You have probably heard people discussing whether or not they have a high or low metabolism. Oftentimes, people think that they are strictly born with it and that there is nothing that can be done to change it. While there may be components such as age, gender, and genetics that lead to the metabolism we have, there are things that can be done to increase our metabolism. By the same token, there are things that we can be doing that cause a reduction and lower metabolism. By eating clean and following your paleo meal plans, you are already helping your body gain its essential nutrients.
Knowledge about metabolism is a great place to start! If you are someone who is very into weight loss and fitness, you may have some prior knowledge on this subject, and applied it to your paleo lifestyle. Most may be more familiar with the term metabolism when thinking about how some people can devour all sorts of food, and not seem to ever gain any weight. This may be a sign of a fast metabolism, but ultimately, the word refers to all the chemical reactions that occur within your body. Those with a fast metabolism have the ability to burn through more calories than someone with a slow metabolism.
Usually, when referring to metabolism, you will hear terms such as basal metabolic rate (BMR). This term is referring to how many calories you need in order to carry out life. There is a misconception that if you start eating less, then you will in turn lose weight. This may work in some instances but is not sustainable. This is what leads to a calorie deficit and can be one of the reasons that you have a low metabolism.
The fewer calories you eat, the more of a deficit you create, and your body thinks that you are going into starvation. So, your body’s metabolism slows down. By lowering your metabolism, you are causing your body to burn through calories at a much slower rate. This is not ideal. There are also other instances that could be causing the low metabolism. If you are not active, sit the majority of the day, don’t get enough sleep or protein, you could be digging yourself in a hole.
To further explain, your body needs to burn calories in order to go about daily life. Having less than 1,000 calories a day is not sustainable. Being on the paleo diet, you may see that my recipes are not designed to shortchange your calorie count. They are meant to give you healthier and clean eating alternatives.
If you are looking to increase your metabolism, you cannot be afraid of calories, especially if they are coming from the right places. Your body needs the calories to burn more and create energy. You will have more energy to then work out and live a healthy lifestyle. Lifting weights can especially help to burn more calories while also preserving muscle mass. Stay true to your body!
Stay tuned and look out for my next blog, where I will be posting on the importance of selecting nutrients for keeping and building muscle and staying lean and healthy while being able to eat clean. I will also discuss plenty of delicious food recipes and why not be concerned with “dieting” per se. Until then, I hope this information will be of help to you, and any questions, you can always ask me!
Refs:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-mistakes-that-slow-metabolism
http://www.eatingwell.com/article/290811/can-losing-weight-slow-your-metabolism/
If you have any questions or suggestions just email me at Tina (at) Paleomazing.com.
I'm a cookbook-collecting, recipe-developing paleo junkie, and I live in the kitchen. I'm hooked on farmers' markets, traveling, eating healthy, and hiking until my legs scream at me. There's nothing better than hanging out with family and good friends. I have fun and sleeping is just plain boring. Read more About Tina Turbin.
