The word metabolism is thrown around increasingly each day as awareness about health and fitness is growing. But little do we know about what it actually is and its importance. A lot of us blame our slow metabolism for not being able to lose weight, but is it actually the culprit? And if it is, what can be done to improve it?
The process through which our body breaks down the food we eat into energy is known as “metabolism”. It is this energy that makes us able to carry out all internal and external bodily functions. In other words, it’s the rate of calories we burn each day. While we don’t have much control over our basal metabolic rate, there are some unhealthy habits we adopt that may slow it down.
1. Sitting for long periods of time
These days, more than half of us have a desk job which means we spend hours sitting in front of a computer screen with barely any reason to move around. For a healthy metabolism, we should try to keep our body as active as we can. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator or take 5 minute walks every couple of hours. Not only will this give your legs the stretching they need, but it will also give your brain and eyes a much-needed break.
2. Not eating enough
No, eating less does not mean you will lose weight quicker. Quite the contrary; when the body doesn’t get the energy it requires, it slows down the rate of burning down calories and starts storing them instead. A crash diet will usually result in fat deposits in the belly or hip area.
3. Having too many drinks
Are you a fan of fancy cocktails, colas and chilled coffee drinks? If yes, you should know that consuming these drinks results in a high drop in metabolism. Drinks with a high fructose content lead to reduced metabolic rates as well as bloating around the belly.
4. Not getting enough sleep
Skimping out on sleep doesn’t just make you irritable, tired and less productive the next day; it lowers the rate at which you burn calories while resting (resting metabolic rate). This, in turn, leads to weight gain.
5. You’re avoiding caffeine
Caffeinated beverages such as coffee or tea can give your metabolism a temporary but significant boost. The caffeine gets absorbed into our bloodstream very quickly, reaching our heart and giving our metabolism a jolt. However, it’s important to keep your coffee/tea as simple as possible. A caramel Frappuccino with whipped cream does double the harm than it does well.
6. Not drinking enough water
Saying that water is necessary for every cellular process in our body is not an understatement by any means. Not hydrating properly can cause our metabolism to slow down in addition to decreased energy to carry out tasks such as walking, driving, etc.
