What Is Your Metabolic Age And How Can You Improve It?
Your metabolic age represents the real health status of your body. This can differ significantly from your biological age, therefore they will not necessarily be the same.
Sometimes you can look in the mirror and say things to yourself like, “I look much older than I am.” However, few do anything about it.
In the same way, you may think you have already done everything you can when in reality there are still very simple strategies you can put into practice.
On the other hand, when attending a social gathering, you may notice that your friend from school still has the same cheerful attitude and seems healthy and glowing.
Then you might want to ask yourself: How is it possible that time does not affect any people?
You will find all the answers in one place: your metabolic age.
How to calculate your metabolic age
In general, healthcare professionals can calculate this during a medical evaluation. We recommend that you follow what your doctor says, instead of what your personal trainers at the gym may say (which also offers to calculate metabolic age as one of their services).
However, you can also make this calculation approximately if you have the following data available:
- Age
- Height
- Waist circumference
- Weight and body mass index
Once you have all the data, you can use a metabolic age calculator that is available online. Be careful! Remember that the data from these calculations are approximate. Only your doctor can give you a definite answer.
What is resting metabolism?
Your resting metabolism is an indicator of the energy your body burns while at rest. It is directly related to the calories you should eat to meet this energy consumption.
Many people usually make this comment, and it’s not just a feeling. This happens because you have different resting metabolic rates.
There are people who digest food faster than others, and they release energy better. The reason for this is because those who have a higher body mass index have higher energy metabolism, and higher muscle mass increases resting metabolism.
What factors affect your metabolic age?
- age
- hormones
- musculature
- family genetics
- diet and metabolism
- conditions related to the thyroid gland
- how often you do physical activity
All of these factors can affect metabolic age, but they are not an excuse to prevent you from improving yourself as you need to.
How does it help you know your metabolic age?
Being aware of your metabolic age helps you take control of your health. You should aim for it to be equal to or less than your chronological age. Be aware that when your body is in good shape you can:
- improve your condition and the physical aspect
- plan future measures to improve metabolism
- Find out how many calories you should eat each day to be healthy
- Take the reins of your life if you want to be healthy for a long time
- prevent future diseases caused by excess fat or muscle loss
Can you reduce your metabolic rate?
The answer is YES.
The first step is to make the decision. To begin to achieve improvements in your body’s health, you must first change some of the habits in your life.
Internal motivation is a key factor in this mission. The plan to rejuvenate your body contains three important aspects that are very easy to improve in a short time.
Physical activity
Following a daily exercise routine improves your metabolism because it develops your muscles and generates greater energy consumption.
In addition, you burn calories during a workout. It is important to include walking, some aerobic activities and strength exercises.
A balanced diet
It is important to forget about fried foods and junk food. You need to find healthy foods and increase your intake of vegetables, lean meats, grains and protein.
Having an established daily meal plan, and not skipping meals, is also basic. It is also recommended to drink enough water to stay hydrated and make your metabolism work better.
Sleep well
Your body needs enough hours of rest to function properly. There are some measures you can take to rest and get better sleep quality, for example:
- Take a hot bath or shower.
- Drink a hot tea before bed.
- Distract your mind through reading.
- Do some yoga poses that help induce relaxation and therefore sleep.
If you follow these three factors, you will begin to notice changes quickly. Your body will start to feel younger and your health will improve significantly.
