Written By Lewis Robinson / Reviewed By Ray Spotts
If you are looking to burn calories and achieve an optimal physique, you've considered how your metabolism could influence your desired goals. It's true that your metabolism, or the way your body burns and processes energy from food, affects how you look, but it also has so many more implications for your overall health.
Rather than focusing exclusively on burning calories to achieve your ideal weight and body, consider that your metabolic health is far-reaching and extensively impacts your life. Here are seven facts that will change the way you approach your health in this important area.
- It's Measured in Several Ways.
The health of your body's metabolic systems is not as simple as one measurement; in fact, it's measured by considering five distinct traits. These include high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, triglyceride levels, and waist circumference.
If you are outside the normal range for three of those five measurements, you may have metabolic syndrome. So, when monitoring your own health, go beyond your waist measurement, or even your glucose levels, and consider all these important factors.
2. Sitting Can Worsen It.
Everyone knows that a sedentary lifestyle is not healthy, but have you considered what spending hours and hours in front of your computer may be doing for the overall health of your metabolic system?
Since long periods of sitting can't exactly be "undone" by short periods of exercise, it's important to break up your day by frequent, short walks or by investing in a standing desk.
3. High-Intensity Workouts Can Help.
Consider the positive impact of a high-intensity workout, like running, swimming, or rowing. Interval training and cardio workouts can help regulate insulin levels and heart rate, keeping your metabolism and overall health at optimal levels.
So next time you feel like taking it easy at the gym, remember how much high-intensity workouts matter for your health.
4. Your Diet Matters.
Your diet has a big impact on many of the measurements that impact your metabolism. For the best results, it's best to eat a high-protein, low-carb diet to build muscle mass and reduce overall body fat. In addition, you can try intermittent fasting, or fasting for specific periods each day or on certain days of the week.
This practice has been shown to help regulate glucose levels, among other benefits. When your body has a chance to reset itself during a period of fasting, you will reap some amazing benefits.
5. Quality Sleep Also Matters.
Poor sleep has been shown to have many negative health impacts, and your metabolism takes a hit when you aren't getting adequate sleep. Make sure to turn in early and get the recommended six to eight hours of sleep per night to achieve optimal health.
6. Reduce Stress to Improve It.
Chronic stress can play a factor in poor health for your metabolic systems by raising blood sugar levels. Try journaling, meditation, prayer, reading, or other stress-reducing activities to help you address some of the negative impacts of stress in your life. You may find that by reducing stress, you can more easily keep a handle on your metabolism and overall health.
7. Medications and Supplements Should Be Considered.
When trying to maximize your metabolism, it's important to consider the possible impact of any medications or supplements. Talk with your doctor to try to understand how these may impact glucose levels or heart rate, and make sure you understand whether a particular medicine can address the underlying issue or only the symptoms.
Consider that some natural supplements like green tea have been shown to help with weight loss, waistline reduction, and lower blood pressure.
By following these simple tips, you'll be well on your way to achieving optimal metabolism and improving your overall health. You'll be amazed by how great you'll feel when you take charge of this aspect of your life!
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Written By:
Lewis Robinson is a freelance writer and expert in health and fitness. When he isn’t writing he can usually be found reading a good book or hitting the gym.
Reviewed By:
Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.
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