6 REASONS METABOLISM SLOWS when we quit smoking
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Smoking affects all systems in the body and quitting smoking sends those systems into a tizzy. These are the 6 things backed by scientific studies that may slow the metabolism in cessation causing weight gain, constipation and all the other unpleasant withdrawal symptoms of quitting smoking.
Boosting ATP metabolism production in smoking cessation to avoid weight gain. Smokers may be deficient in vitamins and minerals required for the production of ATP metabolism and metabolic energy.
1. Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
ATP is the metabolic energy that allows our body to turn the foods we eat into energy we can use. ATP is created by our bodies with specific amino acids, minerals and vitamins such as copper, l-glycine, b-vitamins and alpha lipoic acid. One possible issue for ATP production in smokers when they quit is that smokers are often deficient in many minerals, vitamins and amino acids which are essential to the production of ATP.
Red Blood Cells drop within the 24 hours of the last cigarette. The drop in red blood cells may cause fatigue, lack of energy and can also slow metabolism, as red blood cells are needed to store ATP metabolic energy.
2. Red Blood Cells
Red Blood Cells are needed to store ATP energy and this important because even if your body is producing ATP, it can’t use it and convert food, if you’re not able to store it. Smokers (when they smoke), have elevated Red Blood Cells. But within 24 hours of the last cigarette, red blood cells in start to decline and fall rapidly within the first two weeks of cessation. With less Red Blood Cells, your body lost the ability to transport oxygen (causing fatigue) and it also may have lost some ATP storage space. Not only that, but because of common deficiencies in smokers, the Red Blood Cells you keep in cessation, may not be the healthiest.
Changes in the gut biome due to increased bacteria caused by smoking paired with increased oxygen in smoking cessation feeds the bad bacteria and slows metabolism, causing weight gain.
3. Gut Biome
A huge change that happens in smokers as they quit is a complete reversal in environment in both the gut and oral microbiome. Think of this way. As a smoker you fill your gut with an oxygen depleted environment, this kills off some of your gut’s good bacteria. The bacterial diversity of a smoker drops and more bad bacteria grows. When you quit smoking you are unleashing an oxygen rich environment to bad bacteria which can now flourish. This too can slow down metabolism in cessation.
Dopamine drops by up to 20% after the last cigarette, causing an onslaught of withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, irritability and slowed metabolism in smoking cessation.
4. Dopamine
Dopamine release drops in smoking cessation by 15-20% lower capacity than that of a non-smoker. Ever hear of The Dopamine Diet? Well, maybe they have a point. Higher levels of dopamine are equated with well-being, motivation and healthy weight, and lower levels are associated with poor mood, fatigue and weight gain. Not only are dopamine stores depleted in smokers when they quit, but smokers may be deficient in the vitamins and minerals needed to produce dopamine when they quit.
Weight gain in smoking cessation may be related to thyroid function changes in smoking and in cessation.
5. Thyroid
The thyroid is also responsible for healthy metabolism, and it needs selenium, iron and zinc to properly function. Selenium is often deficient in smokers.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies in smokers in cessation may also negatively impact metabolism, fatigue and energy levels in smoking cessation.
6. Common Deficiencies
in smokers may also play a role or have a negative impact on the body’s ability to repair in the early months of cessation as noted in ATP production, Red Blood Cells, Dopamine and Thyroid function