9 Symptoms That May Indicate Silent Signs Of A Slow Metabolism

There are certain conditions that affect your health without showing any obvious symptoms. A slow metabolism is one such instance.

Your metabolism is responsible for regulating functions such as body temperature, energy level and how easily we gain and lose weight. All which make a big difference in overall feelings of wellbeing. Slow metabolism symptoms tend to kick in as we age, but some lifestyle habits, and underlying medical conditions can also decrease metabolic rates.

So, here are a few silent signs which indicate that you have a slow metabolism.

1. Weight Gain

Metabolism is the process through which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. While your food intake and physical exercise are the biggest determiners of your weight, a slowed metabolism can contribute to weight gain as your body simply slows your calorie conversion, you burn less calories on the same amount of food in a day, and your body ends up storing more fat.

2. Chronic Fatigue

If you have been feeling unbearably tired these days, even though you haven’t been indulging in a lot of strenuous activities, it could mean that you could be suffering from chronic fatigue, caused by a slow metabolic rate. When the metabolic rate is slow, the body’s ability to break down food and turn it into energy reduces, making you feel fatigued.

3. Dry Skin

Dry skin can be a symptom of a number of conditions such as certain skin issues like psoriasis, dehydration, changing weather conditions, etc. However, if you feel you are noticing that your skin is becoming dry and cracked often, without any reason, then it could be a silent symptom of a slow metabolism, as the pH level of the skin is also affected with a slow metabolic rate.

4. Hair Loss

Along with your skin and nails, your hair is constantly regenerating requiring more and more nutrients for growth. If your slowed metabolism is affecting your body’s nutrient intake, your hair won’t have the supply it needs to stay strong, vibrant, and healthy. Hair loss or simply a change in texture to dry and dull hair can be a sign of a slowed metabolism.

5. Feeling Cold Often

It is normal for people to feel cold during the winters and if they are suffering from conditions like flu or other infections. However, if you notice that you feel cold all the time, without a particular read and your extremities are always cold, it could be a silent sign of a slow metabolism. Slow metabolism can lower your body’s temperature, giving rise to this symptom.

6. Sugar Craving

When your body’s blood sugar levels drop, you might find yourself craving sugar and calories to make up for it. In addition to regulating when stored fat is converted into energy, your adrenal glands keep your metabolism functioning properly. If your adrenal glands are ‘out of whack’ and you find yourself craving sugar to make up for a lack of energy, it may be an indicator that your metabolism is affected as well.

7.Difficulty Concentrating

Your brain survives off the nutrients your body is able to take in from the food you eat and beverages you drink. If a sluggish metabolism is causing this nutrient to energy conversion to impede your normal brain function, concentration and alertness will also lag behind. In addition, without your usual mental clarity, the judgement and decisions you make regarding healthy behaviors might be negatively affected as well.

8. Headache

Headache is one of the most common ailments that many people experience on a fairly regular basis. The causes for headaches are numerous, ranging from stress to brain cancer! A slow metabolism can also be a cause of headaches, as this condition causes the cortisol hormone levels in the body to increase, causing frequent headaches.

9. Constipation

Brain swelling and the accompanying tension headaches and migraines can be associated with an underactive thyroid which also slows your metabolism. In addition, an unhealthy fluctuation in the levels of the stress hormone cortisol causes a metabolic imbalance and has also been shown to trigger migraines.