self care - Healthy Reads

Have you been counting calories every day, tracking all your macros, hitting the gym, getting at least 8 hours of sleep, drinking more than 8 glasses of water, and you are still not seeing the number on the scale going down?

Even though it seems like you are doing things absolutely right and it is unfair that you are not seeing the progress you are looking for, the truth is that it is not your fault. Those extra pounds that you hate might stay with you due to a slower metabolism.

Your metabolism is the process by which your body consumes energy for basic functions in your body, such as your brain function, heartbeat, and breathing.

Your metabolism is responsible for burning the food and turning it into fuel, so no wonder why it seems like those who are blessed with a faster metabolism can eat as much as they want, compared to those who have a much slower metabolism, and need to be mindful about everything they are putting into their bodies.

Here are 10 of the most important signs which may indicate that you have a slow metabolism. If any of these “symptoms” are related to your actual condition, it is better to pay your doctor a visit, because you might have some health issues you didn’t know about.

1. You gained a few pounds

The first thing people who have a slow metabolism experience is sudden weight gain. If you’ve been watching your diet, your sleep schedule, and exercising constantly, but the number on the scale has increased, it might be due to your slow metabolism.

Mashfika N. Alam, MBBS and general practitioner at Icliniq, said that sometimes women blame their extra pounds on their increased food intake. She added the fact that this can be associated with hypothyroidism, which can make the basal metabolic rate go down, due to the fact that there is a lack of thyroid hormones. These are fundamental to the metabolic activities of the body.

2. It’s not easy for you to lose weight

Even if you are adopting a healthy and balanced lifestyle, you are working out on a regular basis, doing both cardio and strength training sessions, you are not making as much progress as you would like to.

This may be because of your slower metabolism, resulting in difficulty to lose weight or even maintain the actual physique. You can try and switch up your routine, in order to not let your body get used to something, and see if that works for you or not.

…Continue reading to find out if you are among the people who suffer from a slow metabolism!

3. You are constantly feeling tired

Because your body is using energy at a slower rate, you will feel tired more frequently. According to Heather L. Hofflich, DO, endocrinologist and professor of medicine at UC San Diego, weariness is the most prevalent indication of a sluggish metabolism. This means that your fatigue could be a sign of having a slow metabolism.

4. Your skin feels constantly dry

Your cells aren’t as active as they should be when you have a slow metabolism, which implies they aren’t getting enough blood. “When the skin is deprived of essential nutrients, it loses its sheen,” Dr. Alam explains. You also don’t sweat as much as usual as your body seeks to conserve heat. Your skin may get dry and damaged as a result of this.

If you want a quick fix for this, you can apply moisturizer to your body every day or you can opt for coconut oil if you want something more natural and rich.

5. You crave carbs and sugar

In conformity with Caroline Cederquist, MD, a practicing bariatric specialist in Naples, Florida, and author of The MD Factor Diet, a sluggish metabolism is frequently connected to insulin resistance.

She continued by saying that insulin resistance is a common metabolic disorder in which your cells are resistant to the action of insulin, a hormone produced by your pancreas that dictates the way your cells consume energy. If your body is insulin resistant, you will more likely have a slow metabolism.

A constant need and desire for sugar and carbohydrates is one indicator of insulin resistance. The expert says that if your body doesn’t use insulin effectively, your cells won’t be able to absorb the glucose in your body. This will lead to you looking around for items that are high in sugar and carbs, such as sodas, cookies, cake, fries, and pastries.

The problem is that the more sugar and refined carbs you consume, the more difficult it is for your body to metabolize them, and the more likely you are to gain weight, experience energy slumps, and feel tired.

6. Irregular bowel movement

Do you have a hard time going to the bathroom?

A slow metabolism might affect other bodily functions, such as how frequently you use the restroom. A slower metabolism means a slower bowel transit time” as Dr. Susan Besser says. Food takes longer to pass through the gastrointestinal system and digest correctly, which will result in having a hard time going to the bathroom.

7. You are always feeling cold

Hypothyroidism causes you to be cold all of the time, and it also slows down your metabolism. If you’re always feeling the shivers down your spine, it’s likely that your thyroid and metabolism aren’t working as well as they should.

The metabolic activity of the body generates heat, according to Dr. Alam. She claims that a slow metabolism can result in a drop in core body temperature, which is another indicator of hypothyroidism.

Usually, people who are diagnosed with this health condition adopt a certain lifestyle and also diet, in order to reach their fitness and wellness goals.

8. You are feeling depressed

This might come as a surprise because depression is one of the most popular health conditions that people can experience nowadays. Because hypothyroidism slows down the way your body functions properly, it’s no wonder that your mood can suffer from it as well. A slow thyroid, and hence a poor metabolism, has been associated with depression.

…Feeling depressed? Don’t blame yourself, blame your slow metabolism!

9. You can experience a slow pulse rate

If you’ve discovered that your heartbeat is slowing down, it might be due to the fact that you have a slow metabolism. In conformity with Dr. Alam, a healthy and balanced metabolism is directly proportional to your pulse rate.

This means that if your metabolism is more sluggish, your heart rate will be the same.

10. You are frequently experiencing migraines

Headaches are caused by many things, such as the flu, a cold, an accident, being tired, stressed, lack of sleep, and many other things. The same thing can happen if your thyroid hormones are not balanced, because a thyroid that is not active enough, will lead to headaches and even big migraines.

…Migraines can feel like they’re ruining your life! They can also be causing a slow metabolism! Make sure to talk to your doctor if you’re among those who suffer from frequent migraines!

TAKEAWAY

What do you think about these 10 signs that indicate having a slow metabolism? Have you ever experienced any of them? If yes, what did you do to make sure that you are still reaching your fitness and wellness goals?

We are curious to find out more about your experiences. Do you have a slow metabolism? If you do, make sure to let us know about all of your experiences by leaving a comment in the section down below!

If you enjoyed reading this article, we have plenty more just like it! Make sure to check this one out as well: 10 ‘Healthy’ Habits That Are Damaging Your Teeth!

Even though you might believe it’s a crazy statement, healthy habits can in fact be a damaging factor to our teeth. You might be trying to develop a couple of habits in order to improve your well-being, unaware of the impact it might have on your teeth.

When we found out what kind of dangers might appear just by trying to live healthier, we decided to ask a couple of doctors that really know the deal. Not only did we learn tons of new stuff, but we were actually left a bit thunderstruck to hear how many things we did wrong. Are you curious to know what we’ve found out? Read on to understand what we mean:

Brushing your teeth right after eating

Have you gotten used to brushing immediately after you finished eating? While brushing regularly is extremely important, timing is EVERYTHING. When you just ate something that’s acidic, such as oranges or tomatoes, the enamel on your teeth softens and becomes susceptible to abrasive wear.

If you brush your teeth while they’re in this soft state, you can remove your teeth’s enamel, which leads to sensitive teeth. If you want to protect your teeth, make sure you wait between 30-60 minutes before brushing. Even more, if you conclude your meals with dairy products, such as milk or a slice of cheddar cheese, it will raise the pH inside your mouth and release calcium.

Brushing teeth wrong

Some people have made a habit out of “scrubbing” their teeth, which stresses the gum tissue and causes your gum line to recede. Even more, overly vigorous cleaning can make your teeth to be more sensitive, as the protective layer of enamel becomes thinner.

Doctors recommend you brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled brush. Pay attention, as the size and shape of your brush, should be able to fit your mouth and reach all the needed areas! Also, don’t forget to replace your brush every other three or four months, or even the moment you see the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won’t do you any good.

Medications that dry out the mouth

If you suffer from a chronic health disease, you probably need to take prescribed medications that might have a side effect of cottonmouth. This can mean a problem for your oral health, as it puts you at risk of developing tooth decay.

Dry mouth from medications usually appears because the medicine decreases the flow of saliva, that’s responsible for protecting your teeth. While no one recommends not taking your meds, you could try drinking more water throughout the day, to keep your mouth rinsed all the time. You could try taking a small bottle of water with you and have it wherever you may be, to make things easier.

Drinking lemon water

Fresh lemon juice is extremely popular now for offering all kinds of health benefits. It enhances digestion, strengthens your immunity, and cleanses our bodies of toxins. Even though adding lemon water to your daily diet is a plus for you, it can still have a harmful impact on your tooth enamel because it raises the level of acid in your mouth.

Think about it, if you drink it throughout the day for a long time, you’re constantly giving your teeth a bath in acidic solution. If you’ve noticed your teeth are more sensitive to hot and cold lately, cut back on the lemon water and buy some toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

Fruit juice

Fruit juice is another drink that might help us get the necessary amount of vitamins and antioxidants we wish for. Although it’s healthy for you (but not in big quantities), most juices are also full of sugar just as much as a can of soda is.

Given the fact that fruits are naturally sweet, try drinking only juices that have no added sugar. Or you can even make them yourself. You can also reduce the amount of sugar content by diluting the juice with some water. As I mentioned above, citrus juice is very acidic, and it is a major offender when it comes to dental erosion.

Exercising (without dental protection)

Another habit that has lots of benefits is regular physical activity. Improves your cardiovascular system, controls and helps adjust your weight, and enhances a happier mood. If you practice an impact sport, like ice hockey, martial arts, or boxing, your teeth are probably the first to be at risk.

Dr. Shane S. Porter of Premier Dentistry of Eagle recommended wearing a mouthguard to protect your mouth while you participate in these risky ventures. Also, intense sessions of exercise can affect the quality and quantity of the saliva you produce, which can raise the pH level in your mouth. Both of these changes can negatively impact your teeth.

Cough drops

While cough drops are famously medicinal, that doesn’t mean they’re also healthy. The majority of cough drops are full of sugar. And no matter where the sugar might be coming from, it’s bad for your teeth. It reacts with the sticky plaque that covers your teeth.

Bacteria in the plaque transform the sugar into an acid that…you guessed right, eats away at your tooth enamel. So next time you soothe your throat with a cough drop, make sure you rinse out your mouth with a glass of water. Then, wait 30-60 minutes before you pick up that toothbrush and start brushing thoroughly!

Diet soda

You might believe that drinking diet soda is a healthier alternative than regular soda because it’s sugar-free, but it also contains phosphoric and citric acids, which are known to destroy the tooth enamel. So just to avoid any other risk, drink water instead.

Sports drinks

Cold sports drinks are the best thing that can happen after a good workout. Since they’re not carbonated, they should work fine for you. But it’s not that simple. These types of beverages are high in sugar and create an acid attack on the enamel of your teeth. The best way to stay hydrated without harming your teeth is to drink sugar-free, calorie-free water.

Drinking bottled water

I just spent the entire time talking about how healthy drinking water instead of other drinks is, and now I’m about to say drinking water is bad as well. While I might sound insane, I want to point out the huge difference between tap water and bottled water.

There are many people that buy bottled water as their main source of drinking water. This is great because if water is the only kind of water you drink, you’re missing out on approximately a 25% reduction in tooth decay.

Fluoridated tap water is sustained by many leading health organizations and is proven to help reduce tooth decay in both children and adults. It’s cheap, and it cuts down a lot on the environmental impact that bottled water can have.

If you enjoyed reading this article, we also recommend reading: 6 Healthy Foods That Can Make You Bloated

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