Do you always feel tired and sluggish? You might be surprised to know that your metabolism could be to blame. Your metabolism is responsible for converting the food you eat into energy, and a slow metabolism can leave you feeling exhausted all the time. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do to speed up your metabolism and get your energy levels back up again. However, many people believe popular opinions about their metabolism that can be counterproductive. For instance, many think only taking the best fat burners without exercising can boost their metabolism. It’s certainly not. Aside from that, here are the top four metabolism myths you need to know to get your energy back and stay healthy.

Having More Muscle Means Higher Metabolism

Many people believe that having more muscle means you have a higher metabolism, but this isn’t necessarily true. While having more muscle can give your body an edge in burning calories and fat, it isn’t the only factor at play. Your overall weight, age, genetics, and lifestyle all contribute to your metabolic rate too. On top of that, the type of exercise you do can also have an effect on your metabolism.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that doing aerobic exercise can help you burn more calories than weightlifting, even if you’re lifting heavier weights.

Eating Late at Night Slows Down Your Metabolism

Another popular myth is that eating late at night will slow down your metabolism and make it harder to lose weight. This isn’t necessarily true, either. The timing of your meals has a very small effect on your metabolism, and it’s more likely that late-night snacking leads to weight gain because you’re consuming extra calories. That being said, if you choose to eat late at night, stick with healthy options low in calories and sugar.

Eating Spicy Foods Boosts Metabolism

You may have heard that eating spicy foods can help boost your metabolism, but this isn’t necessarily true either. While it is true that capsaicin, the active ingredient in chili peppers, can increase the metabolism slightly, the effect is very small. Eating spicy foods can also lead to dehydration, which can slow down your metabolism even further. In a research published in the International Journal of Obesity, volunteers who ate a low-calorie diet but added chili to their meals ended up burning an extra 50 calories per day.

Starving Yourself Will Speed up Your Metabolism

Often people think that if they starve themselves, their metabolism will speed up and help them lose weight quickly. This couldn’t be further from the truth. When you don’t eat enough food, your body goes into a “starvation mode,” where it begins to conserve energy instead of burning it. In a study published in the journal Obesity, researchers found that when people cut their calorie intake too much, they ended up losing muscle mass instead of fat. This can make it harder to lose weight in the long run because your body isn’t able to burn calories as efficiently.

So what’s the bottom line? Aside from exercising regularly and eating healthy, there are no quick fixes when boosting your metabolism. It’s more than important to be aware of the common myths surrounding metabolism to ensure you’re taking the right steps to keep your energy levels up. By understanding these four myths, you’ll be better equipped to make smart decisions that will help you stay healthy and energized.…