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When it comes to losing weight and keeping it off it is essential to keep your metabolism high.
There are a number of common lifestyle mistakes that may be slowing down your metabolism. The following eating and lifestyle behaviours slow down your metabolism and make losing weight harder than it should and also makes you prone to future weight gain. 1. Eating Too Little Calories Eating too little calories can cause a major decrease in metabolism. Although a calorie deficit is needed for weight loss, it can be counterproductive for your calorie intake to drop too low. When you dramatically lower your calorie intake, your body senses that food is scarce and lowers the rate at which it burns calories. To ensure optimum weight-loss women can consume around 1,800 calories per day and for men around 2,000 per day. 2. Skimping on Protein Eating enough protein is extremely important for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Studies have shown that, in addition to helping you feel full, a high protein intake can significantly increase the rate at which your body burns calories. The increase in metabolism that occurs after digestion is called the thermic effect of food (TEF). The thermic effect of protein is much higher than the thermic effects of carbs or fat. Indeed, eating protein has been observed to temporarily increase metabolism by about 20–30%, versus 5–10% for carbs and 3% or less for fat . One study found that people needed to eat at least 0.5 grams of protein per pound (1.2 grams/kg) of their body weight in order to prevent their metabolism from slowing during and after weight loss. 3. Living a Sedentary Lifestyle Living a sedentary lifestyle may lead to a significant decrease in the number of calories you burn every day. Unfortunately, many people have lifestyles that mainly involve sitting at work, which can have negative effects on metabolic rate and overall health. Although working out or playing sports can have a major impact on the number of calories you burn, even basic physical activity such as standing up, cleaning and taking the stairs can help you burn calories. This type of activity is referred to as non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT). One study found that performing a high amount of NEAT regularly could burn up to 2,000 additional calories per day. However, such a dramatic increase is not realistic for most people. Simply taking the stairs or getting up to walk around several times per day can help increase your NEAT and prevent your metabolism from dropping. 4. Not Getting Enough High-Quality Sleep Sleep is extremely important for good health. When you sleep for fewer hours than you may need you increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes and depression. Inadequate sleep also lowers your metabolic rate and increases your Several studies have found that inadequate sleep may also lower your metabolic rate and increase your probability of gaining weight. 5. Drinking Sugary Beverages Sugar-sweetened drinks are the absolute worst beverages for health. A high consumption of soft drinks, juices and other sugary drinks has been linked to all sorts of health problems, including insulin resistance, diabetes and obesity. Most of the negative effects of sugar-sweetened beverages can be attributed to fructose. Table sugar contains 50% fructose, while high-fructose corn syrup contains 55% fructose. Results from a 2012 study suggest that frequently consuming sugar-sweetened beverages may slow down your metabolism and promote fat storage in the belly and liver. 6. A Lack of Resistance Training Adding in some strength training with weights keeps your metabolism from slowing down. Strength training has been shown to increase metabolic rate in healthy people, as well as those who have heart disease or are overweight or obese. Resistance training increases muscle mass, which makes up much of the fat-free mass in your body. Having a higher amount of fat-free mass significantly increases the number of calories you burn at rest. Even 11 minutes per day for three days a week can increase your metabolic rate by 7.4% and burn an extra 125 extra calories per day, on average. Strength training also has anti-aging benefits by reducing muscle loss as you get older. In conclusion engaging in healthy eating and lifestyle behaviours helps to keep your metabolism working at its optimum rate, prevents you from weight gain over time and keeps off the weight that you lost.
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Protein is a micronutrient that is used to build and repair muscle. One of the roles it plays is in revving fat-burning metabolism and reducing the hunger pangs that can lead to making unhealthy choices by eating products high in sugar and fat like cakes and biscuits.
Protein helps to slow the release of carbohydrates into your bloodstream, which can prevent the sudden spikes in blood sugar that are thought to encourage fat storage and sagging energy levels. So how much protein does one need ? It can vary from physique-minded individuals that should seek out at least 2 g of protein for each 1kg of body weight to maintain and build muscle to 1.2 to 1.8g of protein per kilogram of body weight for endurance athletes such as triathletes, long distance runners and cyclists. For the average sedentary person, the DRI (Dietary Reference Intake) is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, or 0.36 grams per pound. This amounts to: 56 grams per day for the average sedentary man. 46 grams per day for the average sedentary woman. It can be quite daunting trying to figure out which foods to eat to cover your protein needs. Here’s a list of foods to add to your protein-friendly grocery list: 1. Greek Yogurt Protein Power: 23 g per 8 oz. serving ~ You also gain gut friendly probiotics bacteria and bone-building calcium. Note: Plain Greek yogurt can contain up to three times less sugar than flavored types. If you are intolerant to cow’s milk opt for goat’s yogurt which has 7g protein per 8oz serving. 2. Cottage Cheese Protein Power: 14 g per 1/2 cup serving ~ a great bedtime snack to help build muscle. Need to Know: Cottage cheese is known to be high in sodium. Choose a brand that contains less salt. 3. Emmental Cheese or similar types (Swiss Cheese - USA) Protein Power: 8 g per 1 oz. serving Note: If you're concerned about the calorie density of full-fat Swiss, low-fat versions have a protein-to-fat ratio of around 8-to-1, while still providing good flavor. 4. Eggs Protein Power: 6 g per 1 large egg Egg whites are near perfect muscle food. Note: Choose omega-3 eggs, free range and organic eggs. The best eggs are from home chickens roaming around a yard. 5. Whey Protein Protein Power: 24 g per scoop, on average Whey protein is one of the cleanest, fastest-digesting proteins on the market. It’s the perfect addition to any fat-loss or muscle-building diet. Note: Whey protein is extremely anabolic, or good for building muscle, because it’s a particularly rich source of branched chain amino acids, or BCAAs. 6. Yellowfin Tuna Protein Power: 25 g per 3 oz. serving Tuna delivers easily digested, premium-quality protein. You'll also benefit from the healthy amount of B vitamins and the potent antioxidant selenium in its flesh. When possible look for albacore tuna, dolphin friendly tuna. 7. Halibut Protein Power: 23 g per 3 oz. serving This is a great choice as it is also low in fat 2g per 3 oz serving. Need to Know: Pacific halibut is generally considered a more sustainable choice than Atlantic. 8. Octopus Protein Power: 25 g per 3 oz. serving Need to Know: Frozen octopus actually has an advantage over fresh because the subzero process works to help tenderize the meat. Canned octopus might also be an option to use as a salad topping. 9. Sockeye Salmon Protein Power: 23 g per 3 oz. serving Not only does wild salmon like sockeye taste better than its farmed cousin, it also supplies about 25 percent more protein. You’ll also get lots of anti-inflammatory, fat-fighting long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Need to Know: Look for salmon with the skin still intact, as it provides added flavor during cooking. 10. Light Tuna Protein Power: 22 g per 3 oz. serving Less pricey canned light tuna actually provides a little more protein than more expensive canned white tuna. Need to Know: To save yourself some calories opt for water-packed tuna instead of the oil-packed gift of the sea. 11. Sardines Protein Power: 21 g per 3 oz. serving Sardines are little superfoods of the sea. Packed with minerals, omega-3, protein and vitamin-D which can also boost testosterone production. 12. Navy Beans Protein Power: 20 g per 1 cup serving Beans are a fantastically cheap source of protein, and of the most commonly available canned legumes, navy beans lead the way. Each cup also supplies an impressive 13 g of dietary fiber. 13. Dried Lentils Protein Power: 13 g per 1/4 cup serving 14. Roasted Turkey Breast Protein Power: 18 g per 3 oz. serving Being nearly fat-free, slices of deli turkey are almost pure muscle-making protein. So when it comes to lunch sandwiches, pile it high. Need to Know: Steer clear of flavored turkey and other deli meats to avoid bringing home stuff you don't need more of, like salt, sugar, and lab-made flavorings. 15. Peanut Butter Protein Power: 8 g per 2 tbsp serving Peanut butter delivers more protein than the other trendier butter like almond and cashew. Need to Know: Forget the reduced-fat versions. All they do is replace the healthy fat with not-so-healthy sugar. Choose sugar free versions where possible or with very low sugar content. 16. Mixed Nuts Protein Power: 6 g per 2 oz. serving Peanuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds make for a crunchy way to add more protein and healthy unsaturated fats to your diet. Need to Know: Choose raw unsalted nuts and seeds. Avoid the salted and roasted. 17. Smoothie Drinks Protein Power: 16 g - 20g per 1 cup serving Add in fruit, a cup of yogurt or some whey protein and you have yourself a refreshing high protein drink. 18. Edamame Protein Power: 8 g per 1/2 cup serving Found in the frozen-food section of most supermarkets, these green soybeans will give your diet a boost of plant protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Need to Know: To upgrade your snack time, prepare shelled frozen edamame according to package directions, then season with fresh lemon juice, a pinch of chili and salt. 19. Green Peas Protein Power: 7 g per 1 cup serving While protein is not abundant in most vegetables, subzero green peas contain enough that you'll want to keep a bag stashed in your freezer at all times. They're also a good source of fiber to help keep cravings for junk food at bay. 20. Wheat Germ Protein Power: 6 g per 1 oz. serving The wheat grain is made up of three components—endosperm, bran, and germ. The germ is the most nutrient-dense part and includes notable amounts of plant-based protein. You can use it to add a protein boost to your oatmeal, pancakes, and even shakes. Need to Know: To preserve freshness, it's best to store wheat germ in the refrigerator or freezer. 21. Soba Noodles Protein Power: 12 g per 3 oz. serving Consider using these buckwheat Japanese-style noodles for your pasta nights since they contain more protein than most wheat-based noodles. Even better, they cook in about half the time as whole-wheat pasta. Need to Know: To remove the excess starch that can make the noodles gummy, it's important to rinse cooked soba after draining. 22. Quinoa Protein Power: 8 g per 1 cup serving This whole grain contains a full arsenal of essential amino acids, meaning that it's a complete protein with muscle-making potential. Need to Know: Toasting quinoa in a dry skillet or saucepan before simmering it in water can enhance its natural nutty flavor. |
AuthorBarbara is a qualified Holistic Nutritionist MSc., offering Health, Nutrition & Lifestyle Counseling. She gives Healthy weight loss advice and promotes the Mediterranean diet. She is the author of the Med Life Diet - creating healthy lifestyle habits and attitudes for life ! Archives
September 2025
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