Slow Metabolism

When Burning Calories Doesn't Go Too Well

May 2, 2009

When a person has slow metabolism, regardless of how little the amount of food ingested, the result will be an excess of fat, low amounts of energy, and weight gain.

In general, the conventional approach to weight loss is based on the ratio of calories entering the body (through food) and outgoing (through exercise). So, if you eat more than you burn, fattening may occur.

Somehow, this is true. But why do some people consume high-fat foods, never perform any exercise, eat whatever quantities they want, and still maintain a stable weight without having to move the living room couch? The answer lies in the fact that they have an extremely fast rate of metabolism.

If calorie and metabolism theories were as simple as they seem, losing weight would be an extremely easy task. If you eat about 5 calories every day, each year you would lose pounds drastically, and after some time, you would have disappeared. The reason why this happens is due partially to metabolism.

Slow Metabolism Explained

Metabolism could be defined as the sum of all chemical changes that occur in the body to stay alive. When oxygen is supplied to the body, along with water and all the other essential nutrients it requires, the cells can efficiently perform their job of staying alive while maintaining a healthy weight.

The efficiency with which the metabolism works determines how easily we gain or lose weight. The body burns a fuel called glucose (the simplest form of energy that is extracted from the carbohydrates we eat) to produce energy. Glucose can be burned to produce extra energy when required, or conversely, it can be turned into fat and stored in the body.

When glucose is burned efficiently, there is little likelihood that it will become fat. However, when the natural combustion of glucose is not carried out properly, the result will be an excess of fat and low energy.

Slow Metabolism and Enzymes

It is vital to have enzymes in the body for good metabolism. Enzymes are special types of protein molecules responsible for chemical changes in the body. There are thousands of enzymes in our body, and each plays a specific role in metabolism. A small enzyme can act in quick response to changes in the body, accelerating the chemical reactions of metabolism, and in turn, can smoothen the metabolic processes of our cells.

To restore a normal metabolism and achieve a healthy weight, it is necessary that the enzymes are present in adequate amounts. The best way to achieve this is through a healthy diet (carbohydrates, proteins and fats, good quality), adequate digestion and the presence of optimal amounts of certain minerals: calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper and zinc, the vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, folic acid and biotin, and coenzyme Q10. In other words, all the nutrients that activate enzymes help in the processing of glucose and provide for proper metabolism.

Unless these nutrients are present in minimal or adequate amounts, metabolism may become slow. Therefore, when trying to lose weight, it is much more effective to have a type of metabolism where you can reduce the calories of a diet (this typically happens with slimming diets).

Typically, low-calorie diets lead to weight loss at first run, but then the person realizes how very little time it takes to regain all the weight lost, sometimes in excess of a few kilos. For this reason, hypocaloric diets do not work and the more people engage in them, the slower the metabolism and the harder it is to lose fat and/or maintain a stable weight.

Such diets are not the only reason for a slow metabolism. For example, not having any breakfast or dinner to avoid gaining weight can cause a person’s metabolism to slow down.