7 Unseen Methods That Potentially Damage Your Metabolic Rate

7 Unseen Methods That Potentially Damage Your Metabolic Rate

Daily Habits that Sabotage Your Metabolism, According to Biohacking Expert Dave Asprey

According to Dave Asprey, a renowned health science and biotech entrepreneur best known as "The Father of Biohacking," several common habits may be undermining your metabolism without you even realizing it. Here are the daily habits that the four-time New York Times bestselling author of "Heavily Meditated" has highlighted as being detrimental to one's metabolic health.

1. Screen Time Late at Night

Artificial light from devices like phones and computers, particularly blue light, can disrupt your circadian rhythm, notes Asprey. Studies have shown that exposure to artificial blue light at night may contribute to insulin resistance, imperiling your metabolism in the long run. To protect your sleep and metabolic health, Asprey suggests avoiding screens after sunset or investing in blue light-filtering glasses.

1. Poor Sleep Quality

Quality sleep is paramount for maintaining a healthy metabolism. Asprey emphasizes that even one night of poor sleep can negatively affect hunger hormones and insulin sensitivity. To improve sleep quality, he advises avoiding artificial light before bed, keeping your room cool during sleep (around 68 degrees Fahrenheit), eating your last meal a few hours before bedtime, and avoiding exercise or anything stimulating in the evening. His company, UpgradedForms, offers a 14-day sleep challenge to help you fine-tune your sleep habits.

1. Insufficient Protein Consumption

Protein plays an essential role in rebuilding tissues, recovering from exercise, and keeping you feeling full. Asprey recommends aiming for at least one gram of high-quality animal protein per pound of ideal body weight daily. By incorporating enough protein into your diet, you can enjoy its benefits without resorting to medications like Ozempic, which come with unwanted side effects.

1. Overly Stringent Ketogenic Diets

While keto diets can be effective, adhering to them too rigidly for extended periods can lead to lowered thyroid hormones, affecting your metabolic rate. Instead of cutting carbs consistently, Asprey suggests experimenting with a cyclical ketogenic diet, using low-toxin carbs like white rice, lower-fructose fruits, and raw honey on occasion.

1. Alcohol Consumption

Even in small amounts, alcohol is detrimental to your metabolic health. Asprey warns that alcohol is toxic to the liver and the brain, as it prevents proper metabolism of fats and sugars, resulting in weight gain and other health issues like fatty liver disease.

1. Consuming Moldy Coffee

Most coffee is contaminated with mold toxins, commonly known as mycotoxins, says Asprey. The presence of mycotoxins can slow your metabolism and negatively impact your liver and kidneys. When choosing coffee brands, it's essential to select ones that test for mycotoxins. Asprey only consumes his company's coffee, Danger Coffee, as it is thoroughly tested for toxins.

1. Engaging in the Wrong Type of Exercise

Not all exercise routines are created equal. Asprey cautions that spending long hours on a treadmill could do more harm than good, as it burns up muscle tissue and increases cortisol levels. A better approach is to pursue high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and resistance training a few times week, which helps preserve muscle and boost your metabolic rate.

In addition to the factors mentioned above, it's worth noting that other health experts mention the significance of factors like diet and proper supplementation in supporting metabolic health, while recovery practices like cold plunges and infrared saunas also play a role in maintaining a healthy metabolism.

1. According to Dave Asprey, excessive screen time late at night, particularly exposure to blue light, can disrupt the circadian rhythm and potentially lead to long-term metabolic problems.
2. Poor sleep quality can negatively affect hunger hormones and insulin sensitivity, as stated by Asprey, causing issues for one's metabolic health.
3. Adequate protein intake is crucial for maintaining a healthy metabolism, with Asprey recommending at least one gram of high-quality animal protein per pound of ideal body weight daily.
4. Overly stringent ketogenic diets, as pointed out by Asprey, can lower thyroid hormones and negatively impact a person's metabolic rate.
5. Alcohol consumption, even in small amounts, is detrimental to one's metabolic health, as Asprey warned of its toxic effects on the liver and the brain.
6. Consuming moldy coffee can slow the metabolism and harm the liver and kidneys, according to Asprey.
7. Engaging in the wrong type of exercise, such as prolonged treadmill usage, can burn up muscle tissue and increase cortisol levels, advocates Asprey, who suggests high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and resistance training instead.

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