Slow Down Your Metabolism In simple terms, metabolism represents the rate at which the body breaks down nutrients ingested through food in order to produce the energy it needs to function. Metabolism, also known as the basal metabolic rate to nutritionists, is well set by our bodies. It combines various factors, such as age, gender, state of health, genetics, state of reproduction, state of nutrition, and body size, plus a number of extra variables.

According to current conceptions, a person who has a "fast" metabolism burns calories more quickly, thus making it much easier to stave off excess weight. As the body is programmed to defend its metabolic rate, raising it or lowering it is quite difficult.

However, the metabolism can be influenced if one can change any of these variables which affect the metabolic rate. For example, during pregnancy, a women's metabolic rate is raised. On the contrary, the metabolic rate goes down when you try to lose weight by following a reducing diet, such as semistarvation. Furthermore, as we age, our metabolic rate also goes down, and estimations indicate that it decreases at a rate of 2-3% per decade after our adolescence.

There are also various drugs which can bring slight modifications of the metabolic rate, but generally only for the short term. The problem with any of the drugs in question, however, is that in order to have a major effect on your metabolism, they have to produce major changes in the way the body chooses to make use of its energy. and can lead to serious side effects, like a permanently raised blood pressure.

Trying to slow down one's metabolism is a useful solution if you want to gain weight, and there are some sane and safe suggestions for doing that. The answer consists in increasing the number of kilocalories by increasing the energy intake. Physical activity should also be decreased so as to reduce the excess fat and caloric burns. Metabolism slowdown can also be promoted through eating more often, eating larger amounts at a time. If this is your goal, you should also choose more fat-containing, energy rich foods occasionally and start to be more relaxed when it comes to your eating behaviors.

However, according to other health specialists, there are many misconceptions regarding metabolism, and having a low metabolic rate is not always responsible for overweight. Moreover, having a slower-than-average metabolism doesn't necessarily mean that one is destined to deal with excess weight.