What is Metabolic Health? And why should you care?

If you've been reading my newsletter or blog for a while or have heard me give a presentation, you know that I spend a lot of time talking about metabolic health.

Every client comes to me with unique goals. Some are struggling with stubborn weight that they can't seem to lose, despite trying everything. Others feel run-down and want to get their energy back. Some have a specific health issue they want to address. These goals sound different, but the underlying issue is often the same: metabolic health.

Here's how to understand the connections:

What is Metabolism?

 The simplest definition of metabolism is all of the biochemical reactions that keep you alive.

Metabolism covers everything from extracting nutrients from food and oxygen from air to making energy in your cells. It includes converting dietary nutrients into molecules the body needs, such as protein from meat or beans into muscle, enzymes, and antibodies.

What is Metabolic Health?

 Metabolic health is defined by having a robust and efficient metabolism. When you give your body exactly what it needs, it uses the inputs to operate at peak performance.

As you can see, the definitions of metabolism and metabolic health are pretty broad.

Metabolism is what makes life possible.

Metabolic health is what makes it amazing.

What Does Metabolic Health Look Like?

When your metabolism is working well, you feel it. You're energized all day and don't need coffee to get through the afternoon. You maintain your weight without constant effort or obsessing over it. Perhaps most importantly, you have a solid foundation that protects you from the chronic diseases that are related to poor metabolic health. 

One client's experience was typical of many that I support. She came to me wanting to lose some weight before her son's wedding. She lost the weight and looked smashing in her dress, but as part of the process, she tuned up her metabolism.

I lost weight but more importantly, developed habits easy to maintain for my lifestyle, have more energy, and overall just feel better. K.M. Real Food Power client

The Nutritionist's Definition of Metabolism

 Narrowing the scope a bit, when nutritionists and doctors talk about metabolism and metabolic health, they are often referring to how someone uses insulin, because insulin is the primary hormone involved with extracting energy from food and deciding what to do with it.

This brings up a host of related terms, such as insulin sensitivity, or its opposite, insulin resistance, and blood sugar regulation. I'll be connecting the dots between all of these terms in future newsletters, so please stay tuned.

In the meantime, if you see metabolic health defined as a collection of lab results and risk factors, such as triglycerides, HDL, and waist circumference, keep the broader definition of metabolism in mind. Those markers are just several of hundreds of indicators for whether your metabolism is flourishing or struggling.

Metabolic Health Matters to Everyone

Metabolic health isn't just a concern for people who have already been diagnosed with something. Because metabolism is the foundation of everything your body does, when it's not operating efficiently, the effects show up in ways that may not seem to be connected.

Excess weight and low energy are the most obvious signs of metabolic dysfunction, but symptoms as diverse as chronic headaches, high blood pressure, and aching joints can also be related to poor metabolic health. You'll notice these things long before your labwork indicates that there is a problem.

Metabolism slows as you age, so even if it's humming along in your 30's and 40's, things will change in your later decades. This is why chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline are so common in midlife and beyond. Learning strategies to protect your metabolism at any age will pay off in a healthier and more vibrant future.

Why I Decided to Specialize in Metabolic Health

 When I started learning about metabolic health many years ago, I was intrigued by its role at the root of so many health problems.

The increasing rates of obesity and conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer in our country are directly related to the poor metabolic health of many Americans.

Our modern food system and lifestyle are the primary causes of this problem, and making food and lifestyle changes is the solution.

As a holistic nutritionist, optimizing nutrition and lifestyle is what I do, so specializing in metabolic health is a natural fit. Whether working one-on-one with clients or presenting at community events, I'm motivated by the opportunity to make a real difference in people's long-term health. That motivation is at the core of my new program:

Personalized Nutrition Coaching to Improve Metabolic Health

I'd love for you to check it out!

Please also share it with anyone you know who could use a metabolic tune-up. After all, that includes almost everyone.