How can Chiropractic Boost Your Metabolism to Lose Weight?

Most people in Utah would give a lot to increase their metabolism. Having a high metabolic rate enables one to burn fat and lose weight fast with the least amount of exertion. Metabolism is the rate by which the body produces and consumes energy and calories to support life. There are several factors that affect the metabolism of a person, such as the amount of muscle tissue in one’s body, the frequency of the meals one consumes, genetics, the digestive system, stress levels, personal diet, and activity levels.

 

Metabolism slows down when there is a loss of muscle because of not enough physical activity, when there is the tendency of the body to cannibalize its own tissue because there is not enough food energy to sustain it, and as a result of the decrease of physical activity that comes naturally with old age.

It is obvious that metabolism decreases along with age, but it is possible to counter the effects. The amount of muscle a person has is a very strong determinant in the ability to burn calories and shed fat. So it goes without saying that physical activity is essential. This is where chiropractic adjustments can have the greatest effect.  Regular adjustments improve the mobility and function of the spine and other joints in the body which make it easier to exercise and remain active to build lean muscle tissue.

Another key is to match the amount of eating to the amount of activity one has.

·         Eat breakfast. Many people ignore the fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Metabolism can slow down considerably if breakfast is eaten during mid-morning or if one waits until the afternoon to eat.

·         Avoid processed sugar. Sugar enables the body to store fat. It is recommended that a person consume food that helps sustain an even level of blood sugar. Additionally, physical activity 2-3 times a week is important to stabilize blood sugar.

·         Increase water intake. Water flushes out toxins that are produced whenever the body burns fat. The majority of bodily functions involve water, and lack of water causes its systems to decrease in speed, this produces unneeded stress as a result.

·         Get regular chiropractic adjustments based on your chiropractor’s recommendation. Adjustments can help improve joint mobility, reduce pain, and increase the success and comfort of your body as your state of health increases.

·         Eat smaller meals. It is advisable to consume 4 to 6 small meals that are timed 2 to 3 hours apart, and include more energy foods in the diet, such as fruits and vegetables, beans and whole grains. Salt Lake City has many great food options, locally sourced farmer’s markets, and interesting restaurants to help you plan your meals accordingly.

·         Never skip meals. People tend to skip meals in order to lose weight, which is a big mistake since it slows down metabolism.

·         Ditch the stress! Stress, be it physical or emotional, triggers the release of a chemicals in the body that decrease metabolism. Also, most people tend to eat excessively when stressed.

So take advantage of regular chiropractic adjustments to assist you in being more physically active, watch your diet, get enough sleep and takes steps to reduce your stress and you will be able to burn more calories because your metabolism will be on fire!

Drink Your Way to Better Health!

Water is the substance of life. The majority of people in Utah are dehydrated, and they don't even realize it. In fact, up to 80% of the people in Utah may be dehydrated. Before you assume that you are not in that group, because you don't feel thirsty, realize that thirst really has nothing to do with dehydration. You may also believe that you get enough water because you drink beverages that have water as an ingredient, such as coffee, tea, and sodas. Even though these beverages are made with water, when they are ingested, they actually cause us to lose water! You don't need other beverages - what you need is water.

Two-thirds of our bodies consist of water. Approximately 83% of our blood is water, 75% of our muscles are water, 22% of our bones are water, and 74% of our brains are water. Our brains even float around in water! With these percentages, it should be obvious as to why we require water to live in a high-altitude desert environment like Salt Lake City. The water in our bodies is lost every minute of every day - through sweat, tears, breathing and urination - and simply through our pores. You are losing water right now, at this very moment, and it needs to be replaced.

Dehydration affects more than just people outdoors in the sun, but the heat and aridity of Utah summers makes it an even more ubiquitous and serious problem for Salt Lake City residents. Some signs of dehydration include headaches, muscle aches and cramps, fibromyalgia and joint pain.  As we perform chiropractic adjustments, we encourage you to increase your water intake so that the cells of the body are able to get the nutrients they need to heal properly.  This happens best when you are well hydrated.  Oftentimes chiropractic adjustments for neck and back pain leads to detoxification and a flush of toxins that build up in our systems and therefore it is important to be drinking enough water to help your body eliminate those toxins.

By increasing your water intake to eight glasses per day, in about a week's time, you may notice that you have more energy, your mind is clearer, your skin is healthier, and your food digests easier, and you may even find that you lose weight!  A good rule of thumb is to also drink one glass of water for every cup of coffee or tea you have, as well as for every soda.  If you are exercising in the Utah heat it is important to drink even more water.  You can do your part in helping your body heal by getting regular chiropractic adjustments and by drinking more water.

~ Dr. Hendricks