You may be familiar with the word metabolism, which is the term given to a number of processes the body uses to produce energy from food. The body breaks food down into energy-producing molecules. These molecules are transported to the cells of the body where they are converted into adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). ATP is a primary source of energy in the cells. (1)
Energy is used by your body to do everything, including breathing and moving. The metabolism also helps to repair and grow tissues. Many factors can influence your metabolism. These include weight, age and activity level. Muscle mass, thyroid function, and even thyroid function. Your diet can also influence your metabolism. If you consume more calories than your body requires, the extras are stored as fat. If you consume fewer calories than what your body requires, it will use stored fat as energy.
Age, activity level and genetics can all affect your metabolism. You can boost your metabolism by eating healthy food and exercising regularly. Exercise helps you to lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight by increasing the number of calories that you burn.
Some people think that by consuming certain foods or exercising, they can increase their metabolism. Although these things can help, losing weight is the only real way to speed up your metabolic rate. Your body’s lean mass will decrease when you lose weight. Your body will have to work harder in order to burn the same amount of calories. This results in a slower basal metabolic rate. This process can be reversed by gaining some of your lost muscle mass. Strength training and a healthy diet can help you achieve this.