Much of the weight we gain and keep can be attributed to a slow metabolism. What causes a person’s metabolism to slow down? Are there signs of a slow metabolism? What steps can be made to improve it? If you want the answers to these questions and more, this article is for you.
Slow Metabolism Symptoms: What to Look Out For
There are several slow metabolism symptoms to be on the lookout for. If you are suffering from any or all of these symptoms you may be struggling with a slow metabolism:
- Weight Gain
- Difficulty Keeping Weight Off
- Constant Tiredness
- Dry Skin
- Brittle Nails
- Hair Loss
- Frequent Headaches
- Forgetfulness
- Constant Coldness
- Depression
- Lack of Sex Drive
- Low Pulse Rate
- Intense Cravings for Sugar and Carbs
- Menstrual Problems
- Constipation
While the metabolism is centered on the digestive system, its dysfunction can impact several other systems in your body. Dry skin, brittle nails, and hair loss all stem from those parts of the body being given inadequate nutrition.
Similarly, seemingly “mental” symptoms like headaches, depression, or forgetfulness could be your brain showing you it isn’t getting proper nutrition either.
Improving your slowed metabolism won’t just help you lose weight or keep weight off. It will inevitably have several other life-changing benefits.
Your body’s metabolism is like the engine of a car. Fixing both will improve your general quality of life as well as extend your overall lifespan.
When Does Your Metabolism Slow Down?
When does your metabolism slow down? The short answer is stress. There are three types of stress that can impact your metabolic rate: emotional, physical, and chemical stress.
Emotional Stress
This is probably what first came to mind when describing stress in your life. These include the day-to-day problems of work, family, relationships, finances, and more. Increased emotional stress not only impacts our decision-making but also our body’s ability to process food properly.
We frequently neglect the connections between our bodies, our minds, and our emotional well-being. Improving one of these can have a surprising impact on the other two.
Physical Stress
Physical stress can include physical trauma like an injury, but that’s just the beginning of potential physical stressors. Another factor is the way physical inactivity can also stress your body and your metabolism, even though you aren’t actually “doing” anything.
Conversely, over-exercising and straining your body too hard trying will also cause physical stress. This can create the unintended effect of slowing your metabolism down and make weight loss overall more challenging.
Chemical Stress
Our bodies can gain chemical stress by exposure to various chemicals and toxic substances in our environment. Eating processed food can similarly introduce chemical stressors into the body.
Toxins are stored in fat tissue. This means these chemicals can accumulate and the problems relating to them can further compound. These chemicals can make improving your metabolism more difficult while they’re still stored in your body.
Does Alcohol Slow Metabolism?
Does alcohol slow metabolism? In short: yes. While alcohol has some positive effects, it is a toxic chemical that can impact your metabolic rate (among other effects).
Reducing your alcohol intake won’t just improve your metabolism, but your overall quality of life. If you’re looking to reduce the chemical stressors your body is exposed to, reducing alcohol consumption is a great start.
Reboot Your Slow Metabolism Today!
Knowing what a slow metabolism looks like is the first step to getting it moving back to full speed. Dieting and exercise are important, but too much can stress your body and impact your metabolism further. Rebooting your metabolism will lead to a healthier and happier life!
The experts with Metabolism Reboot are here to guide you on the path to heightened metabolic activity. Contact the Metabolism Reboot today to schedule your free consultation.