Metabolism

May 3, 2021 | Metabolic Health

METABOLISM

Do you feel sluggish of late? Are you struggling with cravings for foods that aren’t good for you? Or do you have stubborn weight that seems to always stick around no matter what you do? If any of these situations sound like you, there is a high possibility that your metabolism has something to do with your current predicament.

Understand and changing your metabolism can seem like an impossible task. However, when you have the correct information, it’s not as difficult as you may think.

Our holistic doctors in Houston, Texas, at My Pure MD, can help you become healthier.

What Is Metabolism?

By now, you must have heard a thing or two about metabolism. There are plenty of definitions out there. However, your metabolism or your metabolic rate is how fast your body burns calories. This chemical process is what keeps your body going. So, your body has to capture, then convert, and lastly, burn the energy. How efficiently you do this is dependent on you as an individual.

Now that we have the definition out of the way, you need to know that a slower metabolism isn’t optimal. This means that your body is not converting food to energy fast enough. This creates a cascade of adverse effects such as mood swings, fatigue, difficulty losing weight, food cravings, etc.

Luckily, you don’t have to live with this issue forever. With the proper changes in your lifestyle and diet, you can increase your metabolism, and you will feel better in no time.

How Can You Increase Your Metabolism?

Before we even get into revving up your metabolism, you need to understand that your body will always work so hard to keep your weight at whatever number it’s set to now. It doesn’t matter if you are overweight or obese. Consider this as an internal thermostat.

However, you can change this by increasing your metabolism. This can be carried out by doing the following:

Change Your Diet

As you know by now, food is at the heart of how your body is and how it operates. It’s important to educate yourself about which foods are healthy and the proper proportions. Some foods can also increase your metabolism.

Some of the foods that increase metabolism and burn fat include:

  • Protein-rich foods
  • Cruciferous vegetables
  • Chili peppers
  • Green tea
  • Spices
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Coconut oil
  • Fermented foods like sauerkraut and Kimchi

We cannot forget water. Instead of indulging in those sugary drinks, drink cold water. Drinking water temporarily speeds your metabolism and can help you lose weight.

Increase Your Activity Levels

Exercise is critical in the journey towards a healthier life. Our bodies were not designed for sedentary living. Look at exercise as a marathon rather than a sprint that temporarily fixes something. Strive to do aerobic exercises and resistance training.

Manage Stress

Stress is often an issue when you are trying to pursue healthy living. It hampers any progress you could be making. Shedding weight can seem like an impossible mission. You might drink or eat to cope with the stress. Therefore, look for ways to manage stress.

Rest Well

Sleep and stress go hand in hand. Your body will preserve energy to help itself cope with the lack of proper sleep. Also, your willpower will also be affected since fatigue affects decision-making.

How Do You Increase Your Metabolism After 40?

When you get to 40 years of age, there are so many changes that happen to your body. Certain hormones start dipping and trying to stick to a healthy diet might not be enough to keep the extra weight off.

Here’s how to increase your metabolism after 40:

  • Embrace real food and steer clear of processed foods, food additives, sugar, refined foods, etc.
  • Consider intermittent fasting with fasting for 16 hours and eating in an 8-hour window.
  • Limit your toxin exposure.
  • Tackle food allergies
  • Use probiotics, prebiotics, and fiber.
  • Sleep well
  • Never forget to exercise at least half an hour daily

How Long Does It Take to Reset Your Metabolism?

Always remember there are no quick solutions in life. Therefore, be patient and give yourself a realistic timeline before you start seeing real change. Three months is a good timeline for seeing visible change. However, you may already start feeling different after a few days or a week.

Contact us today if you desire to recharge your metabolism.

About the Author

Dr. Shezana Kirmani, MD

Founder & Medical Director, My Pure MD® | Houston, TX

Board-Certified Internist · Board-Certified in Integrative Medicine (ABOIM) · Certified in Functional Medicine (IFMCP) · Bredesen Protocol Certified · ISEAL Diplomat

Dr. Kirmani has spent more than 24 years at the intersection of conventional internal medicine and root-cause functional care. Her path into Functional and Integrative Medicine was shaped by a personal experience — after years of practicing internal medicine, she was diagnosed with multiple autoimmune conditions and found that symptom management alone wasn't enough. That led her to pursue a two-year fellowship at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, advanced functional medicine training under Dr. Mark Hyman, and environmental medicine training under Dr. Neil Nathan. She also holds certification in Dr. Dale Bredesen's Protocol for brain health and cognitive decline.

She has cared for thousands of patients across Houston and has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Internists in Houston and the state of Texas.

The information in this article is medically reviewed by Dr. Kirmani. It is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace individualized medical advice. If you have questions about your health, we encourage you to book a discovery call with our team.

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