism

Most people don’t know how metabolism functions. Yes, it’s true! They understand that a slow or sluggish metabolism can cause weight gain, and difficulties in losing weight. But a slow metabolism can be much more problematic than just having a hard time losing body fat. People who have a poorly functioning metabolism may experience certain symptoms like constantly feeling tired, dry skin, hair loss, headache, lack of mental clarity and focus, and frequent mood swings. You may also feel a bit depressed, may impact your sex drive, and many more. 

If you’re also experiencing the same, your metabolism may be to blame!

Let’s first understand what metabolism is

Metabolism is used to describe the role of enzymes in helping the body reproduce, function, grow, adapt to various environments, digest, and maintain its functionality. It converts the food we eat into energy our body can use. Therefore, if your metabolism rate is slow, it directly or indirectly impacts your weight loss. Listen to what Dr Nivedita from Amrita Hospitals, Kochi, has to say about it. 

Metabolism role in weight loss

“Metabolism refers to the various chemical processes that take place inside your body to sustain life. It involves the breakdown of food into calories, and the use of the calories as energy for the activities you do,” says Dr Nivedita.

She adds, “A fast metabolism ensures that the calories are burned and used quickly, while a slow metabolism means that the calories are burned slowly, and an excess of them may be left at the end of the day, leading to accumulation of those calories as fat in the body.” 

So, this is how metabolism can impact your weight.

The key to weight loss is to elevate your metabolic rate as much as possible. This can be achieved by eating 500 kilocalories fewer per day, along with some aerobic exercise, Dr Nivedita suggests. 

Also, read: Alcohol can wreck your metabolism, and today we’re explaining why

If you’re dealing with a slower metabolism rate, don’t think it’s natural. In fact, there are so many mistakes that can slow down your metabolism rate. And it’s time to find those mistakes! 

3 mistakes that can slow down metabolism

1. Crash diet

Crash diets are a very popular way to lose weight these days. Eating as few calories as possible is what a crash diet means, and people believe that doing so is the best way to lose weight quickly! Sorry to break it to you ladies, but this can hamper your metabolism rate. Because it puts your body into starvation mode and severe restrictions on food and calorie intake also increase your health risks. So, never ever try a crash diet!

Also, read: Over 30? Here are 5 exercises to jumpstart your slowing metabolism

2. Not having enough protein

Dr Nivedita says low-protein diets can slow your metabolism. Protein-rich foods are important for metabolism as well as healthy weight loss. So, watch the amount of protein in your diet that helps build muscles, which, in turn, increases metabolism. 

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3. A sedentary lifestyle

Being sedentary can cause several health conditions, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Not just eating a healthy diet, but being physically active is really important to boost your metabolism, and people who are inactive have a slower metabolism. Avoid sitting at a place for too long. Also, habits like smoking, alcohol consumption, and consumption of packaged junk food can be also bad for your weight loss regime and metabolism. 

Tips to boost your metabolism by Dr Nivedita

1. Try to include a high-protein diet such as soybean, legumes, nuts, lean meats, and egg whites.
2. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to increase metabolism, so add them also to your diet. 

These are the foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids:

• Fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines
• Nuts and seeds such as flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts
• Plant oil such as flaxseed oil and soybean oil. 

So ladies, upgrade your diet and avoid these mistakes and see the results!

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