Bad Habits That Hurt Your Metabolism
By Sara Butler
Bad news: Your metabolism gets slower the older you get. That means your body simply won't torch calories the way it did when you were younger and this often makes it much harder to maintain a healthy weight as you get older. Another problem you may not realize when it comes to your metabolism is that there are things you may unwittingly be doing that slow it down even more. Don't go down without a fight -- keep on the lookout for these metabolism killers in your daily life and take steps to change your bad habits.
You Skip Breakfast
A nutritious breakfast is an important start to your day. As your sleep, your metabolism slows and that first breaking of your fast (get it -- breakfast!) wakes up your metabolism and helps you to burn more calories throughout the day.
When you eat breakfast you'll be sending the message to your body that food is plentiful and there's more of it to be had, so you body is more willing to burn calories throughout the day instead of hold onto them. Try to have a breakfast that includes healthy fats and lean proteins. Think eggs and spinach or avocado on whole grain toast.
Sitting Too Much
You may spend more time than you realize sitting down during the day. You sit down as you drive to work. You sit at your computer all day. Finally, you get home from work only to sit some more. All that sitting is a bad thing for your metabolism and can make it more difficult for your body to regulate its blood pressure and blood sugar as well as break down body fat.
A simple fix is to get your body moving! Take frequent breaks at work, at least once per hour, to get up and move around for a couple of minutes. Then, take a walk when you get home from work to get a little cardio in or take a group exercise class at your local gym. Strengthening your muscles and getting your heart rate up is a great way to keep your metabolism pumping.
You Don't Drink Enough
Water is essential to your continued health and wellness, but it's important for metabolism too. Researchers have found that drinking two cups of water can increase your base metabolic rate by as much as 30 percent -- and that can last for up to two hours after you drink it. Make sure to continuously sip water throughout the day and your metabolism will be much happier.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Edmond, Okla.