Losing weight can feel impossible when your metabolism has slowed to a snail’s pace. Why does weight seem to creep on easily with age, even if your diet and exercise routine stays the same? The culprit is likely your metabolic rate taking a nosedive.
When your metabolism kicks into sluggish mode, suddenly surviving on less food leaves you fatigued while even sneaking an extra treat packs on more body fat than before. You’re doing everything “right” yet the number on the scale keeps going up.
The key is knowing which unsuspecting foods quietly put the brakes on your metabolism, especially as we age. Armed with the facts, you can dodge these belly-bloating metabolism saboteurs that impede weight loss. Read on to discover the top 5 metabolism-busting foods to keep away from if you want to lose weight and burn fat. You’ll be shocked at what makes the list!
Bread, Pasta, Rice and Grains
You may associate carb-heavy foods like bread, crackers, pasta and rice with gaining weight. But did you know they also slow your metabolism? A study in Clinical Interventions in Aging found a low-carb diet avoided the age-related metabolism slowdown over a high-carb diet full of grains.
Here’s why: simple carbs spike blood sugar and insulin fast. Excess insulin triggers more fat storage while slowing metabolism over time, according to obesity doctor Dr. Caroline Apovian. The constant insulin surges from carb-heavy diets overwork your pancreas. Eventually insulin resistance develops where your cells stop responding properly to the insulin signals.
To burn fat and maintain a youthful metabolism, go easy on bread, pasta, rice, cereals, crackers, pretzels, and sugary baked goods. Limit processed grains and instead focus your carbs around fibrous veggies, fruits and legumes. Your metabolism will thank you!
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Dried Fruit and Fruit Juices
You probably reach for dried fruit or juice thinking it’s the healthier option over candy or soda. But these concentrated sources of fruit sugar can stall your metabolism much like desserts. Dried fruits in particular have a super-high sugar load in a small serving.
Here’s why they cause trouble: The excess fructose from juice or dried fruit overwhelms your liver fast. All that sugar converts to fat, which lowers metabolism, says endocrinologist Dr. Holly Lofton. Plus, the fiber was removed, so the massive sugar spike hits your bloodstream too quickly.
Your best bet is fresh, whole fruits with skins and fibers intact. The fiber content steadies the release of fructose to avoid metabolic harm. If you do indulge in dried fruits or juice, have a small portion diluted in a huge glass of water. Limit yourself to a four-ounce juice box and a handful of dried fruit max to avoid metabolism-slowing effects.
Non-Organic Red Meat
You may think you’re doing the right thing by eating lean protein at meals. But conventionally-raised red meat actually harms metabolism in multiple ways. Cattle are often fed hormones and antibiotics that later disrupt your hormonal balance.
This matters because your thyroid, growth hormone, cortisol and other fat-burning hormones control your metabolism. Imbalances from chemicals make you more likely to gain weight according to hormone specialist Dr. Neal Rouzier. Non-organic meat also contains traces of herbicides that studies show reduce thyroid functioning.
On top of that, there are fewer healthy omega 3s in non-organically raised meat, explains nutritionist Maryann Walsh. Higher omega 3s optimize metabolism to help burn more calories and fat. Choosing grass-fed, organically raised beef and pork ensures your protein nourishes a fast metabolism instead of slowing it down.
Soy Products Like Tofu, Edamame and Soy Milk
You might assume plant-based soy products will help your diet. But studies show the compounds in unfermented soy can suppress thyroid function and lower metabolism explains nutritionist Dr. Josh Axe. The goitrogens in soy interfere with iodine uptake by your thyroid gland, which disrupts its ability to produce key hormones.
One study in the journal Thyroid found eating healthy adults soy milk daily for just three months resulted in increased thyroid-stimulating hormone. Elevated TSH indicates lowered metabolism and potential for weight gain.
The isoflavones that give soy its health halo also may disrupt other hormonal pathways involving metabolism, according to research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Traditional fermented organic soy like tempeh or natto is less risky. But for optimal fat-burning and metabolism, avoid unfermented soy products.
Alcohol in Any Form
Happy hour cocktails, a beer during the game, or wine with dinner may be slowing your metabolism. Any alcohol impacts metabolic rate, according to obesity expert Dr. Michael Jensen. He explains the microbes that make up your gut microbiome — which control weight and metabolism — are extremely sensitive to alcohol. Drinking alcohol alters their composition immediately toward a more obesity-promoting environment.
The effect worsens with age. A study in The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences found the metabolic rate decreased significantly more in older men after drinking alcohol compared to younger ones. Avoid too much alcohol to keep your metabolic fires stoked for fat burning.
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Conclusion
Now you know which sneaky metabolism saboteurs to avoid. Follow a fresh, whole food diet while limiting processed carbs, juices, conventional meat and soy. Your metabolism will remain optimized for weight loss as you age. A faster metabolism means you can actually eat more while still shedding excess fat. Just stay far away from these top 5 metabolism killers waiting to ambush your fat-burning goals! Tired of Losing Money Betting? Insiders Swear This Clever App Puts An End To Wasted Bets —Download & Check it Out
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