What is metabolism?
Metabolism is what makes all vital processes in the body possible. In principle, metabolism is the biochemistry within the cells. Nutrients that are transported and distributed with the blood are used in the cells, taken apart, reassembled and transformed to be taken away again. In other words, they are metabolised. Thanks to metabolism, our body uses and utilises the supplied nutrients - these are vitamins, minerals and trace elements - and puts them where they are needed. The control centre for metabolism is located in the nervous and hormonal system, the most important metabolic organ is the liver.
The most important facts about metabolism at a glance
A distinction is made between different types of metabolism depending on the substances that are "exchanged". For example, there is the carbohydrate metabolism for energy production, in which the complex carbohydrates are first broken down into easily "digestible" sugar molecules and transported into the cells. The actual metabolism then takes place in the cells themselves. If the body already has enough energy, this simple sugar is stored. Fat metabolism also serves to produce energy - and on top of that, stores it for "bad times". Protein metabolism is particularly responsible for building muscle cells, mineral metabolism for building bones.
How can you boost your metabolism?
As mentioned, the metabolism is also responsible for storing energy. Those who are dieting naturally make sure to consume fewer calories than they need - or to increase calorie consumption - and thus reduce the storage, which shows up as fat. There is always a basal metabolic rate, which is the amount of calories a body needs to function even when it is doing nothing or sleeping. Any action beyond that, however, requires extra energy and can help boost metabolism. Still, there are different metabolic types and some people have a lower basal metabolic rate, meaning they need to do more to increase their overall metabolic rate and burn calories faster.
In principle, however, it is true that Movement or additional movement increases energy consumption and thus energy metabolism. For people who work a lot sitting down, this is easier said than done. Here, continuous, sensible movement is also recommended at the workplace, preferably with a so-called active chair, which ensures that the user moves more while seated than on a conventional chair. The Aeris Swopper for example, ensures that the sitter moves more than twice as much as on a conventional chair or office chair. Studies have shown that sitting on a Aeris Swopper can actually increase your energy consumption by up to 300 kilocalories a day compared to sitting on any other chair. The more you swoop while sitting, the better - because irrespective of energy consumption, the oxygen supply in the brain is also boosted, which lifts your mood!
Thinking further, you can also set up your workplace according to the Aeris Active Office movement concept set up. Thanks to two work surfaces at standing and sitting height and a new work organisation, work and movement merge completely; every impulse, every new task triggers movement and thus brings natural movement into everyday work.
