What if I Have a Slow Metabolic Rate?
Much emphasis is placed today on the importance of genetics and their effect on weight and obesity. However,the evidence to support the idea that our genes and the speed of our metabolism play a major role in determining our size and weight is not strong. In fact there is definite, well documented factual evidence that shows a slow metabolism carries with it many benefits. The primary one is the fact that a slower metabolism is associated with a longer life.
Cynic’s may argue that a slow metabolic rate is bad … and it is bad when you allow yourself to eat relentlessly and insist on consuming a high calorie, low nutrient diet. It will definitely increase your chances of developing diabetes, heart disease and cancer if you surrender to today’s woeful food consumption patterns. However if you fight these, and diligently stick to a disciplined, nutrient rich diet … making correct food choices that will lead to a “normal weight” situation, your health will improve and hopefully you will live much longer.
Our body is like a precision engineered machine … run it at full speed all the time and it will wear out. If we over eat and take into our bodies more calories than we need, this will cause us to drive up our metabolic rate, with the result that we will gain weight and age faster. Our goal should be the opposite – to eat less, (only enough to maintain a slim and muscular weight and no more) and keep our metabolic rate relatively slow.
So we must not worry about out metabolic rate … remember that a slower metabolic rate is NOT the primary cause of your weight problems. But here are three important points that you should keep in mind:
1) During periods of lower caloric intake, metabolic rates do decline slightly. Unfortunately, these have only a marginal effect on weight loss.
2) Once we go back to eating normally, our metabolic rate goes back to its previous level.Trying to lose weight by simply managing our metabolic rate is a futile exercise. Our metabolic rate does not stay low permanently and we may make future dieting more difficult … as our body knows what we are trying to do!
3) Many overweight people experience “weight gain/loss cycles” which cannot be explained simply in terms of metabolic fluctuations.A much better explanation is that these fluctuations are a direct result of continually coming on and getting off diets! When our diet never truly satisfies an individual’s biochemical need for nutrients, fibre and phytochemicals, hunger will prevail and the temptation to “cheat” will be that much more greater.
Even if it is conceded that those with a slower metabolism have a greater propensity to gain weight although as already mentioned there is very little scientific evidence to prove this, such people still have a great advantage … they tend to live longer! The key is … having the best of both worlds. This can be achieved by managing our weight by using the principals of a nutrient-rich, fibre-rich, lower- calorie diet, as well as engaging in as much physical activity as you are able. When you have achieved and are able to maintain a normal weight (in spite of a slow metabolism), you will hopefully be able to achieve significant longevity.
It has never been easier to enjoy a healthy, nutrient rich diet … with the many benefits this brings. Modern refrigeration, good transportation systems,scientific and technological improvements have all created a high opportunity environment for those who want to “live healthy” and optimise their chances of a disease free life. By wisely using the huge array of fresh and high quality foods available to us today, we can formulate delicious but low calorie recipe plans and menus with better nutrient density and nutrient diversity than ever before. Why would we not want to make the right choice and live longer and healthier? Rise above the herd … the vast majority of modern populations who have opted to eat to create disease and a premature death . Since you have subscribed to this site, you have clearly opted to live longer and healthier. WELL DONE!
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