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How does Human Metabolism Work?- Thermic Effect of Food (TEF)
-The body uses energy to digest and absorb the nutrients present in the food we eat. The rate of energy used for the TEF is about 10%,
it can be increased depending on the composition of each meal.
-The TEF causes much confusion when dieters calculate calories in and out. For example;
-If we overeat the TEF actually increases
due to more food to digest, the stomach and intestines have to work harder and longer. It means if we ate an extra 3500 calories ( number of calories per pound of fat ) we wouldn't actually gain 1 pou
nd of body fat because the TEF has to be accounted for, we would gain less.
-The opposite also happens if we cut 3500 calories to lose 1 pound. The TEF decreases because there would be less food/n
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Effective fat loss cannot occur when the metabolism is low!
-Its a physiological fact that when losing weight we also lose protein from muscle. The faster the weight loss the more protein is used f
or energy and/or protein synthesis and a net loss of protein will always decrease the metabolism.
-As protein is lost from cells it gradually lowers the total lean body weight, this affects the bo
dy composition and lowers the metabolism. As this occurs it means we gradually require less calories to maintain weight so if the present diet is continued results will eventually stop, its even possi
ble to slowly GAIN back weight that was previously lost!
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Factors that affect speed of metabolism
-BODY SIZE:
-WEIGHT GAIN
-BODY COMPOSITION:
-SEX:
-AGE
-DRUGS
-HEREDITARY
-HORMONES
-PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE
-TEMPERATURE
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The entire metabolic process is run by biological catalysts known as enzymes. They are long, chain-like protein molecules that are twisted into characteristic three-dimensional shapes. Enzyme molecule
s function rather like templates to hold reacting molecules together in the proper position to speed their interactions. If your enzymes lose their shape ("denature"), they stop functioning, your meta
bolism ceases, and you're dead. Birds are no different. That's why boiling kills; it denatures enzymes.
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From the viewpoint of diet and weight loss, metabolism is the process whereby the body converts food into energy (or uses it for bodily repairs) or stores it as fat for future use. In simple terms, if
we have a faster metabolism we burn calories more efficiently and store less fat. If we have a slower metabolism we burn calories less efficiently and therefore store more calories as fat. In very si
mple terms, our Metabolic Rate is the rate (and efficiency) with which our body performs these metabolic tasks.
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Speed Up Metabolism
-Increasing the speed of our metabolism is probably one of the easiest ways to lose weight naturally.
-Speeding up the metabolism creates some benefits that will maintain we
ight loss progress.
-less exercise would be needed - giving you more time
-less effort if you do exercise
-less chance of weight regain after dieting
-still enjoy some favorite foods
-l
ess time spent preparing healthy low fat meals
-save money from not buying all the expensive low fat varieties
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