Hey guys, Amy here on DNews talking about metabolism.

We hear a lot about metabolism, mainly in the form of people blaming a slowing metabolism

for weight gain as they get older. But what exactly is your metabolism, and can you do

anything to change it?

Metabolism is the biochemical process by which your body converts the foods you eat into

energy, but it’s more than fueling an active lifestyle.

There are a lot of “hidden” processes going on in your body all the time that require

energy, the basic functions you don’t think about like breathing, circulating blood throughout

your body, adjusting hormone levels, and growing and repairing cells. The calories in food

and drinks combine with oxygen to release the energy your body needs to function.

The calories your body needs to power these basic functions tells you your basal metabolic

rate, the base rate at which your body uses calories for fuel, and it’s wholly separate

from any active aspects of your lifestyle. Basal metabolic rate is properly the amount

of energy your body expends at rest in a neutrally temperate environment so when you’re not

shivering or sweating, and in a post-absorptive state, that is, when the digestive system

is inactive, so typically after fasting for about 12 hours. In this completely passive,

almost weakened state, you can determine the absolute minimal number of calories your body

needs to function. It’s a number that depends on your body

size and composition, your gender, and even your age. And it can change over time. As

we get older and have less lean muscle on our bones, your basal metabolic rate can slow

down.

But don’t worry! You can help your metabolism along just a little bit with everybody’s

favourite: diet and exercise. Sadly there’s no magic formula.

Your body burns more calories to maintain lean muscle than fat, so people you might

think of as having a fast metabolism might just be more active, or even just more fidgety

than others. So if you want to increase the rate at which your body burns calories, building

muscle through strength training and increasing your cardiovascular workouts will certainly

help, as will any increased physical activity like taking the long route on your walk home

or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

There are a few things you can do diet-wise to help. Eating more often can actually help

you lose weight by keeping your body working throughout the day metabolizing calories into

energy burning more calories. It can also help you eat less at mealtimes so you’re

taking in fewer calories in general. Spicy foods can help. They have natural chemicals

that can kick your metabolism into high gear though the boost might be short lived. Your

body also burns more calories digesting protein than fatty foods or carbohydrates. Eating

lean beef, turkey, fish, white meat chicken, tofu, nuts, beans, eggs, and low-fat dairy

products can boost your metabolism.

But at the end of the day, there are genetic and lifestyle factors that you can’t help.

The best thing to do is to eat right and work out, increasing the number of calories your

body burns compared to the calories you’re taking in.

So, are you guys moved to start taking the hard steps to help your metabolism along?