Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 27)

Equip your body to handle life's stressors and you'll reduce your adrenal gland's production of the hormone cortisol, which can mess with your metabolism. Get a massage, practice yoga or try deep breathing exercises to calm your mind and help your body cope with stress. 13 LOVE YOUR LIVER "Your liver is responsible for more than 600 metabolic functions," Pomroy says. Take good care of it by limiting the toxins it has to ﬁlter, including alcohol, drugs, pesticides and cigarette smoke. 14 KEEP COOL McDaniel says that exercising (or even just sitting) in the cold can raise your metabolic rate slightly since your body uses more energy to keep warm. 15 CHECK YOUR MEDS Certain prescription medications for depression can lower your metabolism, Matthews cautions. And if you're struggling with weight gain, ask your physician to check your thyroid. If it's not producing the right levels of hormones, a prescription medication could help regulate your metabolism. call 12 PREP FOR STRESS Get Started with an Exercise Program Are you ready to kick-start your metabolism? Try Gwinnett SportsRehab's open gym. Call 678-312-2810 to learn more. 16 LOWER YOUR LEVELS Conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure can throw your hormones out of balance and tax the organs that help manage metabolism. Work with your doctor to get chronic conditions under control. 17 GET SERIOUS ABOUT SLEEP Sleep deprivation can lead to a jump in cortisol production, plus increased ghrelin and lowered leptin- hello, munchies! McDaniel recommends a snoozing sweet spot of six and a half to eight hours a night to keep your metabolism from getting sluggish. A SureFire Way to Slow Your Metabolism When you're trying to lose weight, you know you need to cut back on your calorie intake. But cutting back too much can affect your metabolism. Extreme calorie restric tion can make you gain weight because it can sup press your metabolism up to 20 percent. So, if you're thinking that forgoing lunch would be a good strategy, think again. "Skipping meals is one of the worst things you can do because our bodies adapt to the environment we put them in," says amy Tella, a nutritionist with Gwinnett Medical center. When you train your body to survive on less than 1,000 calories a day, it goes into panic mode and starts storing fat. Instead of starving your self, make smart, healthy food choices. Because pro tein helps build muscle mass and has the biggest thermo genic effect-meaning it takes the most energy to digest-include lean protein sources such as buffalo, chicken, tofu and legumes. Then reach for natural, highfiber carbs like quinoa, sweet potatoes and berries to provide energy and help stabilize your blood sugar. SPRI NG 2014 27

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Staying Ahead of Concussions
The Recovery Zone
Occupational Hazards
The New Rules of Play
Shopping for Two
Back to Basics
Burn, Baby, Burn
Angelina Jolie
Rock Your Health
Breaking Up with Salt
Disgusting! (or Not?)
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Ready, Set, Run!
You Can Change the World
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center