Metabolism 101
So What Exactly Is The Metabolism?
Metabolism is so much more than just how fast or slow your’s is, although this is a maker of health, our priority should be striving for a stable and healthy metabolism.
Metabolism is the summation of every physical and chemical process that occurs within oneself that are necessary for the maintenance of life. → Maintenance of life, sounds a lot more intricate than just how quickly you process your food and feel hungry again.
A healthy metabolism does govern how well your body is able to convert its fuel source (food) into usable sustainable energy (ATP) that in turn energizes all cellular functions. When I say all I mean all.
- Hormones
- Neurotransmitter function
- Wound healing time
- Your ability to process information and store it in your brain
- Your reaction time
- Your physical level of energy
- Your digestion
- Thyroid health
- Your body temperature
- Your nervous system, how you respond and deal with stress
- Your menstrual cycle & fertility
- So much more
Establishing healthy metabolic function is targeting your health at the cellular level. This is the basis of all health or dis-ease.
Metabolic health should be bio-dynamic, meaning it will fluctuate due to circumstance but should always adjust itself without great effect and remain in an optimal range of health
If you are not nourishing yourself enough then your metabolic health is sure to suffer in more ways than one. I am currently climbing out of years of metabolic dysfunction, I didn’t realize by me eating so little calories to maintain a certain weight that I was damaging nearly every system in my body, so when stressful situations came my way or an overload of environmental toxins (because I was unaware at the time) my body began cracking and breaking down in several ways.
Begin to restore your metabolism by eating enough nutrient dense Whole Foods. If you haven’t seen my other post “Are you eating enough?” Refer to that for a reference guide of fuel (caloric) intake. That guide is not meant to get you fixated on counting calories, its intent is a beginning guideline, eventually this will lead you to intuitive eating.
Here Are Some Signs of Optimal Metabolic Health,
Strong hair and nails
Body temp is 97.8 and rises over the course of the day
Resting heart rate above 70bpm
1 - 3 bowel movements a day
Even sustainable energy flow throughout the day
Warm hands, feet and nose
Able to sleep 7 - 9 hours a night without self interruption
Strong libido
Hormones are balanced, *for women, no PMS issues, pain free and regular cycles etc.
How Do I Improve My Metabolic Markers?
Here are some specific things you can concentrate on to improve your metabolic markers:
- Eat Enough *Reference my “Are you Eating Enough” post
- Balance your blood sugar levels
- Reduce environmental toxins
- Reduce external stress
- Work through stored Trauma
- Hydrate well & incorporate electrolytes and other minerals *See my Hydration Post
- Spend more time outside in the sun
- Placing your barefeet on the ground, daily
- Work on restoring your Circadian Rhythm
