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.
Latest News About Metabolism:
Yahoo! News: Weight Loss News
More Kids Now Extremely Obese
(HealthDay)
HealthDay - THURSDAY, March 18 (HealthDay News) -- The obesity epidemic is
hitting children harder than ever, with 7.3 percent of boys and 5.5
percent of girls classified as extremely obese in a California study,
researchers from Kaiser Permanente report.
U.S. child obesity problem worse than thought
(Reuters)
Reuters - Extreme obesity among American children is much worse than previously believed, putting them at greater risk of serious health problems as they age, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.
Supplement may slow overweight kids' fat gain
(Reuters)
Reuters - Supplements containing the dietary fat conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may help overweight kids curb the amount of fat they gain over time, a small study suggests.
AP - First lady Michelle Obama says her fight against childhood obesity isn't about appearance but about whether kids have enough energy to be productive at school.
2 Drugs Fail to Prevent Diabetes in the Overweight
(HealthDay)
HealthDay - SUNDAY, March 14 (HealthDay News) -- Hopes that two available drugs
could help prevent diabetes and the problems it causes in overweight
people with poor sugar metabolism have been dashed by a major
international study.
Health Tip: What's Behind Childhood Obesity
(HealthDay)
HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Obesity is a major problem in the United
States, and children are no exception. Today's kids are spending more
hours watching TV, sitting at the computer or playing video games, and
less time being active.
Obese Colon Cancer Survivors Face Poorer Prognosis
(HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, March 9 (HealthDay News) -- Colon cancer survivors who
are moderately or severely obese face tougher survival odds following
treatment compared with their normal-weight peers, a new study
reveals.
AFP - New York leaders are pressing for a so-called fat tax on the soft drinks industry, saying that sweet beverages are responsible for an upsurge of obesity across the United States.
