Metabolism is a process that takes place inside our body which converts the foods we eat into energy. Metabolism rate is the speed that process takes. People who have a high metabolism rate are less susceptible to weight gain and coronary artery disease. People with a lower rate can take steps to raise their rate to a healthier level.
The foods we eat are broken down into various components which then enter the bloodstream to provide us with energy. The rate these foods are broken down determines whether these foods are used as energy or stored as fat. High fat levels in our bloodstream can lead to serious health problems, even leading up to death.
Increasing Your Rate
One way to increase your metabolism rate is to get regular exercise. Muscle burns more energy than fat. While increased activity will increase your metabolism rate during activity it will also increase your rate when resting.
Many times metabolism rates are directly related to our genetic makeup. There are also certain medical conditions which can affect rates such as an over-active or under-active thyroid.
Eating healthy foods and staying with a regular exercise program are the best ways to maintain a healthy metabolism rate. Getting 30 minutes of exercise a day for four to five days a week is recommended. Good examples of aerobic exercise are walking, jogging, dancing, or riding a bike. Studies show that your metabolism rate continues to stay at an elevated level for several hours after an exercise session. Lifting weights can be incorporated into your program for building muscle mass. Muscle mass will increase your rate while being active or at rest.
Controlling your weight is an important aspect to your health. Eating a variety of foods is important so you can be sure you get the right balance of nutrients and vitamins. Experiment with the amount of calorie intake you can burn each day without putting on weight. Increasing your level of activity can allow you to eat more food while inactivity will result in stored body fat.
Of course there are those people whose metabolism rate is too high and they feel the need to gain weight. Gaining weight for the purpose of looking better is usually not recommended. If you are one of the lucky people who has this problem it would be healthier for you to try to build muscle mass instead of gaining fat. Muscle weighs more than fat and is much healthier than storing fats in the body.
Abbott diet drug study renews calls for U.S. ban
(Reuters)
Reuters - A study funded by Abbott Laboratories offered more detailed evidence that its weight-loss drug Meridia increases heart risks, prompting renewed calls by consumer advocates and others to pull the drug from the market.
Americans Blind to the Obesity Epidemic
(HealthDay)
HealthDay - THURSDAY, Sept. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Many Americans have skewed
perceptions when it comes to their weight, often believing they are
lighter than they actually are, even when the scales are shouting
otherwise, a new poll finds.
Abbott's diet drug study renews calls for U.S. ban
(Reuters)
Reuters - A study funded by Abbott Laboratories offered more detailed evidence that its weight-loss drug Meridia increases heart risks, prompting renewed calls by consumer advocates and others to pull the drug from the market.
Diet Pill Meridia Ups Heart Attack Risk: Study
(HealthDay)
HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- A new study is linking
the popular weight loss drug Meridia to an increased risk of non-fatal
heart attacks and stroke, although taking the drug did not seem to up the
risk of death in patients with a history of heart problems.
Reuters - Teenagers who sleep less than eight hours a night on weeknights eat more fatty foods and snacks than those who get more than eight hours of sleep a night, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.
AFP - Physical exercise can reduce a genetic predisposition to obesity by an average of 40 percent, a new study showed.
Weight loss cuts risk of pregnancy complication
(Reuters)
Reuters - Losing the weight gained during pregnancy is a real struggle for many new mothers. But dropping just 10 pounds between pregnancies may help many women diagnosed with a dangerous complication during the first pregnancy to avoid a recurrence the second time around.
