Whereas we consider our metabolism as how shortly we metabolize meals or burn energy, it’s a lot greater than that. The truth is, if you hear somebody saying they’ve a “quick” or “sluggish” metabolism, they’re actually referring to their metabolic price.

A person’s basal metabolic price (BMR) is the variety of energy a person wants to hold out primary physiological features (once more: respiratory, digestion, blood circulation, and so on.). Their resting metabolic price (RMR), aka resting power expenditure (REE), is the precise variety of energy they burn at relaxation. An individual with a “quick” metabolism has a better REE than somebody with a “sluggish” metabolism.

Now, earlier than you get discouraged, it’s essential to level out that your metabolic price is influenced by a variety of elements—a few of that are mounted (e.g., genetics, organic intercourse, age) and lots of of which may be optimized (e.g., mitochondrial well being, muscle mass, adiposity, insulin sensitivity, thyroid hormone well being, vitamin, timing of meals, stress ranges, sleep well being, bodily exercise, and extra).