If you’re over 40, you may have noticed it becoming increasingly difficult to keep your metabolism running as fast as it did when you were 20 or 30. There are three major reasons why our metabolisms slow down with age, according to Healthline: we tend to be less active with age, we lose muscle with age, and the number of calories we burn at rest slows down with age.
How fast your metabolism works is the product of four factors: your resting metabolic rate, or how many calories you burn when you’re resting, the thermic effect of food (how many calories you burn when digesting), the amount of exercise you do, and how many calories you burn just standing still.
Adding to this, everything from your hormones and height to your muscle mass and age plays a role in your metabolism.
One way you can help give your metabolism the bit of a kick it needs is by incorporating metabolism-boosting foods into your diet. These foods tend to be high in protein, low in starch, and will spur your body to burn more calories even after you eat.
"Because protein is more difficult for the body to break down and digest than other nutrients, it can increase postmeal calorie burn by as much as 35%," Los Angeles–based dietitian Patricia Bannan, author of Eat Right When Time Is Tight, told Prevention.
Start the day by adding this one amazing metabolism-boosting ingredient to your breakfast and it will help you lose more weight.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is a superfood that comes from the flax plant. There are a few reasons why flaxseed is amazing at helping you lose weight — the first being that it is high in fiber and will keep your digestive system running smoothly. Flax is also rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
“The essential fatty acids help reduce inflammation. Flaxseeds is also a good source of thermogenic, which is the fat burning compound,” nutritionist Janvi Chitalia told Hindustan Times.
In addition to containing 1.9 grams of protein per tablespoon, flax has polyphenols called lignans, which have anti-cancer properties and can help you manage your weight and prevent diseases like heart conditions, Roshan Kore, senior dietician at Narayana Health - SRCC Children’s Hospital told Hindustan Times.
“Flaxseeds contain 8 times more lignans than sesame seeds. Lignans also lower glucose levels which contribute towards weight loss,” adds Kore.
Sneaking a bit of flax into your breakfast routine is easier than you might think. This slightly nutty tasting ingredient can be added to oatmeal, smoothies, and waffle and pancake recipes. You can even make your own flaxseed milk and pour it over cereal and into coffee.
However you choose to incorporate flax, it will provide the same outcome: a wealth of protein, fiber, and plant-based nutrition that has numerous health benefits, including weight loss.