Defining Metabolism Through The Lens Of Age, Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Disease

In order to understand how life works, in the context of aging, we need to understand what metabolism is. The definition of metabolism is simply the chemical processes within all living things that sustain life. In other words, metabolic function, or lack thereof, determines what is alive and what is dead, respectively. In humans, metabolism, in its strictest sense, is the processes involved to convert food energy (calories) into the energy needed to sustain bodily functions.

Now more than ever, humans are well aware of what we put into our bodies and how it affects our health, lifestyle, and how we age. We are also very well aware of how our nutritional choices determine whether we are at risk of developing certain diseases. This knowledge is the result of increased and widespread access to vast swaths of information in the digital age we find ourselves living in. Because of this, we are now able to live healthier and longer lives because we have access to factual and easily obtainable information from a wide variety of credible sources.

Defining Health, or a Lack Thereof

Since the moment humanity developed widespread agricultural knowledge and used it to farm and harvest vast amounts of food, we have been on a collision course with the consequences of our nutritional choices. While we can now produce food on a scale unrivaled with that of even 150 years ago, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we have done so smartly. Foods high in calories are cheap and easy to produce. As a consequence, these sources of nutritional energy are being consumed at rates that have dire consequences for those who are primarily subsisting on them. When it comes to human metabolism and the food that we eat, it is important to understand that our metabolic functions are dependent on the number of calories that we consume on a daily basis. Too many calories and not enough exercise results in unhealthy weight gain. Not enough calories and too much physical expenditure will result in malnutrition. Unfortunately, the quality of the calories that are available are oftentimes too low or inaccessible for a number of people, and for a variety of reasons.

In addition to diet, stress is another factor that influences how our metabolism functions. When under stress, our bodies produce and release many different types of hormones, all of them with the ability to alter how our metabolic processes function. High stress, combined with a poor diet rich in calories from sugar, creates the perfect environment for diseases to set in. As stresses increase metabolism, people often find themselves over indulging in low quality, high calorie foods to combat the stress response. This causes metabolic rates to increase in an effort to burn these extra calories. An increased metabolic rate begins to age the body faster and makes it more prone to the development of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic related aging diseases. The body becomes more and more stressed, creating a vicious feedback loop that eventually ends in disaster.

How To Avoid Metabolic Diseases

In order to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle, a firm knowledge of how your specific metabolism works is essential. An endocrinologist can help you determine what your body needs and how it responds to the foods you eat, the stresses you experience, and the lifestyle that is best suited to keep you healthy.

A proper diet will help you manage stress better. Adequate rest and sleep will also help keep stress at manageable levels. In addition, regular and varied exercise will help keep your metabolism functioning properly. Understanding the definition of metabolism is a large part of a person’s overall health and wellness outlook. It must be studied and considered when making goals and setting sights on new horizons. There are many ways to learn more and help people to help along the way. Seek them out and ask lots of questions.