Metabolic age is a conditional indicator that allows you to assess the state of health and the quality of metabolic processes in the body (biochemical, biological, energy).
That is, metabolic age is a complex of indicators of metabolic processes, assessing the need for nutrients for the normal life of the body and its need for energy substances. In fact, metabolic age indicates the general health of a person.
If the calendar age cannot be controlled, then the metabolic one is quite possible. It helps to reduce this indicator increasing the level of metabolic processes... Exercise regularly, eat right, completely eliminate bad habits.
When the metabolic age is below the calendar age, this indicates a person's excellent well-being and his excellent physical shape. But if, on the contrary, the human body is in poor condition and requires strengthening of all functions.
Calculation methods
The age of a person is determined by no means a calendar indicator. Factors such as lifestyle, proper nutrition, physical fitness and heredity affect a person's metabolic age and can significantly reduce it. It is very often seen that peers look either older than their calendar age, or younger.
Metabolic age is the influence of the following indicators:
- Adipose tissue volume... The function of this indicator is to protect internal organs from mechanical damage. If the level of this indicator goes into plus or minus, this threatens the development of one or another pathological condition.
- Bone mass. With an increase in the calendar age, the state of this indicator decreases, the strength of bones weakens, then it is reflected in the metabolic age.
- Water balance in the body. The body needs to consume a sufficient amount of fluid. The normal rate is 55-60%. With a decrease in the water balance, the condition of the skin, internal organs and all processes in the body worsens.
Not only these factors help to calculate metabolic age, there are several calculation methods.
Harris-Benedict Method
This method was introduced into medical practice back in 1984, over time, the method of calculation was corrected and came to more accurate data. The method consists in determining the consumption of daily calories. Since the female and male bodies require different energy consumption, the coefficients for the calculation will be different.
Men:
362 + (13.397 * MT, kg) + (4.799 * P, cm) - (5.677 * B, year)
Women:
593 + (9.247 * MT, kg) + (3.098 * P, cm) - (4.33 * B, year)
Where:
- MT, kg - human body weight in kg;
- P, cm - a person's height in cm;
- B, year - age in full years.
The result obtained is the required daily calorie intake.
Muffin-Geor method
The method was presented and approved by ADA (American Dietetic Association) in 2005. Calculations determine the actual calorie intake of a person at rest.
Men:
(9.99 * MT, kg) + (6.25 * P, cm) - (4.92 * B, year) + 5
Women:
(9.99 * MT, kg) + (6.25 * P, cm) - (4.92 * B, year) -161
The result obtained determines the required number of calories at rest, but in order to find out the required amount of consumption, you need to carry out more mathematical calculations.
The indicator is multiplied by a coefficient depending on the activity of the lifestyle:
- by 1.2 - with a sedentary lifestyle (a person practically does not have physical activity);
- by 1.375 - with light activity (physical activity appears no more than 2-3 times a week);
- by 1.55 - with an average indicator of life activity (physical activity no more than 3-5 times a week);
- by 1.725 - with a sufficiently high activity (physical activity prevails 6-7 times a week);
- by 1.9 - with very high physical activity (physical activities daily with additional loads, for example, in addition to hard physical work, sports in the evenings).
Ketch-McArdle Method
Based on the volume of muscle mass, the value of metabolic processes is determined.
For men and women, the calculus formula is the same:
370 + (21.6 * MMT, kg), where
MMT, kg - lean body mass in kg.
To find out your own lean body mass, you need to contact a fitness trainer or nutritionist... Modern clinics and sports clubs are equipped with special equipment that allows you to fully examine your body. With its help, you can determine many parameters, these are: the volume of water in the body, fat and muscle mass.
If, after the calculations made, it turns out that the metabolic age is higher than the calendar age, this is not a reason to worry. It is rather a new stage in life, which gives impetus to self-development and the beginning of a healthy lifestyle.
How to reduce
As the body ages, metabolic processes slow down, which is why metabolic age increases.
According to the data of observation of human aging, metabolism slows down by 7-10% every 10 years of life.
The main reason is a decrease in muscle mass and physical activity. With aging of the body and insufficient loads, muscle tissue is replaced by adipose tissue, which directly affects the slowdown of all metabolic processes.
The slowdown in metabolism is almost imperceptible, but over time it manifests itself in the form of obesity and diseases provoked by excess weight. An imbalance in metabolism can occur at a young age with improper diet and lifestyle.
In the male body, metabolic processes are more active than in the female. This is due to the large volume of muscle tissue, and in women, adipose tissue predominates, which slows down metabolism. You can increase the rate of synthesis of substances on your own, fighting excess weight, eating right and spending enough time for sports.
Food
Metabolic age is primarily about proper nutrition, which is the key to a healthy life and well-being. Nutritionists develop special diets that help to cope with certain diseases, improve skin color, and strengthen immunity.
There are also foods that burn fat cells and inhibit the deposition of subcutaneous fat. To speed up your metabolism, nutritionists recommend that you completely revise your daily diet.
The following products help to strengthen metabolism:
- Lean white meat and protein-rich foods (turkey, beef, chicken, eggs);
- Sea fish (trout, sardine, salmon, mackerel). These fish are very rich in fatty acids (omega-3s), which normalize leptin concentration and burn fat cells.
- Oat flakes (whole grains).
- Low fat unsweetened yogurt.
- Chilli. It contains the alkaloid capsacin, which enhances the synthesis of digestive enzymes.
- Spices such as curry, cinnamon, herbs.
- Green tea.
- Coffee. The caffeine contained in coffee stimulates the central nervous system, speeds up the heartbeat.
- Grapefruit.
- Lemon. To speed up the metabolism, it is recommended to add lemon juice to mineral water, especially this is great for sports training.
- Broccoli.
- Spinach.
- Apples.
- Pears.
- Kiwi.
- Seafood and seaweed.
- Pickled ginger.
Fatty, spicy, and too salty foods are very unhealthy.
Many products "settle" in the body, slowing down metabolic processes. It:
- any confectionery and baked goods;
- sugar;
- lard and pork meat;
- turkey and chicken with prolonged processing;
- potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants;
- melon, apricots, strawberries (fresh);
- nuts;
- salting;
- semi-finished products, fast foods;
- smoked meats;
- sausages;
- mayonnaise, ketchup;
- butter.
All products from the specified list have a negative effect on the functioning of the intestines, liver, cardiovascular system.
Remember that eating boiled, baked, steamed, or raw foods is important in a healthy diet. From fried, smoked should be completely abandoned. It is recommended to replace white bread with “dark” flour or bran bread.
To reduce metabolic age, there are special diets developed by nutritionists for each individual case.
Points are of particular importance in diet design. The higher the calorie and carbohydrate content of foods, the higher the score.
There are many tables on metabolic diets that list the carbohydrates and calories of foods. The number of daily points also depends on the phase of the diet. There are 3 of them.
The phases of the metabolic diet:
| Phase | Description and recommendations |
| First phase | Radical. Duration of the diet is 2 weeks. The diet is aimed at actively burning fat cells. On average, a person loses about 10 kg of weight during this period. When compiling the menu, the emphasis is on protein and fiber intake. The menu is designed for the consumption of products with indicators of "0" points. |
| Second phase | Stable. Longer lasting, can last up to 5 weeks. A gentle diet aimed at consistently burning fat. If in the first phase the emphasis was placed on the consumption of foods with "0" points, then in this period it is allowed to eat foods up to "4" points for 1 intake, reducing the indicator to "0" points in the evening meal. |
| Third phase | Supportive. This is the longest stage. The diet is aimed at maintaining normal health. Having achieved the desired result, it is gradually allowed to increase the scores, but at the same time monitor the stability of the weight. If weight begins to gain, points should be reduced by "1" daily. |
Sample menu for a week for each phase:
| 1st day |
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| 2nd day |
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| 3rd day |
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| 4th day |
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| 5th day |
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| 6th day |
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| 7th day |
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In between main meals, you should definitely have light snacks. It is recommended to consume dairy products and fresh vegetables during these intervals.
Exercise, exercise, sports
To speed up metabolic processes, regular exercise is recommended. The most effective method to speed up the process is with anaerobic exercise, performed daily for 30 minutes. in a day. This is running, brisk walking, swimming. Strength training in addition to anaerobic exercise can help you burn fat faster and improve your health.
Recommended physical education:
- Fast walk. Can be done by anyone, anywhere. It is recommended for beginners to do this exercise daily, starting at 10 minutes, gradually increasing the load according to their strength.
- Squats. Starting position - standing, back straight, feet shoulder-width apart.Perform squats as if we were sitting on a chair, but at the same time keeping our back straight. Perform the exercise from 10 times, increasing the number of squats daily.
- Forward lunges. Starting position - standing, back straight, feet shoulder-width apart. We take a step forward, keeping our back straight. We bend the knee of the thrown leg 90 °, and bend the second knee as low as possible to the floor. We do exercises, alternately throwing out our legs.
- Push ups. Starting position - handstand, arms shoulder-width apart, back straight. Men do the exercise without touching the floor with their knees, for women the exercise is easier - you can put your knees on the floor. Perform 10 times, increasing the load daily.
- Press. The abdominal muscles are strengthened and fat cells are burned. Starting position - lying on your back, hands behind your head, keeping your chin closer to the jugular cavity, legs bent at the knees. Raise the body up, leaving the knees bent. We rise this way 10 times, increasing the number of lifts every day.
- Running in place... It stimulates the work of the cardiovascular system, has a strengthening effect on the body as a whole, enriching cells with blood oxygen. You should run for about 3-5 minutes. in a relaxed state, arms dangling, and legs bent at the knees. You need to enjoy this exercise.
When doing exercises to stimulate metabolism, remember to breathe correctly. It should be smooth and rhythmic.
If it is not possible to devote enough time to physical education or suddenly the state of health does not allow, it is recommended to move more time. Let it be normal walking, but the blood cells must be saturated with oxygen.
Other methods
Metabolic age is a multitude of factors, including lifestyle in general. In addition to active movements, a Russian bath helps to speed up metabolic processes. A contrast shower is also an excellent remedy, which necessarily ends with cold water.
Massage increases blood circulation and metabolism. A night's sleep should last at least 7 hours; lack of rest negatively affects overall health.
Another accelerator of metabolic processes is sunlight. It activates the immune forces, stimulates the synthesis of vitamin D. Stressful situations negatively affect metabolic functions, so you need to learn relaxation techniques and take time every day to restore psychological strength.
The effect is achieved in each individual case in different ways. On average, the goal is achieved within 4-5 weeks. The active phase of the metabolic age falls on the first 2 weeks, closer to the third phase of metabolic acceleration, weight goes away more and more slowly, but this, if all the rules are observed, the body is maintained at a stable level.
Regular exercise, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle will make you feel much better every day.
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