Without normal metabolism, we would not have enough energy to get out of bed in the morning and burn calories throughout the day. However, despite its many advantages, metabolism is often accused of gaining extra weight. This definition leads to many myths that would be nice to refute.
Myth 1: lean people have a higher metabolic rate
There are a lot of thin people who seem to eat whatever they want without any consequences to the waist. One gets the impression that they have a higher rate of burning calories. But in fact, lean people have a slower “rest metabolism”, i.e. the rate at which calories are burnt during periods of rest. A high level of “rest metabolism” is observed in larger people. But do not hurry to rejoice: it is not excess weight that accelerates metabolism, but a muscle mass. That is why it is very important to combine physical exercise with a healthy diet.
Myth 2: skipping meals slows metabolism
Almost every person, who would like to get rid of a few pounds, can be advised to have more frequent meals. It is said that eating every 3-4 hours helps speed up metabolism. In fact, the metabolic rate does not depend on how often a person eats. The technique of fractional eating is based on an entirely different principle: the more we eat, the less hungry we are. In addition, it is useful as prevention of cholelithiasis. Having meals more frequently helps to eat smaller portions.
Myth 3: all that is eaten late in the evening turns into fat
By all means we try to avoid eating late at night because there is a belief that these foods are automatically converted into fat. In fact, the formation of fat is greatly dependent on many different aspects, including hormones, food quality, food ingredients, as well as the energy level, which shows how our body uses its “fuel”. Unfortunately, simple refusal of eating meals late at night does not help you to prevent the accumulation of fat. Instead of focusing on the meal times, pay more attention to what and how much you eat. Eating a Big Mac late in the evening is just as harmful to your waistline, as eating it in the morning or afternoon.
Myth 4: metabolism is the rate of burning calories and digesting food
Many people perceive metabolism as the term that defines the rate of burning calories. In fact, it consists of two components. The rate of burning calories is determined by catabolism, but there is also anabolism, which is the accumulation of energy in the form of chemical bonds for its future use, including carbohydrates and fats. Normal metabolism is a balance of both functions.
Myth 5: you cannot control your metabolism
When a person faces unwanted weight gain, it is tempting to attribute it to a slow metabolism. But do not think that we do not have control over this process. For example, one of the easiest ways to speed up metabolism is building muscles through regular exercise. Also, you can practice longer sleep, consuming large amounts of water, caffeine, and enough protein.
