Health On The Blog

Metabolism is the exchange of oxygen and calories to energy. Every cell in the body relegates upon thyroid hormones for control of metabolism. It is not so well known that nicotine tends to increase the metabolic rate, which is one of the speculations why some people gain weight when they quit smoking. Metabolism is a collection of chemical reactions that takes place in the body’s cells to transform the fuel in the food we eat into the energy called for to power all of the things we do, from moving to thinking to growing. Specified proteins in the body control the chemical reactions of metabolism, and every chemical reaction is coordinated with other body functions.

Exercise reduces body fat and increases lean muscle mass. Aerobic exercise, like walking or cycling, has the added bonus of increasing your metabolism for 4-8 hours after you stop exercising. Exercise builds muscle and this requires the body to use up more energy than fat tissue. Exercise, food, and environmental temperature influence metabolism. Basal metabolism is the caloric expenditure of an organism at rest; it represents the minimum amount of energy required to maintain life at normal body temperature.

Calories expended to cover these basic functions are your basal metabolic rate also known as BMR. Typically, a persons’ BMR is the largest portion of energy use, representing two-thirds to three-quarters of the calories used each day.

One of the main reasons for regaining weight after dieting or fasting, has to do with protein and related replacements of fluids, Hence it is always important to keep well hydrated during a diet or even when just trying to lose weight naturally be lessening the food you would normally eat.Water is always re-established once your metabolism reverts to normal behaviour , and fat loss is not the same as weight loss, there is a subtle difference. Protein is absolutely necessary in a diet , and is a contributor to the loss of fat as well as a way to stop it from coming back immediately.

Many people believe that eating often is a good way to speed the metabolism, and this true to a certain extent , as the metabolism will slow in between large meals , and speed up when you have eaten and for a short time after. This also has the added advantage of not feeling hungry for long periods of time , and the temptation for snacking is decreased. For a good increase in metabolism , mealtimes should be 6 times per day , and a short , brisk walk after eating will ensure that the rate increases in time for your next meal.This will nicely trick the body into running a high BMR until the next mealtime. The opposite is also true for those wishing to gain weight.Spicy peppers are also a good way for a boost in BMR , even for just 30 minutes , as well as eating spicy meals will allow you to have a much faster rate boost in the amount of time .

You may think that the more you exercise the more weight you will lose , but as a brisk walk will only burn off 250 calories an hour, you will have to walk a day and a half to get rid of the meal you have just eaten. Truth be told the fat is reduced by the increase in basal metabolic rate after you have finished the exercise! You should remember these facts and have a productive weight loss.

About the Author

I have always had an under-weight problem.I spent a small fortune at a gym , I decided to do some research. I revealed a lot of facts about how my body works, and what I can do to trick it into doing what I want it to do! Why not come on over and read about basal metabolic rates and see if you can pick up some tips to change your life!

Patients with or without diabetes are at risk for developing hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, poses a serious health threat for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The findings indicate that hypoglycemia may account for some portion of the excess heart-related deaths seen in CKD patients.

Glucose control is the key to preventing end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in CKD patients with diabetes. However, managing diabetes in CKD patients can be complicated, as patients’ reduced kidney function can affect how they react to anti-diabetes medications. Difficulties with managing their diabetes can predispose CKD patients to episodes of hypoglycemia, a condition that can cause severe health complications including dizziness, disorientation, slurred speech, convulsions, and death.

Jeffrey C. Fink, MD (University of Maryland Medical System), Maureen F. Moen (University of Maryland School of Medicine), and their colleagues designed a study funded by the NIDDK and an ASN Student Scholar grant to examine the incidence of hypoglycemia among CKD patients and to determine whether the condition might contribute to CKD patients’ deaths. The researchers assessed the incidence of hypoglycemia in CKD patients relative to non-CKD patients, both with and without diabetes, and they examined the association of hypoglycemia with subsequent near term deaths (one day after blood glucose measurement).

Analysis included information from 243,222 individuals cared for at the Veterans Health Administration. The incidence of hypoglycemia was higher in patients with CKD versus without, both among patients with diabetes and among those without. The risk of hypoglycemia was highest in individuals with both CKD and diabetes.

Hypoglycemia increased patients’ risk of dying in the near term. According to the authors, there was a reduced risk of near term death in individuals with CKD relative to those without and this attenuation in the risk of death might relate to an increased quality of care in these patients with CKD relative to diabetic patients without CKD.

“The association of hypoglycemia with one-day mortality underscores the significance of this metabolic disturbance in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease,” said Dr. Fink. While details on therapy were not included in this study, the findings are consistent with others that have shown that putting patients on intensive glucose-lowering medications can lead to an increased incidence of hypoglycemia and does not prolong their survival.

The authors report the following financial disclosures: NIDDK 1R21DK075675 (JCF) and the American Society of Nephrology Student Scholar Grant 2008, which enables selected medical students with an interest in either basic or clinical research to spend from 10-52 weeks engaged in continuous full-time research. Student Scholar Grants are awarded on the basis of the applicant’s ability and promise for a research career as a physician-scientist and the quality of the training that will be provided.

The article, entitled “The Frequency of Hypoglycemia and Its Significance in Chronic Kidney Disease,” will appear online at http://jasn.asnjournals.org/ on May 7, 2009, doi 10.2215/CJN.00800209.

Founded in 1966, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is the world’s largest professional society devoted to the study of kidney disease. Comprised of 11,000 physicians and scientists, ASN continues to promote expert patient care, advance medical research, and educate the renal community. ASN also informs policymakers about issues of importance to kidney doctors and their patients. ASN funds research, and through its world-renowned meetings and first-class publications, disseminates information and educational tools that empower physicians.

Shari Leventhal | Source: EurekAlert!
Further information: www.asn-online.org