5 Factors That Affect The Body’s Metabolism

June 25 2014

5 Factors That Affect The Body’s Metabolism

Metabolism is the collective term used to describe the broad range of chemical reactions which occur in the human body. Generally speaking, people with a high metabolism burn more calories and build muscle faster than people with low metabolism.

While there are some factors of metabolism that are beyond a person’s control, there are other factors which can be controlled. This is why it’s important to take a proactive approach towards your health, ensuring that you are doing everything possible to maintain a high metabolism. Allowing your metabolism to drop can place you at risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and numerous other adverse health affects.

Diet and Nutrition

As the old adage goes — you are what you eat — holds true. Failing to supply your body with the proper nutrition it needs to sustain healthy growth and development will naturally result in a lower metabolism.

You can read through some of our previous posts here at the Muscle Intensity blog for more dieting tips, but the key thing to remember is to focus your diet on lean meats and fresh vegetables while avoiding processed foods. Vitamins, probiotics, amino acids, and healthy fatty acids are all essential to maintaining a high metabolism.

Age

Age is another crucial factor in determining a person’s metabolism. According to some estimates, the average adult person’s metabolism decreases by 2-3% every decade. Under this formula, you can expect a drop of 6-9% in your metabolism from the age of 18 to 48. Granted, this isn’t a huge amount, but it’s still another element that will reduce your overall metabolism levels.

Physical Activity

Numerous studies have found exercise — strength training in particular — to boost metabolism levels. When a person stays physically active, he or she will build more muscle mass. In turn, this muscle mass promotes a higher metabolism.

If you’re exercising with the goal of boosting your metabolism levels, focus your efforts around high-intensity interval training (HIIT). This is far more effective and beneficial than standard cardio.

Other Factors That May Impact Metabolism Levels:

• Men typically exhibit higher metabolism levels than their female counterpart.
• Greater muscle mass translates into higher metabolism levels.
• Hormones are also known to play a role in a person’s metabolism.
• High body temperature will raise metabolism levels.
• Stress and emotional state play affect metabolism.

Marathon running photo courtesy of Laura Billings via Flickr Creative Commons.