May 9, 2008 by Tom Parker
5 Food groups that can slow down your metabolism
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Tom Parker of the Free Fitness Tips blog.
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In my last Wellness Junction article I discussed four food groups that can help you boost your metabolic rate. Diet is a very important aspect of keeping your metabolism high and eating the right food is a big step in the right direction. However, you also have to make sure that you are avoiding foods which may hinder your success. In this article I will be discussing five food groups that can seriously slow down your metabolic rate.
1) SUGAR:- Eating too much sugar overloads your body and causes your blood sugar levels to rise rapidly. This in turn makes your body go into conservation mode meaning that you will store extra fat and burn less calories. To make sure this does not happen you need to reduce your intake of refined sugars as much as possible. That means cutting down on the candy, chocolate, cakes and cookies as much as possible. If you still want something sweet try eating some fruit. Unlike refined sugars, most fruits contain fructose which does not cause your blood sugar levels to rise.
2) WHITE BREAD:- White bread is made from wheat flour which then has the bran and germ removed. White bread is bleached to remove any yellow colour which destroys many of the vitamins contained in the wheat plus it is full of sugar. This means that it is very easily digested, has a low nutritional value and is low in dietary fiber. When processing white bread your body burns very few calories and it also causes your blood sugar levels to rise. I know you have probably heard it many times before but by substituting white bread for a wholemeal variety you can really boost your metabolic rate. Wholemeal bread is harder to digest (so burns more calories whilst being processed), has a greater nutritional value and most importantly does not cause your blood sugar levels to rise in an uncontrolled way.
3) FRIED FOODS:- Like white bread, fried foods are very low in nutritional value and easy to digest. They are also very high in calories and full of saturated fats. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature, generally come from an animal source, make your body produce more cholesterol and slow down your metabolic rate. You really need to avoid fried foods for the sake of both your metabolism and your health. Next time you are craving fried food such as a beef burger why not replace this with a slice of grilled, lean beef on brown bread? Not only will it be better for you but I think it tastes a lot nicer too.
4) PROCESSED FOODS:- Processed foods include ready meals, crisps and chocolate bars. They are very popular because they are quick and convenient but guess what? The vast majority are also lacking in nutritional value, contain dangerous trans fats and are high in chemical preservatives. Again this combination of factors in processed foods means that they reduce your metabolic rate. I know that it can be very tempting to opt for processed foods when you want something to eat after a long, hard day but your body will really thank you if you take the time to cook something healthier. If time really is an issue then why not try cooking in large batches and freezing the leftovers? This will mean that you will still have access to quick, convenient foods when you are in a rush BUT they will be healthy.
5) ALCOHOL:- Alcohol is full of sugar and calories which (as you probably know by now) restrict your metabolic rate. Alcohol is also known to have a dehydrating effect and as I discussed in my last article, if you are not fully hydrated your metabolism does not work as effectively. Moderate consumption of alcohol is not going to have a huge effect on your hydration levels but excessive consumption will. For most of us there are going to be times when we over indulge on alcohol so I am not going to advise you to give up alcoholic beverages. However, you should make an effort to reduce the amount you are drinking.
Diet is a double edged sword when it comes to metabolism – it can be both a help and a hindrance. However, if you follow my suggestions in this article and my previous article you should be well on your way to formulating a diet that keeps your metabolism high.
I hope you enjoyed this article. Do you know of any further foods which slow down your metabolism? If so please share.
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5 Food Groups that can slow down your Metabolism...@Wellness Junction | Boosting Metabolism says:
[...] Everyone. Just letting you know that my second guest blog post is now live at Wellness Junction (well actually it went live on 9th May but I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time to [...]
May 21, 2008 at 9:17 pm
PureAgeless says:
This is great news as I eat very little sugar, drink no alcohol, do not like white bread, am trying to fry less food and have cut down my processed food intake. This article gives me even more motivation to make my diet healthier.
May 26, 2008 at 8:19 am
Strong One says:
A lot of worthhwile information.
Thanks for the tips.
June 1, 2008 at 1:03 pm
lisa says:
i dont understand this because i eay alot of sugar and white bread but my metabolism is fast
August 12, 2008 at 7:09 pm
simbad says:
This is great as i’m actually trying to gain weight believe it or not. It’s actually really hard for me as i have a very high metabolism and no matter what or when i eat i just cannot gain weight.
I know people are gonna moan cos everyones trying to lose it and that i should thank myself lucky, but i just don’t have any control over my weight.
Never mind. life goes on.
August 14, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Cassandra says:
Well something is terribly wrong with me. I was a premie. I am 43 years of age, and have a body of a 12 year old girl flat chested and no fat in my body. I am 5′3 and 104 lbs. and I look anorexic. When I do take on extra calories and gain weight no sooner than I gain it I loose it. I don’t like looking like I’m a cancer patient. Hair is slow to grow and thinning. I am very bony with a frail body. I am ashamed at my figure, because I thought that by now my metabolism would have slowed down and I would be able to gain a a little weight. I am a size 00 in clothes. Please help.
September 9, 2008 at 1:44 am
Cassandra says:
Well something is terribly wrong with me. I was a premie. I am 43 years of age, and have a body of a 12 year old girl flat chested and no fat in my body. I am 5′3 and 104 lbs. and I look anorexic. When I do take on extra calories and gain weight no sooner than I gain it I loose it. I don’t like looking like I’m a cancer patient. Hair is slow to grow and thinning. I am very bony with a frail body. I am a size 00 in clothes. Please help.
September 9, 2008 at 1:46 am
Cassandra says:
I am in desperate need of assistance in gaining weight.
September 9, 2008 at 1:47 am
Hannah Stubbs says:
hey I think your website is great and it has taught me lots and I think it has taught everyone else who has been on it too. It told me that I shouldn’t eat to much sugar and that I should keep healthy and do lots of excersice I only eat 1 packet of crisps a day now thank you for teaching me lots.
Hannah Stubbs
September 23, 2008 at 1:55 pm
robin doyle says:
I do eat junk food but I don’t gain any weight.
November 8, 2008 at 11:53 pm
nazreen says:
some great info it has motivated me to eat more healthily thanks
November 15, 2008 at 12:41 am
Donna says:
I think we should avoid food containing high sugar and fat.
November 16, 2008 at 12:52 am
matthew broderick says:
so if i increase this food groups intake i will gain some weight faster?
February 12, 2009 at 7:51 pm
sam says:
hey ur article is great , iv been having trouble puttin on weight, been skinny for my whole life n finally wanna get sum fat on me. any tips for slowing down my metabolism.? ill try anything . cheers
April 1, 2009 at 5:03 am
How to Get Six Pack Fast says:
My friend on Facebook shared this link and I’m not dissapointed that I came here.
April 15, 2009 at 5:26 pm
dan says:
hi there im getting to the end of my teather here, i am trying to find ways to put on weight desperately now, im 29 6ft tall and only weigh 60 kgs can you help please, could really do with some advice
April 26, 2009 at 11:41 am
Mr Z. says:
I used to have a very fast metabolism and could eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted in high quantities and not gain weight.
That all changed in my late 20s to early 30s, as is the case for most people. That’s also around the same time that many people have other biochemical changes such as developing mental illness.
And of course, medications have severe side effects affecting metabolism, hormones, liver/spleen toxins, chemicals in fat, triglycerides, cholesterols, blood sugar, etc.
Some say that’s also around the time when environmental and dietary toxins have built up past a critical threshold. And of course, exercise routines, stress-levels, and behavioral/psychological patterns change a lot as people become of age and enter the workforce and/or start raising families.
We know that stress affects cortisol levels, for example, so even the psychological stuff matters. And people tend to do self-destructive things when they are stressed or depressed too.
So if you have a fast metabolism too, just be warned that it will probably change as you get older or if you continue your bad habits and/or poor diet. Either directly or indirectly it will come back to haunt you. Since you could prevent that, you might as well.
This is a really helpful article. Thanks
May 19, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Mr Z. says:
I forgot to add, people also say the colon and intestines start having accumulative physical and chemical problems as people age as well.
May 19, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Edwin says:
“Processed foods include ready meals, crisps and chocolate bars. They are very popular because they are quick and convenient but guess what? The vast majority are also lacking in nutritional value, contain dangerous trans fats and are high in chemical preservatives.” – Tom Parker
You are absolutely right. Nowadays, manufacturers do not put “trans fat” on their food labels anymore since it is becoming too unpopular among health-conscious consumers.
Instead, what you read in food labels are the words, “Hydrogenated oil” and “Partially Hydrogenated oil.”
But here’s the thing, they are just as dangerous to your health because they constitute a big percentage of the arterial plaque that gradually accumulate in your arteries.
Bottom line? Check food labels and avoid foods with hydrogenated oil and partially hydrogenated oil.
July 13, 2009 at 1:15 am
Linkoroo says:
Great article. I’m currently trying to lose a bit of weight and a lot of people do research for increasing your metabolism but not how to slow it down. If you know what slows it down, you need to avoid them which is as good as what can speed it up.
I’ll still drink beer though
I just need to slow it down a bit.
Thanks!
August 6, 2009 at 3:05 pm
j.neal says:
hello! maybe i misunderstood this article! i was assuming that this atricle wold give me advise to increase my metabolism as that i may put a some pounds for the new year! this was the only reason i read this article! thanks!
December 22, 2009 at 8:11 pm
j.neal says:
hello! maybe i misunderstood this article! i was assuming that this atricle would give me advise to increase my metabolism so that i may put a some pounds for the new year! this was the only reason i read this article! thanks!
December 22, 2009 at 8:12 pm