What is Metabolism ?
Metabolism is the set of cellular mechanisms that produce energy from our food and environment to power every process in the human body.
Your metabolism never stops, even when your body is at rest. It constantly provides energy for basic body functions, such as breathing, circulating blood, digesting food, growing and repairing cells, managing hormone levels and regulating body temperature.
The term often used to describe your body’s metabolic set point is BMR or basal metabolic rate. There’s no perfect formula to determine BMR, but online calculators can give you a good estimate by considering your gender, height, weight, age and activity level
The higher your metabolic rate, the more calories you burn at rest. Many factors can affect your metabolism, including your age, diet, body composition, sex, body size, physical activity, health status, and any medications you’re taking.
Metabolic health is a term to describe how well we generate and process energy in the body.
Poor metabolic health is associated with worse brain function, energy, memory, mood, skin health, fertility, and risk for chronic disease. Metabolic dysfunction underlies most chronic diseases.
The most common threats to health used to be deficiencies, whereas in Western countries today, overeating tends to be the primary concern. To promote and maintain a healthy body weight, it is essential to focus on the overall quality and macronutrient content of the diet, rather than incorporating or eliminating specific foods.
Rather than focusing on specific foods, anyone hoping to boost their metabolism should consider their diet as a whole. A diet rich in protein and unprocessed foods may help increase energy expenditure, which could help maintain a healthy body weight. It is not always possible for a person to change their metabolic rate, but exercise and dietary measures may help.
Overall, having a healthy lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet and plenty of physical activity is the best way to support a healthy metabolism.
Many people blame metabolic problems for weight struggles. But your metabolism naturally regulates itself to meet your body’s needs. It’s rarely the cause of weight gain or loss.
So, in general, to lose weight you need to create a calorie deficit. This means you need to eat fewer calories than you burn. If you are able to increase your metabolism to burn more calories at rest this can help support your weight loss goals.
There are several easy and effective ways to support your metabolism, many of which involve making simple changes to your diet and lifestyle. Things like resistance training, exercise routine, being more active and sitting less, getting adequate protein intake, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough quality sleep.
It is always best to speak with a doctor before adjusting the diet or making changes to an exercise routine.
There is never a bad time to invest in yourself and your health. To start your journey to a healthier brighter future, start with some Baseline blood work with Health Today’s Weight Management and Optimal Metabolism Panel.
A deeper look into what this Extensive and Unique Panel includes.
| Tests | Tests Details |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive Metabolic Panel |
This Panel not only includes your mineral electrolytes but also reports on kidney and liver functions. Potassium (KS) | Sodium (NAS) | Chloride (CL) | Bicarbonate | Anion Gap | Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) | Creatinine with eGFR (eGFR) | Calcium, Total (CA) | Glucose, Random (GLURA) | Protein, Total (TP) | Albumin (ALB) | Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) | Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) | Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) | Bilirubin Total (BILIT) |
| Complete Blood Count (CBC) | A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test. It's used to look at overall health and find a wide range of conditions, including anemia, infection and leukemia. A complete blood count test measures the following:
|
| Cortisol (CORT) |
Cortisol affects several aspects of your body and mainly helps regulate your body's response to stress. Cortisol can help your blood sugars, reduce inflammation, and regulate metabolism. But longer-term elevations can cause side effects, including weight gain. |
| C-Peptide (CPR) |
Is a byproduct the pancreas releases into the body when it makes insulin. The pancreas produces about the same amount of insulin and C-peptide. |
| Chromium, Serum (CRS) |
Chromium is a mineral that the body uses in small doses for typical body functions, like digesting food. It also helps to move glucose into cells to use as energy, as well as to turn carbohydrates, fats and proteins into energy. |
| Iron + TIBC (FEC) |
Iron is an important mineral that your body needs to stay healthy. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin. This is the protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen around your body. |
| Ferritin (FERR1) |
Is a protein that stores iron inside your cells. You need iron to make healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Iron is also important for healthy muscles, bone marrow, and organ function. Too little or too much iron in your system can cause serious health problems if not treated. |
| DHEA |
A precursor to testosterone and progesterone produced in the adrenal glands; too much or too little can unbalance the levels of male and female hormones in the body. |
| Homocysteine, Total, Plasma (HCYSS) |
Is an amino acid. Vitamins B12, B6 and folate break down homocysteine to create other chemicals your body needs. High homocysteine levels may mean you have a vitamin deficiency. Without treatment, elevated homocysteine increases your risks for dementia, heart disease and stroke. |
| Hemoglobin A1c, Blood (HBA1C) |
This test result reflects your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. Specifically, the A1C test measures what percentage of hemoglobin proteins in your blood are coated with sugar (glycated). Hemoglobin proteins in red blood cells transport oxygen. |
| Insulin (INS) (fasting) |
Is a hormone made in your pancreas. Insulin allows your body to use glucose for energy and also helps balance your blood glucose levels. |
| Leptin (FLEP) |
Leptin is a hormone your body releases that helps it maintain your normal weight on a long-term basis. The level of leptin in your blood is directly related to how much body fat you have. Leptin resistance causes you to feel hungry and eat more even though your body has enough fat stores. |
| Lipid Panel (LPSC1) |
Can help determine your risk of the buildup of fatty deposits (plaques) in your arteries that can lead to narrowed or blocked arteries throughout your body (atherosclerosis). Our Lipid Panel test includes the calculation of four types of fats in your blood: Cholesterol (CHOL) | Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol | High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol | Triglycerides |
| Magnesium (MGS) |
Your body needs magnesium to help your muscles, nerves, and heart work properly. Magnesium also helps control blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It's important for building strong bones, and it supports your immune system. |
| Prealbumin (PAB) |
Is a protein that is made in the liver and released in the blood. It helps carry certain hormones that regulate the way the body uses energy and other substances through the blood. |
| 25-Hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3, Serum (25HDN) |
Vitamin D is essential for bone health as it enables the absorption of calcium, the main bone component, while also regulating various cellular functions; its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties contribute to immune health, muscle function, and brain activity. |
| Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (STSH) |
The pituitary gland makes thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH tells your thyroid how much thyroid hormone it needs to make. Your thyroid makes hormones that control how your body uses energy. Thyroid hormones affect nearly every organ in your body, including your heart. They help control your weight, body temperature, muscle strength, and even your mood. |
| T4 Thyroxine, Total and Free Serum (T4FT4) |
T4 is the main form of thyroid hormone circulating in the blood. A Total T4 measures the bound and free hormone and can change when binding proteins differ. A Free T4 measures what is not bound and able to enter and affect the body tissues. |
| Testosterone, Total & Free, Serum (TGRP) |
A total testosterone test measures free testosterone and testosterone that's attached to proteins. A free testosterone test measures only the "active" form of testosterone. |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) - TDP |
Is a vitamin your body needs for growth, development, and cellular function, as well as converting food into energy. |
| Vitamin B12- (cobalamin) |
Plays an essential role in red blood cell formation, cell metabolism, nerve function and the production of DNA, the molecules inside cells that carry genetic information. |
| Vitamin B-9 (Folate) |
Is important in red blood cell formation and for healthy cell growth and function. The nutrient is especially crucial during early pregnancy to reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spine. |
Take charge of your well-being. Book your private blood testing with Health Today. Embrace proactive care and gain valuable insights into your health. Schedule your appointment now for a healthier tomorrow.
To take the next steps toward better health and feeling and looking your best, start with Weight Management and Optimal Metabolism.
