The body’s metabolism is a delicate balance. When it changes, your weight can easily shift too! The human diet consists mostly of carbohydrates and protein but not all foods are created equal when you’re trying to lose or maintain the proper figure; some may be better than others depending on what else they contain that might affect our hormones in unnatural ways like sugar.
Unhealthy fats from junk foods like KFC can have an impact on our metabolic rate. The calories in Kentucky drumstick extra crispy fried chicken will digest more slowly than, say, fruits and vegetables because of the difference in their composition.
Your Basal Metabolic Rate is the number of calories your body burns at rest to keep you alive. It accounts for about 60 to 75% of the calories you burn each day. Factors that affect your Basal Metabolic Rate include age, muscle mass, and genetics.
A quick search online will show how differently people react with different macronutrients like carbs vs fat, some find themselves gaining more belly pounds while others stay leaner over time thanks largely due to their high fiber intake which slows down absorption rates deep inside relevant organs rendering us feeling fuller longer so we tend not to overeat.
Metabolism is the process your body uses to change the food you eat into energy. This energy powers everything you do, from moving your muscles to thinking and breathing.
About Basal Metabolic Rate or BMR
Your metabolic rate partly determines how many calories your body burns each day. Several things can influence your metabolic rate, including age, muscle mass, and body size. If you have more muscle mass you tend to burn more calories.
Your basal metabolic rate (BMR) accounts for the largest amount of calories you burn each day. This is the number of calories your body needs to function at rest. Your basal metabolic rate accounts for about 60 to 75 percent of the calories you burn each day.
Factors that can influence your basal metabolic rate include:
Many factors can influence your basal metabolic rate, and all are not so lucky to eat whatever they want and still maintain a beautiful body. The “average Joe” has to work twice as hard and be much more mindful of the food they put in their mouth.
These things can have an impact on your Metabolism
- How many calories you burn each day: The calories you burn each day have an impact on your metabolism. The more you eat, the more calories your body needs to burn to meet its energy needs.
- The amount of muscle mass you have: Muscle mass can have a direct impact on your BMR because muscle burns more calories than fat. If your muscle mass is on the greater side then your body will automatically burn extra calories.
- Your age: As you get older, your basal metabolic rate decreases. This is because you lose muscle mass and bone density as you age.
- Your genetics: Some people are born with a faster basal metabolic rate than others.
- Your sex: Compared to women Men generally have a higher basal metabolic rate because they have more muscle mass.
- The type of food you eat: The calories in different types of food can have a different effect on your metabolism. For example, calories in Kentucky fried biscuit chicken will take longer to digest than calories in grilled salmon.
To increase your basal metabolic rate and, as a result, burn more calories, there are a few things you can do:
1. Eat more protein. Protein has a higher thermic effect than either carbohydrates or fats. That means your body burns more calories digesting protein than it does digesting other nutrients.
2. Burn more calories through exercise. If you want your body to burn more calories you need to be more active.
3. Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated helps your body function properly and burn more calories.
4. Avoid eating too many processed foods. Foods that are high in sugar, unhealthy fats, or artificial additives can slow your metabolic rate.
5. Get enough sleep. When you’re tired, your body burns fewer calories.
6. Increase your intake of fiber. Fiber helps your body digest food more slowly, which can help you burn more calories.
Does metabolism play a role in weight gain or weight loss?
How you process food can impact your weight in a number of ways. Some foods, like processed snacks and sugary drinks, are high in calories but don’t provide many nutrients. These foods can cause you to gain weight if you eat too many of them.
Other foods, like fruits and vegetables, are low in calories but high in nutrients. Including them in your daily diet can help you lose weight.
Slower metabolism rates can be caused by a variety of factors such as menopause, underlying health issues, and so on. However, we may mitigate these consequences by eating well, drinking enough water, and exercising on a regular basis.
To conclude,
Metabolism is a key player when it comes to weight and, overall, health. Though there are various factors that come into play, understanding a bit about how your metabolism works and making small tweaks to your diet and routine can result in a healthier you.
So far, we’ve learned that the number of calories your body needs to function at rest is called your basal metabolic rate (BMR) and it accounts for the largest amount of calories you burn each day. This means that, if you want to lose weight, you need to create a calorie deficit by burning more calories than you consume.
