As women get older, they’ll start to notice changes within their bodies due to hormonal imbalances, menopause, and other factors that come with age. One of those changes is a slow metabolism.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the ways age affects the body’s metabolic system and how to boost it.
Does Metabolism Slow with Age?
So, does metabolism slow with age? The short answer is yes, your metabolism does slow down as you get older.
In fact, women over 40 go through a lot of changes that can cause imbalances in the body, leading to a slower metabolism. This could include hormones, low blood sugar or insulin imbalances, inflammation, and other toxins.
Hormones
Hormone imbalances can happen for multiple reasons such as stress, aging, and menopause. As we age, our hormone levels naturally decline which impacts our metabolism.
One of the primary hormones that can affect metabolism is estrogen. This is because as women age, their bodies naturally produce less. Therefore, this decline can cause multiple changes, including a slower metabolism.
Estrogen can help regulate your metabolic system by controlling insulin levels, which influence your body’s use of glucose. However, when estrogen levels drop, your body becomes less efficient at using glucose which leads to weight gain.
Insulin
Another important imbalance to take into consideration is insulin, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. When we eat carbohydrates, insulin is released to help turn glucose into energy. But if the body becomes resistant to insulin, blood sugar levels can increase which results in weight gain and a slower metabolism.
Overall, remember that changes within your body naturally come with age. Addressing these underlying issues can help solve issues with your metabolism if taken care of properly.
@themetabolismreboot How to reboot your metabolism. #metabolism #nutritiontips #menopause #over40 #middleaged ♬ original sound – Jared McDonald
Boosting a Low Metabolism
As previously mentioned, women’s metabolisms naturally slow down as they get older which makes it harder to lose and maintain weight. However, there are a few methods you can use to boost your low metabolism.
Strength Training
Strength training is an important step in building and maintaining muscle mass, which helps the body burn more calories while at rest. This is a great, healthy, and natural way to boost your metabolism.
If you’re just starting, remember that it’s important to start slow and gradually increase your activity over time to avoid injury.
Eating Enough Protein
Protein is essential for building and maintaining muscle mass. Your body will also take longer to break down the meat, burning more calories.
Remember that everything is good in moderation. Be sure to eat balanced meals and include protein throughout the day. Also, note that your level of physical activity may impact how much protein you should consume.
Eat Your Calories
Contrary to popular belief, calorie deficits (or calorie cutting) are extremely counterproductive to any permanent weight loss and metabolic boosting. In fact, your body will store energy rather than burn it, therefore slowing down your metabolism. This is because it processes the deficit as starvation.
To have a fast and stable metabolism, it’s important to eat enough calories that support your body’s energy burning. But that doesn’t mean you should overeat.
Balanced meals are crucial, and so are proportions. Too much of anything, even healthy foods, can lead to weight gain and a slow metabolic system. Be sure to eat the correct proportions for your lifestyle.
Addressing Underlying Problems
If you think that you may have an imbalance or other underlying health condition, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional. With proper diagnosis, you’ll have a solution that will bring a better quality of life. Not only this, but a diagnosis will also help to address your metabolic rate.
Don’t Know How to Start?
At The Metabolism Reboot, we help people who are looking to lose weight and incorporate healthy lifestyle choices. If you’re overwhelmed or don’t know where to start, give us a call. Our experts are happy to help you on your journey to a better, healthier you.