An active metabolism helps you lose weight by making you burn more calories. Your metabolic rate determines the number of calories you burn and also helps maintain a balance in your body by taking care of your blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure levels.
While we all know different ways to increase metabolism, what we don't know are simple things/habits that can harm your metabolism.
Eat very little food
Many people have this misconception that eating fewer calories will help them lose weight. But you'd be surprised to know that restricting your calorie intake to an excess can actually lower your metabolism.
Sedentary lifestyle
Having a less active lifestyle can lead to a significant drop in the number of calories you burn each day. Due to the pandemic, most of us are working from home and sitting all day, which is negatively affecting our metabolism and overall health.
Not getting the right amount of protein
Adequate protein consumption is important to achieve healthy weight loss. Protein keeps you fuller for longer and increases the rate at which your body burns calories. When you digest food, there is an increase in metabolism, which is called the thermic effect of food (TEF).
So the thermic effect of protein is much higher than that of fat or carbohydrates. Eating protein alone increases your metabolism by 20-30 percent compared to 5-10 percent for carbs and 3 percent or less for fat.
Get some sleep
Getting enough sleep is important for maintaining overall health. Sleeping fewer hours can increase the risk of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and depression. Not getting enough sleep can also lower your metabolic rate and increase your chances of gaining weight. Not getting to sleep on time can also disrupt your sleep cycle and disrupt your body's circadian rhythm.
Consuming too many refined carbohydrates
Refined carbohydrates are very different from complex carbohydrates. They are easily digested and lead to a spike in blood sugar and your body uses less energy to get rid of them. So eating a lot of carbs slows down your metabolism compared to grains that make your body work harder and help you burn calories.
Follow strict diets
Following strict diets, especially when you are exercising, forces your body to conserve energy to carry out your daily routines. This can backfire as your body clings to these calories and makes it harder to lose weight.
