All the dieting and exercise in the world won’t help very much if your metabolism is sluggish! Avoid foods that slow down the metabolism is just as important for long-term fitness as eating foods that help you burn the calories you need to. The foods below are some of the worst culprits when it comes to slowing down the metabolism.
Doughnuts
There are a number of reasons why doughnuts should be avoided by anyone who is wanted to keep their metabolism is good shape: not only are they based on enriched flour and loaded with sugar, they are then deep-fried so are also high in saturated fat or trans fat, which is even worse. A better alternative is to make baked doughnuts yourself at home and use healthy flours like whole wheat or almond flour and sweeteners like honey or maple syrup instead of sugar.
Pasta
There is a reason why you feel so tired after you walk out of an Italian restaurant after a pasta feast: it is because your metabolism has taken a real hit. Most pasta is, like doughnuts, made from highly processed white flour which spikes up your blood sugar and leaves you feeling lethargic after eating it. Whole wheat pastas or even vegetable-based alternatives like spaghetti squash are healthier choices.
Colas
Colas may give you a temporary burst of energy due to the fact that they are loaded with caffeine, but the high fructose corn syrup that many of them contain is not only addictive, it makes it easy to gain weight and very hard to lose it. The best choice for a beverage remains water, and if it that seems boring, you can always dress it up with things like lemon wedges which add to the health benefits.
Whole Milk
While you think you may be doing yourself a favor by drinking whole milk, remember that the pasteurization process kills off much of its natural nutrients, so that synthetic vitamins and minerals have to be added to give it any kind of nutritional value. A better choice is to drink organic milk, which at least avoids the hormones and antibiotics which can show up in conventionally raised milk or give it up altogether and try a substitute like almond milk instead.
Fast Food
Fast foods are largely based on simple carbohydrates like white flour or high fructose corn syrup, saturated or trans fats and additives like dyes, artificial flavors and MSG, all of which can negatively impact your metabolism and overall health. Try “slow” foods for an alternative – ones that are made at home and used whole foods ingredients like fresh fruits, vegetables, dry beans, lean meat. It not only tastes better, it is much better for you!
The foods listed above will definitely have a retarding effect on your metabolism and make it harder to either lose weight or to maintain a healthy weight if you have one already. Fortunately, there are healthier options which can do just the opposite and speed your metabolism up so you can achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
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