Metabolism is our driving force. It is through metabolism that our body makes energy from food. So naturally, we believe that raising our metabolism level will burn more calories, thus losing those extra pounds. Here we help you bust the myths about enhancing your metabolism.
Common knowledge says that metabolism is the rate at which calories are burned by the body. However, this is only half true. Metabolism is the process in which the food is broken down by the body and is converted into energy.
Exercise Enhances Your Metabolism Forever:
When you exercise, you burn more calories as you need to supply fuel to your working muscles. But do not expect it to last longer even after you finish your workout. You may keep burning extra calories for a few more hours. And the metabolic rate goes back to its resting rate after that. Do not indulge in your favorite foods thinking that your hour-long workout will burn those calories for you throughout the day.
Everything Eaten After 7 p.m. Turns To Fat:
The food you eat after 7 or 8 p.m. will not turn into body fat. Your metabolism doesn’t shut down completely at night. It slows down while the body sleeps. You are free to eat after 7 in the night. But this should not lead to unhealthy nighttime snacking. High-sugar foods or carb-dense foods may get transformed into excess pounds in your body.
If you want set up rules of your eating timing, it would be better if you don’t skip your morning breakfast. You practically fast all night and as a result your metabolism slows down by 15%. Your metabolism won’t get kick started till the body produces energy and that happens when you consume calories.
Metabolism Is The Same For Men And Women:
You may have noticed that men eat more than women, but still walk around without gaining much weight. Men have a higher metabolic rate when compared to women. They have more lean muscle than women, thus burning more calories at rest than women.
Adding Muscle Helps You Lose Weight:
It is true that muscle burns more calories than fat. But that does not mean that building more muscle is the secret to raising your metabolic rate. To a small extent, it may help you. Regular exercisers can gain only a few pounds, which definitely can’t make a huge difference.
Metabolism is genetic and cannot be changed:
This is partly false. Yes metabolism is genetic. Some people metabolize food very quickly whereas others are quite slow. Whether the metabolism is slow or fat is determined by the basal metabolic rate or BMR, which is the number of calories a person burns at rest. Even at rest the body’s organs function, digestion occurs, cells grow and die and for all this to happen you need energy. People with a low BMR will tend to burn fewer calories at rest whereas one with a high BMR will burn more.
Certain Foods Boost Your Metabolism:
Green tea and hot chili peppers are very popular as shortcuts to weight loss. Sorry, they can’t help you in a big way. They may promote your metabolism. But it won’t be enough to make changes in your weight the way you want to see it. The best option for you is to eat a variety of nutritious food.
Eating Small Meals Increases Your Metabolism:
You may have heard this theory from your friends whenever you get ready for weight loss programs. Unfortunately, there is no scientific backup for this claim. This is one way to keep your overeating at bay. Other than that, there is no association between frequency of eating and metabolism.
Sipping Lemon Water Wakes Up Your Metabolism:
A cup of warm lemon water in the morning has been considered a healthy start by many. Yes, it is a healthy start. But, it has nothing to do with metabolism. Drinking lemon water will help you stay hydrated with its vitamins and electrolytes.
Getting A Full Night’s Sleep Is Good For Your Metabolism:
Short sleep duration could lead to weight gain. So obviously a good night’s sleep should raise your metabolism levels, right? Well, it does not work that way. A good night’s sleep does not have anything to do with boosting your metabolism.
What should you do to kick start your metabolism and burn your calories? The answer to that is a balanced diet. Foods low in carb and high in protein. Focus on overall calorie control and get plenty of fiber, protein and micronutrients. What you eat is more important than when.Start your day with lean protein, which burns twice as many calories during digestion as fat or carbs.
