Metabolism is a chemical reaction in the body's cells that change food into energy.
It truly is the backbone to all bodily functions! For example: digesting foods, thyroid hormones/sex hormones (estrogen/progesterone), growing hair and nails, a strong immune system, etc.
Many people wonder … do I have a good metabolism or not? Below are some ways to figure that out!
Signs your metabolism is NOT optimal:
- Cold hands and feet/Low body temperature <97.5
- Low pulse
- Brittle hair nails
- Lack of libido
- Afternoon crashes
- Not a morning person
- Irritable or sensitive to stress
- Infertility
- PMS symptoms
- Insomnia
- Excessive thirst/urination
- Irregular bowel movements
Signs your metabolism IS optimal:
- Body warm
- Pulse 75-85bpm
- Hair strong
- Nails strong
- Content and calm
- Strong sex drive
- Easily able to wake up in the morning
- Regular Bowel movements
- Sleeping through the night
- Lack of disease
- Able to keep a healthy weight
- No menopausal issues or pms
Many people believe that being skinny equals a good metabolism, but this could not be farther from the truth! People can be super lean and still be an absolute wreck internally.
Our thyroid is really the main control of our metabolic rate or how many calories our body burns to function on a daily basis. One thing we need to note is when we put a lot of stress on our body, our thyroid likes to slow down our metabolism to conserve energy; especially when we are not nourishing it adequately. We start to see our pulse slow down, our body temperature drop, or digestion slows down (irregular bowel movements/bloat), etc.
Many people are not optimizing their metabolism because they are:
- Chronically dieting (well under nourishing their body)
- Eating the wrong types of foods (lots of processed foods and foods lacking in nutrients).
- Living by their apple watch, fit bit, heart rate monitor and putting a lot of stress on their body from an exercise standpoint and not matching their nutrition to this.
- Lacking sleep, hydration, and sunlight (essentials for survival)
- Living in a state of chronic stress from not prioritizing their health.
If you are reading this and thinking to yourself… "my metabolism is in the toilet" … "I feel like I have some of these symptoms noted above" then I highly recommend focusing on these areas:
- Eating enough… especially the right types of foods: animal protein, fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), balanced meals and snacks.
- Strength and resistance training to help with muscle maintenance and growth… Muscle is the main driver behind our metabolism!
- Adequate rest and sleep… focusing on 7-9 hours of sleep a night.
- Hydration with not just water but also minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium)
- Movement and Sunlight… going for a walk and exposing yourself to sunlight for 15-20 minutes each morning!
If you need help focusing on the essentials to optimize your metabolism, this is exactly what my Gray30 course teaches you! You can check it out HERE!
I also would like to note this is not personal medical advice please consult with your personal physician regarding your medical care.
Stay healthy,
-Emily