How to slow down Metabolism

Gaining weight is as difficult as losing weight, and therefore maintaining a balance is essential. People who are underweight find it challenging to slow down their metabolism. In this article, Dr. Rajiva Gupta suggests ways how one can slow down metabolism in order to gain weight.

What is metabolism?

Metabolism allows the body to grow and function. In simple terms, metabolism means the conversion of food into energy. Metabolism is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. The three main purposes of metabolism are: (1) the conversion of the energy in food to energy available to run cellular processes; (2) the conversion of food to building blocks for proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and some carbohydrates, and (3) the elimination of metabolic wastes. 

Why do you need to slow down your metabolism?

People who are thin, slow metabolism will help them to gain weight naturally. In a world where everyone is trying to do things faster and faster. For example- people who wish to lose weight want to do that at speed, and people who wish to gain weight want to gain it very fast. But in the real world, this is not possible, or we can say not that easy. It takes time and patience to gain or lose weight. 

In the diet world, speed of metabolism is something commonly talked about. It is a known fact that a faster metabolism will surely lead to losing weight. It means the faster your body will digest food, the fewer calories intake your body will need to convert into energy. What we need to talk and understand about is how and what are the ways one can slow down metabolism.

Ways to slow down metabolism

It is beneficial for people who need to gain weight to actually be able to find ways to naturally slow down their metabolism. 

Food rich in calories

Taking calories is not enough but in fact, consuming the right amount of calories is what matters. Eat food rich in carbohydrates like parathas, a plate full of brown rice, whole milk, eggs, potatoes, full-fat curd, etc. These give your body the energy it needs to gain weight. Foods that are high in fat are difficult to digest and thus can slow down your metabolism, so consume food rich in carbohydrates only.

Calculate the calorie intake

Calculate or track the number of calories you eat during the day. There might be instances where you feel full but still do not consume enough calories needed to gain weight. Therefore, it is important to count the calories you consume.

Low-intensity exercises

Indulging in a low-intensity workout for a shorter duration ensures that your body does not become calorie deficient and also helps in slowing down the metabolism. Lower-intensity strength exercise will help you maintain a healthy metabolism while simultaneously increasing muscle mass, and on the other hand, performing weight resistance training or walking and high-intensity workouts can lessen your metabolic rate.

A considerate amount of sleep

Taking sufficient sleep, i.e. sleeping for long hours, is the easiest way to slow down the metabolic rate. It is because your body does not burn calories while your body remains steady for long hours. Therefore, if you improve your sleep cycle, you will automatically be able to slow down the metabolic rate, thereby helping you to increase weight. 

Boost your appetite

If your appetite is low, then the chances are high that the already existing food will break down faster in the body. Therefore, it is essential to boost the appetite. Eat food rich in nutrients, add more carbs to your meals, try tricking the brain with different size portions and avoid skipping breakfast. Other than these, the doctors might also recommend appetite stimulants which may help you to boost your hunger and, thereby, your appetite. In addition, it is okay to add extra cheat meals to your diet plan as they may help in adding calories to the diet.

Limit on the use of caffeine

Caffeine has been shown to boost metabolism, and therefore it is suggested that people who want to reduce their metabolism should avoid consuming caffeine in any form. Caffeine makes a person more hyper and super active. Sleep more to refrain yourself from consuming caffeine.

Foods to Gain Weight

Combo of fats and proteins

• Nuts
• Oily fish
• Peanut butter
• Eggs
• Cheese

Carbohydrates

• Granola
• Oats
• Rice 
• Potatoes
• Seeded bread
• Pasta

Fats

• Plant based spread
• Avocado
• Coconut oil
• Olive oil

To conclude

There might be some underlying health issues that may be stopping you from gaining weight. And to know what may be the reason behind no weight gain, seek a consultation with Dr ___________.