Two Best Supplements for Your Metabolic Health
It’s often heard that we need to take supplements to support our heart, liver, and immune system. As long as we are taking care of our organs, then we are taking care of our bodies. However, what people aren’t talking about is our metabolism. Our metabolic health plays a role in whole body health. That means when our metabolic health starts to decline, unfortunately, our bodies do too. With that being said, it’s crucial we take care of our metabolic health so we can take care of our whole bodies, even as they age. Before diving into the best supplements, let’s talk about why a healthy metabolism is ideal.
Why metabolic health Matters
When people think of metabolism, they often think about burning calories or lack thereof. But your metabolic help is correlated to much more than weight gain. Your metabolism is made up of a series of chemical reactions throughout your entire body. It’s constantly running in order to keep our bodies constantly running. It helps break down nutrients so our cells can get their food for things like energy and communication. Your metabolism also helps build larger molecules to form body tissue and take place in complex body functions that yield healthier bodies. Without your metabolism, your body cannot use nutrients to make your body what it is. If it’s not giving nutrients to your cells, then your cells aren’t building tissue. And without tissue, you don’t have organs. And without organs, well, your body doesn’t function. This is why it is vital that we do what’s necessary to take care of our metabolic health.
Signs of poor metabolic health
There are signs of poor metabolic health. At a young age, metabolism tends to run without any problems. But as you get older, your metabolism slows down, and the effects of that show throughout your body. Some signs of poor metabolic health are:
- Nutrient conversion to cells is less efficient
- Less communication between cells
- Weaker immune system
- Organs not functioning as well
As our metabolism begins functioning less and less, it can lead to metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a term used to describe the conditions that increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. These may include:
- Weight gain
- Insulin resistance
- Higher cholesterol
- Higher blood pressure
With the symptoms of poor metabolic health leading to severe conditions, people are wondering what they can do to support metabolic health in their bodies. This has led researchers to discover how the consumption of saturated fatty acids can contribute to our body’s overall health.
Pentadecanoic Acid
People have shied away from dietary saturated fats due to their bad rep. However, research shows that not all saturated fats are bad. There is actually a difference between odd-chain and even-chain saturated fats. Even-chain saturated fatty acids are the ones you may want to stay away from. They tend to be associated with conditions such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Examples of these fatty acids are C16:0 and C18:0. The odd-chain saturated fatty acids can contribute to good metabolic health. These fatty acids such as C15:0 and C17:0 can support your metabolism, heart, immune system, and liver. The fatty acid C15:0 is also called pentadecanoic acid. This fatty acid checks off the boxes for being an essential fatty acid. Unfortunately, our bodies don’t make enough pentadecanoic acid on their own. Therefore, we need to get it from our diet and supplements.
Pentadecanoic acid can support energy production, cell function, and cell communication. All these things are related to your metabolic health. That is why pentadecanoic acid is a recommended supplement to take to support your metabolic health.
Vitamin B12
B12 has also shown to support your metabolism. It helps to convert food into energy in order to keep your body running how it should. It is said to be an important vitamin for a healthy nervous system. A deficiency in B12 can lead to lower levels of energy and a slower metabolism. Taking B12 can help make up for the deficiency in the body and regulate energy levels. Although B12 is an essential vitamin for the body, research doesn’t show a direct correlation between B12 and better metabolic health. Research does show that C15:0 can support your overall metabolic health.
Support your Metabolism
Your metabolic health is correlated with your whole body health. When your metabolism isn’t functioning up to speed, it can have negative effects on the body. As we age, our metabolism naturally slows down. When this happens, it’s helpful to take supplements to help support our metabolic health and keep our metabolism functioning as it should. Supplements like pentadecanoic acid and vitamin B12 can help support your body’s metabolic help and keep it functioning to the best of its ability.