What you eat affects your metabolism. Metabolism is the process your body uses to break down food and nutrients for energy and to support different body functions. Whole foods and a balanced diet rich in proteins are the best sources for keeping the metabolic factory working effectively. However, there are few bad habits and foods you must avoid completely if you want to boost and maintain good metabolism.

Following are the factors:

Anxiety: Experts suspect a link between depression and metabolism. Depression has a direct impact on your appetite, food choice and activity level. When you are stressed, you tend to eat high-fat meals which slows down your metabolism.

No proper sleep: Not getting a sound sleep and going to bed and waking up at inconsistent times can badly affect your metabolism.

Lack of proteins in meals: If you do not include proteins in every sitting of consuming food, your metabolic rate will drastically fall. Aim for at least 20 grams of protein per meal. Having all your protein in a single sitting is not the solution. Make 20-25 per cent of every meal protein-rich along with eggs, seafood, meat, cheese, nuts and beans.

Lack of regular exercise: If one does not exercise regularly, the person will fail to build and preserve muscle mass and thus have a lower metabolism rate.

Eating fried potatoes: French fries and potato chips are bad for metabolism. However, boiled potatoes are very healthy to keep you full and boost your metabolism.

Sugary soda drinks: Consuming sugary soda drinks can negatively affect your metabolism and general health.

Refined flours: Refined flours and products made of flour such as white bread, white pizza base, burger buns etc. are extremely unhealthy. They pack added sugar and unhealthy ingredients that affect your metabolism adversely. Pastries, cakes and cookies are also packed with refined flour and other unhealthy ingredients. Sometimes they also contain trans-fat.

Candy bars: Candy bars consist of unhealthy ingredients like sugar, refined flour and added oils. They are high in calories and still not very filling. They impact your metabolism in a very bad way.

Processed fruit juices: These juices are highly processed and loaded with sugar and calories.

Ice creams: Most types of ice creams are loaded with sugar and calories. Consuming massive amounts in one sitting disturbs your metabolic rate drastically.

Having a slow metabolism is not good for the body. A person with a slow metabolism will burn fewer calories at rest or during activities and therefore he has to eat less to avoid becoming overweight. Thus the individual remains discontent and unhappy.

Metabolism is partly genetic and largely out of one’s control. Still, we can take few preventive measures to keep it going strong, healthy and balanced. Choose the right foods, a healthy lifestyle and avoid the wrong ones.