You’re doing everything right with your diet, but the scales just won’t move? Then perhaps your metabolism could be the culprit. Kevin Greene, Nutritionist and Managing Director of weight management brand, Almased gives his five top tips to help your metabolism and stay on top of your weight loss targets.
Metabolism is the powerhouse of our body – it turns food into energy that we need for everything from breathing to exercise. In the process, it breaks down old cells, builds new ones and produces important substances such as hormones and enzymes.
- Optimise your metabolism with good nutrition
Nutrition provides all the important ingredients which can then be processed in the metabolism and contribute to our health. An important factor is, for example, proteins. They stimulate the metabolism and are important for our muscles. Muscle cells, in turn, use fats and free sugars for energy, helping to maintain a healthy metabolism and weight.
In addition to protein-rich foods, healthy plant substances and fibre are also important for a balanced metabolism. A plant-rich diet with a lot of protein is a particular way to lose weight healthily and at the same time provide your body with all the important nutrients. Our tip: Legumes such as lentils, chickpeas or soybeans combine plant power with a high protein content!
- Don’t go hungry!
A negative energy balance is crucial for successful weight loss. But losing weight by starving is almost always counterproductive. In response, the body goes into energy-saving mode and slows down the metabolism. It holds onto every calorie to get what it needs. There is also a risk of deficiency symptoms, because with a reduced food and calorie intake, the body often does not get enough nutrients.
- Foods that stimulate metabolism
To help activate your metabolism try the following:
- Coffee and green tea: Work against fatigue and also against a sluggish metabolism. Drinking more water can also help.
- Herbs and spices: With spiciness you can heat up your metabolism. Herbs and spices not only add more flavour to your diet, but also many valuable plant substances that your metabolism needs.
- Citrus fruits: Bitter substances curb the appetite and activate your metabolism so a win-win for your diet.
- Factors which inhibit metabolism
Beware of foods with a lot of sugar or alcohol – because quickly available carbohydrates can put the metabolism on the wrong track. They cause blood sugar to skyrocket and disrupt fat metabolism. Instead of burning energy, the body then prefers to store excess calories as fat.
Strong fluctuations in blood sugar can also promote cravings and block fat burning. Instead, focus on a balanced diet with plenty of protein, healthy fats and fibre – this will keep your metabolism active and in top shape!
- Commit to the Almased plan
A well-functioning metabolism needs the right support – and that’s where the Almased 4-Phase Plan comes in! Through the ideal combination of high-quality protein, important micronutrients and a targeted reduction of sugar and empty carbohydrates, it gets the metabolism going and increases energy consumption.
In the first phase of the plan, the body is converted to fat burning through unique Almased shakes, while in the following phases, a long-term healthy diet is established step by step. This keeps the metabolism active, energy levels rise, and the dreaded yo-yo effect doesn’t stand a chance!
Almased® is available on Amazon, as well as Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy and green cross pharmacies across the UK. From £20.95.
By Kevin Greene, Medical Scientist, Nutritionist and Managing Director of Almased
