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What is the definition of metabolism?

The definition of metabolism is the organic and chemical processes inside of organisms that are necessary to maintain life, or how quickly you burn calories or fat. The chemical processes that let you stay alive are an example of metabolism.

 

In general, the more muscle and less fat you have, the higher your metabolic rate.

Your metabolic rate is strongly influenced by your body composition. People with more muscle and less fat generally have a faster metabolic rate, while people with more fat and less muscle generally have a slower metabolic rate.

 

A high Protein Diet can help boost your Metabolic Rate.

Studies show that the body requires more energy to process a high-protein diet, which means that as your body digests high-protein foods, your metabolic rate rises.

 

Women usually have a lower metabolic rate than men.

Men tend to have a higher metabolic rate than women because women have a higher proportion of fat.

 

The processes your body uses to convert or use energy is your Metabolism.

“Metabolism” is how your body converts or uses energy for activities such as breathing, digestion, building muscle, storing fat, and circulating blood — things you need to do to live.

 

The rate at which you burn calories is your Metabolic Rate.

Your “metabolic rate” is the rate at which you burn calories. It’s not the same as your metabolism.

Strictly speaking, “metabolic rate” is the rate at which you burn calories while your body is at rest — something that is more properly referred to as your “resting metabolic rate,” or, measured a slightly different way, your “basal metabolic rate.”

 

Your Age, Genes and Lifestyle can Affect your Metabolism.

Several things affect your metabolism and metabolic rate. Genes play a very important role. They’re one reason that some people stay thin no matter how much they eat, while others find it harder to lose weight. Your lifestyle, particularly diet and exercise, also matters. So does your age: Your metabolism is likely to slow down as you get older.

 

Your metabolism is controlled mainly by your Thyroid.

Our thyroid regulates your metabolism. It does that by making hormones that affect almost every aspect of how your body performs: how fast or slow you burn calories, when or whether you build proteins or store energy as fat, and how your body responds to other hormones.

Not surprisingly, disorders of the thyroid can cause problems for your metabolism. An underactive thyroid (“hypothyroidism”) produces fewer-than-normal thyroid hormones, causing a slower metabolism, and, consequently often causes weight gain. An overactive thyroid (“hyperthyroidism”), on the other hand, can cause the metabolism to speed up, often resulting in weight loss.

 

Strength training can help you lose weight by changing your metabolic rate.

Studies claim that by building muscle and trimming fat, strength training boosts your resting metabolic rate, helping you burn more calories just sitting still.  But according to the American College of Sports Medicine, for most people, this won’t result in much weight loss. Instead, they say the main weight loss benefit is due to its effect on calories burned while doing strength training, or as a direct result, as your body burns calories building muscle.

 

As you age, your metabolic rate slows down.

As you age, you tend to lose muscle. This makes your metabolic rate start slowing as early as your 20s by about 2% per decade.

 

Eating fewer than 1,200 calories per day makes your metabolic rate slow down

Diets backfire if you cut calories too much. Studies show that people who eat less than 1,200 calories per day tend to have a slower metabolic rate — which can make it more difficult to burn calories and lose weight. Even going too long between meals can slow metabolic rate. That’s why experts recommend eating a small healthy meal or snack every 2 to 3 hours.

 

Caffeine can boost your metabolic rate.

Caffeine is a stimulant, so it raises your metabolic rate. This is why it is often an ingredient in weight-loss diet supplements. Studies have shown that one cup of coffee can slightly increase metabolism for a short time.

 

Spicy food can boost your metabolic rate.

Some spicy foods can raise your metabolic rate. In particular, the capsaicin in hot peppers can help burn calories, but probably not enough to help you lose weight.

 

Your local climate can affect your metabolic rate.

Your body has to work hard to maintain its optimal natural temperature. In cold weather, your metabolism must speed up to keep your body warm. And in hot weather, your metabolism has to speed up to keep you cool. People living in tropical climates have a resting metabolic rate that’s 5% to 20% higher than people living in more temperate regions, estimates show.

 

Most of the calories that your body uses are burned when you’re at rest. Yes, it’s true!

Your body burns more calories to keep you alive than for physical activity. Still, being active can torch up to 30% of the calories you burn in a day, and it’s one of the best ways to boost your metabolic rate.

 

 

A note:

Many dietary supplements claim they can help you lose weight by boosting your metabolism.

BEWARE! Ephedra, a stimulant, is banned by the FDA due to serious health risks. Also, there’s little evidence that other metabolism booster supplements such as L-carnitine or bitter orange can help you lose weight.

Most doctors, nutritionists, and fitness trainers recommend that you boost your metabolism the old-fashioned way: through diet and exercise.

Thank You !


Source: https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/