Nutritionist Highlights 12 Everyday Habits That Might Be Slowing Down Your Metabolism

People often attribute the slowing down of their metabolism to age-related complications, genetics and hormonal imbalances. According to nutritionist and metabolic health coach Madhavi Shilpi, however, your metabolic health hasn’t necessarily diminished due to these factors, and the real problem maybe lying in your daily lifestyle and regular habits.

“Metabolism is not something you can simply turn on or off. It follows a rhythm that depends on how you eat, exercise, sleep, and recover,” Shilpi told Health Shots, explaining how when the balance between eating habits, physical activity, sleeping hours, and essential recovery for the day ahead is disturbed, it affects the body’s energy levels and hunger desires. She suggests revisiting these twelve

daily habits to rejuvenate one’s metabolism and regain the balance.

Skipping Protein At Breakfast:

The light breakfast that you find a perfect fit for your rushed lifestyle is hurting your body and leaving it vulnerable. According to Shilpi, it is important to get an adequate amount of protein in your breakfast to avoid cravings and feeling tired early. “Protein helps keep blood sugar steady and makes you feel full longer,” says the nutritionist.

Eating Too Late At Night

“Your last meal should be two to three hours before you sleep,” says the metabolic health coach,” Shilipi, adding, “Try a light dinner, like grilled paneer with vegetables or a bowl of soup with tofu. This helps your body focus on resting and recovering overnight instead of digesting late at night.”

Excessive Snacking

Eating too many snacks, even if they are in a healthier variant like fruits, can keep insulin levels high and make it harder to burn fat. Snack moderately while ensuring your meals have enough protein, fibre, and healthy fats. “If you eat meals full of nutrients, you should be able to go four to five hours without needing a snack,” the nutritionist said.

Packaged Foods

The hidden sugars and preservatives in these packaged foods make them harmful to the body’s metabolic processes. Rather than consuming protein bars or flavoured yoghurts, opt for whole foods that provide you with sufficient nutrients and keep you full for longer.

Sitting For Extended Periods

It is important for individuals operating in desk jobs that require prolonged sitting at one place to get their timely breaks for some physical activity. It could be as simple as a short walk during the lunch interval. “To stay healthy, take short breaks every hour to stretch, stand, or go for a quick walk”, says Shilpi.

Overdoing Workouts

While working out daily is great for the body, pushing yourself too hard and overdoing a set of intense exercises can be harmful, as it causes fatigue and raises stress hormone levels. The body also goes through inflammation and feels hungry frequently. “Your body transforms when it feels safe, not punished,” said the nutritionist.

Disturbed Sleep Cycle

Not getting enough sleep regularly affects the body’s recovery process and immune health, causing lower insulin sensitivity and raising the cravings for unhealthy foods. Get your eight hours of sleep on a daily basis.

Caffeine

“Try reducing your caffeine intake and switching to hydrating drinks like herbal teas or infused waters,” the metabolic health coach said. Excess tea and coffee raise cortisol levels and stress hormones in the body. The healthier alternatives, on the other hand, lower stress and boost our energy levels.

Gut Health

Ignoring your gut health leads to poor digestion, which may cause you to feel tired frequently and lead to overeating. “To improve your gut health, eat high-fibre foods, fermented products like yoghurt, and a variety of colourful vegetables,” the nutritionist suggests.

Rushed Eating

Don’t be in a rush to go through your meals and proceed to your next task. Sit down, breathe, and enjoy your food. Remember what the entire hassle is for? To get the desired food on the table for yourself and your family. Respect your meals.

Not Drinking Enough Water

Notice how your body goes through unnecessary snacking and extra eating when it hasn’t been hydrated for long. Drinking enough water supports our metabolism, digestion process, circulation and detoxification.

Too Much Screen Time

Blue light from the screens we are hooked to stops the body from generating melatonin, which is scientifically found to support our sleep. Too much screen time, especially at night, should be avoided to boost our sleep patterns, which then indirectly promotes healthy activities and metabolism.