We all know by now that our metabolism, those internal chemical reactions that govern how many calories we burn and how much of the food we eat becomes fat, slows down as we age.
Why? According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, men in particular see their metabolic rate drop as much as 2 percent every couple of years after turning 30.
Even though metabolism plays an important part in our overall health, especially as we age, we tend not to know that much about it. Here are a few truths “” and metabolism myths “” to help you get a clearer picture of how it works:
MYTH: Skipping a meal slows down your metabolism.
Conventional wisdom for years was that carefully spaced meals kept your metabolism working at a constant pace, and skipping a meal slowed down your metabolism. Not true. According to the experts, your metabolism has less to do with when you eat as it does with what you eat. Eating healthy, no matter when, boosts metabolic functions. Skipping a meal has little effect.
TRUTH: Sleep has a large effect on your metabolic rate.
Researchers have found that sleep-deprived people have slower metabolisms. One reason: They have problems managing blood sugar levels, craving high-carbohydrate foods that slow down metabolic functions. (Ice cream or chips, anyone?)
MYTH: Late-night snacks slow down your metabolism, and are more prone to become fat.
Not true, according to the latest research. Again, it’s more about what you eat than when. Eating a light snack just before bedtime, it turns out, isn’t any better or worse than the same snack eaten at another time during the day. The key is to keep it light and keep it healthy. Think: a handful of nuts or granola, or some veggies. Stay away from sugary treats.
TRUTH: Water isn’t the only beverage of choice for a higher metabolism.
If you’re one of those people who can’t seem to function in the morning until that first shot of caffeine, you’re probably onto something. Doctors have found that coffee actually speeds up your rate. After serving up the java, they found the caffeinated study participants burned more calories than their decaffeinated counterparts. But all caffeine is not the same. Soda drinkers burned fewer calories, on the whole.
MYTH: Thin people have higher metabolic rates.
Not necessarily. According to a recent survey, thin people have slower resting metabolic rates. The reason: Since muscle burns calories when even at rest, a person with larger muscle mass would logically have a higher metabolic rate.
