Almost every individual is concerned about his/her health. Sure, you listen to your family physician carefully and try to follow the dos and don’ts as much as possible to ensure your well-being. Sadly, you may seem to be way out of your depth when trying to figure out the meaning of certain terms. Metabolism is a term that seems utterly confusing to laypersons. No worries! It is time to familiarize yourself with essential metabolism information that will enable you to understand how your body keeps functioning and why metabolism is a driving force.
It is necessary to know that metabolism is a complex biochemical process that converts the food you consume into energy. This acts as a fuel for your body that helps your body to function as needed. There is no respite from the process that continues even when you are asleep. The rate of metabolism when you are at rest is termed the basal metabolic rate, which is referred to by the acronym BMR.
Important metabolism information that you must know
First things first, though! It is most important to understand the functions that are regulated by metabolism. You will be interested to know that the following bodily functions are done with the aid of energy generated by burning calories that come from the food that you consume:
- Respiration
- Circulation of blood
- Digestion
- Growth & Repair of cells.
- Balancing hormone levels
- Body temperature regulation
You will be further intrigued to know that a healthy metabolism will not only allow your body to function perfectly, but your body will also adapt itself to ensure well-being during the following:
- Eating
- Fasting
- Starvation
- Physical activity
- Illness or injury
- Pregnancy and lactation
This adaptability of the metabolism explains why you hit a plateau when dieting to achieve weight loss.
It is also important to remember that metabolism occurs in two distinct phases at the cellular level. The types of metabolism can thus be divided into: –
Anabolism– This is a process wherein the simpler molecules are built up to become complex ones. The complex molecules may be used for creating new proteins required for cell growth and repair.
Catabolism– This is the reverse process of anabolism, where the complex molecules are broken down to their simplest forms. Digestion of food and the breakdown of complex fat is a good example of this process that results in the release of energy.
Several factors influence the metabolism of your body. However, you would not be able to control the following factors that play a definitive role in metabolism…
- Age
- Gender
- Genetics
- Body Composition
- Hormonal Factors
- Environmental Factors
However, you may try to alter your metabolism by controlling the following factors:
- Getting adequate sleep
- Proper management of existing health conditions
- Following a balanced and healthy diet
- Indulging in physical exercise such as strength training, cardio can boost muscle mass, thereby speeding up metabolism
Obtaining metabolism information can be extremely helpful for you to make an informed decision related to managing your health conditions and keeping your weight in check.
