9 Factors Affecting Your Metabolism

In spite of all the information and all the prescriptions offered by modern diets, American people just keep getting fatter. In my mind, this suggests that our knowledge about metabolism is missing something — perhaps some of the old wisdom that kept hundreds of generations of people slender and strong. Of course, having access to modern scientific knowledge is enormously helpful too. The key lies in integrating these two bodies of wisdom, and then applying them to get a better understanding of our entire physiological landscape.

Diet and Nutrition

Food supplies us with nutrients that are critical for healthy metabolism, and for health in general. Vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, essential fatty acids and probiotics are all essential nutrients, many of which cannot be produced by the body and must therefore be ingested from an outside source. Missing even one essential nutrient from your diet could have a devastating effect on your metabolism and overall health, so it’s important to understand how they work.

Minerals
Minerals (such as calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc) are critical for all tissue structures, including bones, skin and hair. They also play vital roles as electrolytes, which regulate the body’s electrical charge. That electrical charge is necessary for all cellular metabolic functions, but especially for the assimilation of nutrients and the elimination of toxins.

Proper mineral balance helps moderate our body’s sodium levels, preventing water-retention, inflammations and bloating. It also maintains our body’s proper acid/alkaline balance (overacidity leads to sluggish metabolism and makes the body more vulnerable to infection and disease). Minerals even help protect the body from radioactive toxins.

Because mineral deficiencies are related to serious metabolic problems (with symptoms such as indigestion, headaches, nervousness, depression, exhaustion and impotence), it is wise to eat plenty of mineral-rich foods, including fruits and vegetables grown in mineral-rich soil, as well as seafood and especially sea vegetables.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Emma S.

2:12PM PDT on Oct 26, 2011

Thanks for this. I've saved it for future reference.

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Eternal G.

5:55PM PDT on Jun 13, 2011

Noted, thanks!

Jewels S.

2:37AM PDT on Jun 3, 2011

Another tip I learned the hard way. I could not lose no matter how much I did right until I learned about sluggish lymph system prob. Lymph sys helps get rid of toxins. How to help lymph sys is to trampoline, jumping jacks and jumping rope, etc. As we get older it is harder for lymph fluids to circulate thru out the body. Jumping helps. Really figured it out after going dancing to 80's cover band tainted love and jumping up and down dancing! Great fun!

Annemarie W.

3:37PM PDT on May 20, 2011

helpful, thanks

Brigid C.

11:01AM PDT on May 19, 2011

this is a good article lots of helpful advice

Mark K.

7:11AM PDT on May 19, 2011

OK, that's great and I don't want to knock this huge and very informative article, but the one thing, or shall we say TWO things, that truly affect Metabolism (read: legally and healthily, so ignoring drugs) are

1.Exercise, and
2.Iodine. (Lugol's, check it out!)

Mark

Lika S.

2:29AM PDT on May 19, 2011

Thanks for the info. Very helpful.

Jon H.

6:19AM PDT on May 17, 2011

Wonderful information. Will forward to a friend.

DobieMax W.

6:06AM PDT on May 17, 2011

Noted

Barbara J.

4:52AM PDT on May 16, 2011

agree with the use of chocolate