Looking at six metabolism myths
When it comes to the body’s health, few topics are more misunderstood than the concept of metabolism. The reality is that there are more myths out there about metabolism than there are about Area 51 and Bigfoot put together.
Myth No. 1: Metabolism is entirely about burning calories and breaking down digested foods.
Metabolism can be divided up into two categories: catabolism – the breaking down of molecules to obtain energy – and anabolism – the creation of compounds needed by cells. Both processes are equally important, and a balance is required for optimum health.
Myth No. 2: Celery is a “calorie negative” food because digesting them causes you to burn more calories than the body gains from eating them. (True/False)
It is true that your body burns calories in order to digest, absorb, and transport food; however, one rib of celery has about six calories and you burn about half a calorie digesting it. Research has shown that “calorie negative” foods are nothing more than fantasy. Celery is a healthy snack. It contains fiber, which fills you up, and phalides, which reduce blood pressure.
Myth No. 3: Drinking caffeine doesn’t affect your metabolism.
If you love your cup of joe, it’s time to celebrate! A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that those subjects who drank regular coffee burned more calories than those who consumed decaf through an increase in their metabolic rate.
Myth No. 4: Thinner people have faster metabolisms.
Everyone knows one of those lucky people who seem to be able to eat whatever they want whenever they want and not gain a pound. Despite popular belief, smaller people tend to have slower metabolisms than larger people simply because there is less of them. Metabolic rate has more to do with body composition than body size. Your body burns only about two calories a day per pound of fat. On the other hand, your body burns about 14 calories a day per pound of muscle. So if you are looking to give your metabolism a boost, building muscle through strength training is the best way to go.
Myth No. 5: If you cut calories, your metabolism will not change.
Your body’s natural tendency is to conserve calories and your metabolism does slow slightly if you starve yourself of calories. You burn two to 10 less calories a day for every pound you lose. If you lose 15 pounds, you now have to eat 30 to 150 fewer calories per day to maintain that weight. The metabolic rate decrease is small, so that, if you became more active, you can easily offset the effects.
Myth No. 6: Eating grapefruit helps speed up your metabolism.
Grapefruit has no effect on your metabolism, but it has been known to help people lose weight. According to a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, eating half a grapefruit before meals helped subjects lose four pounds in 12 weeks. Why? Grapefruit contains a ton of fiber and water, which fills you up, making you eat less later on in the day.