![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/cdn.unicity.com\/media\/ufg\/blog\/2023\/05\/03124846\/big-9-tips.png\")
<\/p>\n
Our society would benefit from a public health intervention, but we don\u2019t have to rely on large-scale policy changes. Because real change starts with the individual. Prioritizing metabolic health is something we can all do to help us take back our health and live better lives.<\/p>\n
What is metabolic health?<\/h2>\n
Metabolic health<\/a> is a simple way to see where your overall health stands. It is determined by these factors:<\/p>\n The goal is to have normal levels in all five areas (without medication), something that is becoming increasingly rare in our society.<\/p>\n There is hope for us, however. Improving our metabolic health measurements can go a long way in helping us live better, healthier lives\u2014and it\u2019s never too late to get started.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start by establishing a baseline. Good metabolic health is usually linked to the following factors:<\/p>\n Most of us already know what we need to do here.<\/p>\n A healthy diet consists of a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The more plant-based foods you eat, the better.<\/p>\n The standard recommendation for exercise is 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, or 30 minutes per day. And that\u2019s just the workouts\u2014it\u2019s also important to make sure you move throughout the day. Because sadly, no matter how awesome your workouts are, you\u2019ll cancel out a lot of your hard work if you spend the rest of your day sitting in front of a screen.<\/p>\n As for healthy weight management, it\u2019s not the number on the scale that matters. A healthy body looks different for everyone. In most cases, as long as you\u2019re focusing on eating the right foods and staying physically active, a healthy weight will follow.<\/p>\n Say you\u2019ve already got the basics down (cheers to you!) or you want to focus on one simple thing to get you started (also cheers to you!). Here are some less well-known tips for metabolic health that can help you get your health on track.<\/p>\n 1. Study the nutrition labels<\/strong><\/p>\n Prepackaged food is part of life for all of us, even if you\u2019re lucky enough to get most of your food straight from a local farm or garden. So make sure you\u2019re paying attention to those nutrition labels, because they can tell you a lot\u2014and help you make better food choices.<\/p>\n First off, ignore any claims made on the front of the package (low fat, real fruit, gluten free, etc.). The useful info is all on the back.<\/p>\n A few ingredients you\u2019ll want to avoid, especially if they\u2019re listed as one of the first three ingredients:<\/p>\n Also, if the ingredient list is extra long (2\u20133 lines), this is a good indicator that it\u2019s a highly processed food and is best left on the shelf.<\/p>\n 2. Move after meals<\/strong><\/p>\n After a large meal, few things sound better than settling into your favorite chair and watching some comfort TV or taking a much-deserved nap.<\/p>\n But you\u2019ll be much better off if you move around for a bit first. Movement gets the blood flowing and helps the body digest food more efficiently, and also helps mediate glucose and insulin levels.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need to run a 5K the second you clear your plate to get the metabolic health benefits. A five-minute walk, clearing the table and cleaning the kitchen, wrestling with the kids on the floor for a few minutes\u2014any of these activities help your body out when it needs the extra movement most.<\/p>\n 3. Get better sleep<\/strong><\/p>\n If all these other suggestions feel like too much work, you have our permission to start with going to bed a little earlier each night. About 1 in 3 adults are consistently sleep deprived, and it\u2019s wrecking our health more than most people realize.<\/p>\n Sleep plays a crucial role in regulating hormones that control hunger and metabolism. Not getting enough can disrupt that delicate balance, and it can also lead to decreased insulin sensitivity.<\/p>\n It can be hard to prioritize sleep in a society that loves productivity, so remember this: being well-rested doesn\u2019t make you lazy. It makes you a healthier human being who has greater potential for a full, balanced, and, yes, productive life.<\/p>\n 4. Eat more protein and fiber<\/strong><\/p>\n Both fiber and protein have a low glycemic index, meaning they do not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. They tend to be more filling too, so you\u2019ll be less tempted to overeat. And finally, they take longer to digest, which requires more energy, leading to an increase in metabolism.<\/p>\n Many fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber<\/a>. Animal products like eggs, meat, and dairy are the most common sources of protein, but there are plenty of protein options if you\u2019re on a vegetarian diet<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n 5. Drink fewer sugary drinks<\/strong><\/p>\n Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your favorite drinks\u2014even if they aren\u2019t alcoholic\u2014will catch up to you some day, and not in a good way. Sugary drinks are a surefire way to cause your blood sugar levels to spike, something we want to avoid for the sake of our metabolic health.<\/p>\n So switch out some of those drinks with water. The more, the better. Water helps with digestion, supports metabolism, helps regulate body temperature, and helps with blood circulation\u2014all things that support metabolic health.<\/p>\n Unimate<\/a> is a good no-sugar alternative for the days you need an extra boost to keep you going. You can also try something like Super Green +<\/a>, a drink powder that\u2019s big on nutrients and light on flavor to help keep you hydrated.<\/p>\n 6. Give your body regular breaks from food<\/strong><\/p>\n Food is the fuel that keeps us going, but our bodies need regular breaks from all the work required to turn that food into fuel. Intermittent fasting (fasting for at least 12 hours each day) is an excellent way to give our bodies that well-deserved break.<\/p>\n When we\u2019re fasting, the body enters a state known as autophagy, where it recycles damaged cells and produces new ones. Fasting improves insulin sensitivity and allows the body to tap into fat for energy, rather than constantly relying on carbohydrates for energy.<\/p>\n One of the reasons sleep is so important is that it allows our bodies to recover from the toils of daily living. Fasting has similar benefits. You\u2019ll likely see the most benefits from fasting 16 hours a day, but anywhere from 12 to 16 hours has been shown to positively impact metabolic health.<\/p>\n As you can see, there are many ways to improve metabolic health, and all of them are worth the effort. In addition to reducing your risk for chronic health problems, maintaining good metabolic health can also improve energy levels, physical and mental well-being, and quality of life.<\/p>\n It\u2019s never too late to get started, so start trying out some of these tips today.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The fact that most people aren\u2019t as healthy as they could be isn\u2019t exactly a secret. Lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and sleep all affect our overall health, and with 93% of American adults not meeting the threshold to be considered metabolically healthy, it\u2019s harder than ever to ignore the trends. Our society would benefit […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":1124,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"How To Improve Metabolic Health | The Feel Great Blog","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn how to improve metabolic health with these 9 easy-to-follow tips. Visit The Feel Great Blog for everything to do with Unicity's Feel Great system. ","_seopress_robots_index":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n The fact that most people aren\u2019t as healthy as they could be isn\u2019t exactly a secret. Lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and sleep all affect our overall health, and with 93% of American adults not meeting the threshold to be considered metabolically healthy, it\u2019s harder than ever to ignore the trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our society would benefit from a public health intervention, but we don\u2019t have to rely on large-scale policy changes. Because real change starts with the individual. Prioritizing metabolic health is something we can all do to help us take back our health and live better lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Metabolic health is a simple way to see where your overall health stands. It is determined by these factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal is to have normal levels in all five areas (without medication), something that is becoming increasingly rare in our society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is hope for us, however. Improving our metabolic health measurements can go a long way in helping us live better, healthier lives\u2014and it\u2019s never too late to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s start by establishing a baseline. Good metabolic health is usually linked to the following factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A healthy diet consists of a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The more plant-based foods you eat, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The standard recommendation for exercise is 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, or 30 minutes per day. And that\u2019s just the workouts\u2014it\u2019s also important to make sure you move throughout the day. Because sadly, no matter how awesome your workouts are, you\u2019ll cancel out a lot of your hard work if you spend the rest of your day sitting in front of a screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for healthy weight management, it\u2019s not the number on the scale that matters. A healthy body looks different for everyone. In most cases, as long as you\u2019re focusing on eating the right foods and staying physically active, a healthy weight will follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Say you\u2019ve already got the basics down (cheers to you!) or you want to focus on one simple thing to get you started (also cheers to you!). Here are some less well-known tips for metabolic health that can help you get your health on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prepackaged food is part of life for all of us, even if you\u2019re lucky enough to get most of your food straight from a local farm or garden. So make sure you\u2019re paying attention to those nutrition labels, because they can tell you a lot\u2014and help you make better food choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First off, ignore any claims made on the front of the package (low fat, real fruit, gluten free, etc.). The useful info is all on the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few ingredients you\u2019ll want to avoid, especially if they\u2019re listed as one of the first three ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anything with the word \u201cenriched\u201d or \u201crefined\u201d in front of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sugar and its many alternative names (e.g., any kind of syrup, honey, caramel, molasses, sucrose, maltose, maltodextrin, dextrin, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oil, especially vegetable, palm, sunflower, soybean, and canola oils. (Avocado and extra-virgin olive oils are okay.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, if the ingredient list is extra long (2\u20133 lines), this is a good indicator that it\u2019s a highly processed food and is best left on the shelf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a large meal, few things sound better than settling into your favorite chair and watching some comfort TV or taking a much-deserved nap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But you\u2019ll be much better off if you move around for a bit first. Movement gets the blood flowing and helps the body digest food more efficiently, and also helps mediate glucose and insulin levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t need to run a 5K the second you clear your plate to get the metabolic health benefits. A five-minute walk, clearing the table and cleaning the kitchen, wrestling with the kids on the floor for a few minutes\u2014any of these activities help your body out when it needs the extra movement most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all these other suggestions feel like too much work, you have our permission to start with going to bed a little earlier each night. About 1 in 3 adults are consistently sleep deprived, and it\u2019s wrecking our health more than most people realize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleep plays a crucial role in regulating hormones that control hunger and metabolism. Not getting enough can disrupt that delicate balance, and it can also lead to decreased insulin sensitivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It can be hard to prioritize sleep in a society that loves productivity, so remember this: being well-rested doesn\u2019t make you lazy. It makes you a healthier human being who has greater potential for a full, balanced, and, yes, productive life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both fiber and protein have a low glycemic index, meaning they do not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. They tend to be more filling too, so you\u2019ll be less tempted to overeat. And finally, they take longer to digest, which requires more energy, leading to an increase in metabolism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber. Animal products like eggs, meat, and dairy are the most common sources of protein, but there are plenty of protein options if you\u2019re on a vegetarian diet, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but your favorite drinks\u2014even if they aren\u2019t alcoholic\u2014will catch up to you some day, and not in a good way. Sugary drinks are a surefire way to cause your blood sugar levels to spike, something we want to avoid for the sake of our metabolic health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So switch out some of those drinks with water. The more, the better. Water helps with digestion, supports metabolism, helps regulate body temperature, and helps with blood circulation\u2014all things that support metabolic health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unimate is a good no-sugar alternative for the days you need an extra boost to keep you going. You can also try something like Super Green +, a drink powder that\u2019s big on nutrients and light on flavor to help keep you hydrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Food is the fuel that keeps us going, but our bodies need regular breaks from all the work required to turn that food into fuel. Intermittent fasting (fasting for at least 12 hours each day) is an excellent way to give our bodies that well-deserved break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we\u2019re fasting, the body enters a state known as autophagy, where it recycles damaged cells and produces new ones. Fasting improves insulin sensitivity and allows the body to tap into fat for energy, rather than constantly relying on carbohydrates for energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the reasons sleep is so important is that it allows our bodies to recover from the toils of daily living. Fasting has similar benefits. You\u2019ll likely see the most benefits from fasting 16 hours a day, but anywhere from 12 to 16 hours has been shown to positively impact metabolic health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, there are many ways to improve metabolic health, and all of them are worth the effort. In addition to reducing your risk for chronic health problems, maintaining good metabolic health can also improve energy levels, physical and mental well-being, and quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s never too late to get started, so start trying out some of these tips today<\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-product-knowledge"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ufeelgreat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1123"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ufeelgreat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ufeelgreat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ufeelgreat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ufeelgreat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1123"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/ufeelgreat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1123\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3235,"href":"https:\/\/ufeelgreat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1123\/revisions\/3235"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ufeelgreat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ufeelgreat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ufeelgreat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ufeelgreat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
The big 3 for metabolic health<\/h2>\n
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6 other tips to improve metabolic health<\/h2>\n
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Onward to a healthier future<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ufeelgreat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/big-9-tips-1024x683.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat is metabolic health?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
The big 3 for metabolic health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Most of us already know what we need to do here.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6 other tips to improve metabolic health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Onward to a healthier future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n