Many people use the word “metabolism” without really knowing what it means. Your metabolism is the sum total of all the chemical reactions in your body. Every day your metabolic process is how your body creates new hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters, and other cellular chemicals to help your body perform its daily tasks. This process uses energy and rebuilds cells that have been destroyed or damaged by the wear and tear of daily living. When we have a slow metabolism, our bodies, in other words, are performing all these functions at a decreased pace, working less efficiently. This delay in removing toxins, rebuilding cells and body function can wreak havoc on our bodies and our spirits. Natural weight loss is best when it is the result of lifestyle changes, not unhealthy yo-yo dieting. Weight loss and healthy lifestyle changes actually go hand in hand. Once you embrace holistic health management, it will be much easier to shed the pounds without dieting at all! Most of us have extremely toxic lifestyles that are certainly not conducive to losing weight. By decreasing toxins in the body, we can optimize our metabolism. The first step to detoxification is drinking water. As soon as you wake up, you need to drink a glass of water. After not drinking anything while sleeping, your body needs to hydrate! We need to drink half of our body weight in fluid ounces over the course of the day. For example, if one weighs 150 lbs, he or she must drink 75 fluid ounces of water over the course of the day. This will not only detoxify your body, but speed up your metabolism to produce weight loss and natural healing. Drinking water is not the only way to speed up metabolism. Healthy eating habits are also a very important part of maintaining a toxin-free lifestyle. Studies have shown that thin, healthy people eat breakfast every morning. When you wake up in the morning, your body has fasted all night and needs to replenish. In addition, eating sugar-rich breakfast foods is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. For the best health and metabolism, a protein-rich breakfast with fresh fruits and vegetables is optimal. Moving forward in the day, lunch should be a strong meal as well, while dinner should be the smallest meal of the day. In the evening, your body does not need as much fuel. If you eat a huge meal for dinner, the food will sit in your stomach and be turned into fat while you sleep. One of the biggest mistakes we make is eating while stressed. This slows down metabolism and does not promote holistic natural health. When you eat under stress, you eat too fast, don’t chew enough, and don’t breathe while eating. All of these things actually decrease nutrient absorption in the body. So make sure you eat three meals a day and slow down while you’re eating! You will enjoy the food more and will absorb more nutrients. No diet works without exercise. The body needs to move in order for toxins to be eliminated, for the lymphatic system to get stimulated and for healthy muscles, tendons, bones and organs. We do not need intense gym workouts to be healthy. Walking daily can work every muscle in your body, provide cardio and toning as well as invigorate your metabolism.
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Dr. Kim has been the Medical Director of Kim Foot & Ankle Centers, Inc. since 1991. He enjoys all aspects of podiatry; however, he has come to "Super-Specialize" in ankle reconstructive surgeries. His specialization is based upon years of training, teaching, and a passion for helping his patients regain their ability to move through their lives pain free. For more information, visit www.kimfoot.com