Metabolism...

Metabolism is the amount of energy (calories) our body burns to maintain itself. Metabolism is essentially the speed at which our body's motor is running.The speed at which our body burns calories is called the metabolic rate.


The metabolism is based on the number of calories we burn throughout the day. Our body constantly burns calories to keep us going whether we are eating, sleeping, cleaning etc.Once the daily business of breathing, eating, moving and other activities are met, any unused or surplus calories get stored, mostly in the form of fat. This means that if you take in more calories than you use, you will gain weight.

People with a lower percentage of body fat (i.e. muscular) have a higher metabolism than others that are less muscular because muscle uses more calories to maintain itself than fat.

Some people have a slower metabolic rate and have a harder time staying slim. A slow metabolism actually causes to store fat. The slower the metabolic rate, the greater the weight gains.

Some natural metabolism boosters are chili, mustard, green tea, water, dietary fibers and foods that are complex carbohydrates and proteins. Keep in mind however, that foods can increase your metabolism only marginally. Only lifestyle changes can make a dramatic effect on metabolism.

Be physically active. In an activity like walking, bowling, dancing or playing golf, the energy you expand is greater if you have more weight to move around. A 140 pound man who walks 3 miles in an hour burns 220 calories as compared to a person of 110 pound, who burns only 180 cal going the same pace.