What Is Metabolic Flexibility

Food for many of us is more than just a set of more or less useful nutrients necessary for survival. Often , food becomes a regulator of emotions, and the feeling of hunger is the main factor that determines our morale and working capacity during the day.

Unfortunately, the habit of fighting a bad mood with a bucket of ice cream, as well as recharging the internal battery with sugary drinks and bars, can lead not only to excess weight. The problem is much more serious, because this type of food significantly affects metabolism . And if you feel addicted to your eating habits, then it's time to pump up your metabolic flexibility .

What you need to know about metabolism

Let's remind ourselves how metabolism works . You can compare the human body to a fireplace, where glucose is the liquid for kindling the fire. So, this substance allows you to light a fire quickly and easily, however, if there is no other fuel, then the fire will go out just as quickly.

In the same way , sugar acts on the human body : it provides a quick burst of energy, which after a short time will not even be remembered. Less than half an hour after dinner with a predominance of simple carbohydrates, you will want to sleep. Fats are another matter. They are like firewood: if you put a few logs in the fire, the fire will burn gradually, but it will last for a long time. Fats give the human body stable and sustainable energy.

You don't need to give up carbohydrates in your diet altogether and join the ranks of keto dieters. The human body needs both types of fuel. About 140 g of glucose per day is required for the healthy functioning of the central nervous system. It is the main nutritional element for brain cells.

With its lack, attention and working capacity decrease, cognitive functions deteriorate, a person feels tired and lacks energy. On the other hand, an uncontrolled love for pistachio eclairs, as we already know, can also lead to fatigue, sleepiness and reduced motivation.

What is metabolic flexibility

Metabolic flexibility comes to the rescue . This term refers to the body 's ability to adapt to different conditions and use the currently available fuel for energy. This is due to evolution. In those distant times, when a person's menu was determined not by what he saw in the supermarket, but by how successful the hunt was, the body adapted to use fat reserves for energy.

Today, a sufficient selection of food products , a large number of simple carbohydrates in the diet and frequent snacks force the body to constantly burn sugar. The better the flexibility of the metabolism , the easier it is for it to switch from burning sugar to burning fat and back, and the easier it is for the body to cope with a deficit or surplus of calories. That is, under such conditions, an accidentally missed lunch or a festive feast cannot seriously affect the general well-being or mood.

What is metabolic rigidity

Fatigue, constant food cravings , irritability, etc. are the main signs of sugar addiction, and therefore insufficient flexibility of metabolic processes . An uncontrollable craving for sweets can be the result of a malfunction of the endocrine system, which is responsible for the assimilation, storage and consumption of nutrients, and therefore for appetite.

For example, sometimes the brain is simply not able to correctly recognize satiety signals and instead of using up fat reserves, it accumulates even more. Also, the cause of metabolic rigidity can be a disorder of mitochondria, which are the energy stations of cells. The fewer mitochondria there are, the more difficult it is for them to perform their duties, and therefore there are problems with the conversion of fuel into energy. Which prompts the body to use simpler sources, which are sugar, rather than fats. In this case, a person wants to eat sweet pastries, not baked fish.

Excess weight is not the most dangerous consequence of metabolic rigidity. Scientists associate it with such pathological conditions as diabetes, hypertension, systemic inflammation, obesity and even cancer. That is why it is so important to recognize this condition as early as possible in order to change your eating habits. Fortunately, this does not require taking analyzes or passing complex tests, although a consultation with a specialist never hurts. The following signs should alert:

• You often snack between main meals .

• It is difficult for you to concentrate on work if you are hungry.

• You often eat even when you are not hungry.

• Skipping one or another meal has a very negative effect on your emotional state.

• You want to have breakfast right after waking up.

• You experience energy spikes throughout the day.

• You regularly crave something sweet.