What is metabolism?

When it comes to weight loss, much is heard about metabolism. Most of the time, he is blamed for the difficulty in eliminating the extra pounds. But do you know what is metabolism and how does it work?

And what about my metabolism not working the way it should? or "I get fat because my metabolism is slow", makes sense or is it just an excuse for those who are struggling with the hands of the balance? Get all your questions on the subject now.

What is metabolism?

By definition, metabolism is the set of chemical and hormonal reactions that happen in our body to generate energy and keep it working. That is, the amount of calories your body burns to stay active.

The body expends calories even when it is at rest, but working to maintain its vital functions, such as breathing and cardiovascular functioning, for example.

Due to the influence of these factors, each person has a different expense and needs different energy to lose weight, gain weight or simply maintain their current weight.

Metabolism x Difficulty losing weight

The speed with which the body burns calories (called the metabolic rate) determines the rate at which the body goes to work and the tendency to gain or lose weight. THE metabolic rate It is largely defined by genetic characteristics.

a slow metabolism leads to fat accumulation. That's why some people have a hard time losing weight and staying thin. Others are privileged and have a accelerated metabolism. Importantly, in any case, it is possible to increase the metabolic rate by eliminating more calories to maintain fitness.

How to speed up metabolism?

To know how many calories are needed in a day, you need to consider weight, age, gender and level of physical activity. Men, for example, have more muscle mass and less fat compared to women, so they have the fastest metabolism.

The practice of physical activity also increases metabolism, while advancing age decreases. Muscle mass in the body also influences energy expenditure, as it is a metabolically active tissue and the more present in the body, the more calories you spend.

Although it is genetically determined, it is possible to speed up metabolism with some attitudes that help you lose a few pounds and give you even more energy.

The first is not to spend too many hours without eating or eating only two or three exaggerated meals a day. This slows the metabolism even slower and the body ends up storing fat. The ideal is to eat little by little, eating small meals every three hours and always at the same times.

Another form of speed up metabolism and weight loss is eating more protein and less carbs. Fish, beef, chicken, eggs, milk and dairy products are great sources of protein and can be included in the diet.

Also invest in fiber rich foods as they require greater effort from the body from chewing and throughout the digestion process. Thus, energy expenditure is much higher, aiding in weight loss.

To prevent dehydration and stimulate metabolism, drink plenty of water. Ideally, drink eight to ten glasses daily. Sleeping well is also critical to keeping the whole body functioning at a proper pace. So try to sleep eight hours a day and to ensure a restful sleep, a good tip is to take a relaxing warm bath before going to bed.

What is Metabolism? (April 2024)