There are many healthy trends out there that can unknowingly cause harm. And a lot of those “healthy” things you’re doing now could also be slowing down your metabolism.
1. You’ve completely cut out carbohydrates
High protein diets have been a trend for a long time lately. And for good reason. Many studies show that a low-carb diet is good for weight management. But for overall health, cutting out carbs can hurt your body, especially if you’re exercising regularly. When you exercise, your muscles demand glycogen from carbohydrates stored in your body. Low glycogen levels will sap your energy and you won’t be able to exercise well. And, you’ll burn fewer calories because your body won’t require as much energy to recover.
I like the Bill Phillips suggestion of having a serving of complex carbohydrates (about the size of your fist) for every meal.
2. You’re bad at snacking
Rice cakes are low calorie. That doesn’t make rice cakes a good snack, however. Eat snacks high in fat, like nuts. Plyunsaturate fatty acids in nuts may enhance the activity of certain genes that control fat burning, according to The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Avoid snacks like pretzels, most commercial yogurt that’s full of sugar, trail mix with added chocolate, candy and sugar, soda, any refined sugars, pudding cups, cheese crackers, etc.
So, while things like nuts are high calorie, your body will respond better than eating low-nutrient dense snacks like rice cakes and crackers.
3. No dairy
This one is going to be controversial. Many of you reading this are probably yelling at the screen saying you should never eat dairy. Ever.
But dairy has a few nutrients that are great for fat burning. It has
CLA, calcium and whey. Conjugated Linoleic Acid is a natural fatty acid that is important to the body. CLA has several unique structural and functional properties. It modulates cellular processes, including the maintenance of muscle mass and lipolysis. CLA has also been shown to be effective for maintaining normal cholesterol levels and supporting the immune system. It can help modify body composition by sustaining lean muscle tissue and enhancing lipolysis (the burning of fat), resulting in a number of health and weight benefits. CLA is a patented ingredient for fat reduction.
Calcium may also help the bodies’ natural fat burning process function more efficiently.
“At midlife, women tend to gain one-quarter to one-half a pound per year whether they want it or not, and it all goes to their waist,” says Robert Heaney, MD, an internationally recognized expert in bone biology and calcium nutrition with Creighton University in Nebraska.
“We’ve found that women with the highest dairy intake have an average weight gain of zero, and those with the lowest dairy intake gained a pound per year,” Heaney tells WebMD.
In studies of both mice and men, Michael Zemel, PhD, director of The Nutrition Institute at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, was one of the first to show that calcium stored in fat cells plays a crucial role in regulating how fat is processed and stored by the body. The more calcium there is in a fat cell, the more fat the cell will burn — and the greater the weight loss, Zemel says
“Calcium provides small increases in thermogenesis, the body’s core temperature,” Zemel explains. “This may boost metabolism, which can prompt our bodies to burn fat.
“If weight loss is your goal, eat three servings of fat-free or low-fat dairy products every day, he advises.
“But cardiologists (heart specialists) may not like this advice: Whole-fat milk works even better in a weight-loss plan, says Heaney. “In fact, whole-fat milk has a satiety value so you naturally won’t eat so much. A high-carbohydrate diet leaves you feeling hungry all the time.”
4. Restricting salt
Salt is bad, says everyone. That statement is usually made because people load up salt with heavily processed foods. Salt (and especially the iodine) may help to:
- Naturally increases your metabolic rate.
- Support stress.
- Encourage healthy levels of oxytocin.
Just be careful of this one that you get the right amount of salt — not too little and not too much.
5. Drinking too much water
Now, hydration is one of the best things you can do for your body.
With that said, you can go overboard with the water bottles. Drinking 8 glasses a day may not be right for you. Listen to your body, and drink when you’re thirsty. How much water you need every day depends on a lot of factors, like:
- Your body weight. Heavier people usually need more water.
- Your diet. Are you already eating a lot of water-based foods?
- Your activity level. Are you sweating every day? Are you moving all day for work? Are you sitting at a desk all day? All those things go into play about how much water you should drink.
- The average temperature. Are you hot or cold wherever you are? You may need more or less water depending on the climate.
- Are you getting enough minerals
Being hydrated is not just about liquid. If you’re craving more taste than just water, you may need something else to help get more sodium, magnesium or potassium or other minerals. Our Solstic options are a great way to fortify your water. Also try the Ionic Minerals one of my favorites.
Conclusion: Your health is not a health trend
Don’t just assume that because there is a health trend out there that it’s right for you. Listen to your body and get balance in your nutrition and balance with what works for you. if you need help contact me I would be happy to help you!
