The term metabolism is frequently in the news with a majority of Americans blaming this process for weight gain and a host of health disorders. However, it is not a topic to be taken lightly. Instead, you must check the related facts to gather all relevant information about metabolism before you blame this essential biological procedure for all ills. Again, you are likely to be pretty confused about what you should retain and which fact you should discard. Remember that you will only want to read up on the topic when you happen to be a layperson a student of medicine or a researcher. The extent of knowledge that you need will depend on your objective, however.
Interesting Information About Metabolism
It is important to understand that the process of metabolism may be defined in diverse ways depending on the perspective of the inquirer/reader/researcher. However, the most accepted definition of metabolism states it to be a biochemical chain of reactions that take place within your body continuously. The food you consume is thus combined with oxygen to generate energy which fuels your body.
It is indeed interesting to note that metabolism is a never-ending process and continues even when you are sleeping or resting. Some of the important bodily functions that need energy from metabolism include the following: –
- Breathing in and out
- Circulation of oxygenated blood throughout the body
- Digestion of the consumed food.
- Growth and repair of damaged cells.
- Balancing of hormone levels.
- Regulation of body temperature.
You often hear of the term BMR as well. It is an acronym for basal metabolic rate which refers to the minimum number of calories that your body requires to function when you are at rest. You cannot compare the BMRs of different individuals to arrive at any conclusion. It is important to remember that the BMR will vary from person to person. However, this energy will fulfill at least 60% to 70% of the requirement of your body. Sure, being on a punishing diet and aggressive exercises may enable you to lose weight for a while. Unfortunately, weight loss is not linear and you will stop losing weight once your body regulates the metabolism.
The energy that remains after fueling your body to ensure the necessary functions is used for physical activity. Rapid metabolism is related to less weight while the reverse is true for overweight people. However, metabolism does not depend on a single factor, instead, you must consider all the factors to understand how your BMR may change due to the alteration of any of the following: –
- Muscle mass
- Age
- Gender
- Extent of Physical activity
- Smoking
- Inherited Genes
The doctors treating patients for poor metabolism are known as endocrinologists usually associated with treating hormonal imbalances. Fortunately, there is no reason to be concerned about the metabolism unduly as your body will regulate it according to your needs.
It is further interesting to obtain the latest information about metabolism from recent research studies. Particularly groundbreaking research suggests using holistic measures to ensure health and wellness.
