Metabolism - What is it?

In very simple terms, your metabolism is the rate at which your body operates as it performs its bodily functions. It creates some things (like heat, muscle, proteins, RNA, hair, nails, enzymes, storage fat, bones) and it breaks down others (like food, fat for storage, etc.). Both these metabolic processes occur simultaneously, every moment. The fuel for all the chemical reactions required in these processes, is food.

Metabolism is basically a genetic inheritance. You may have a faster metabolism than normal, for a person of your size, or a slower one. In this connection, the words "metabolism" and "metabolic rate" are often used interchangeably. Point is, although you can alter your metabolism somewhat, you can't change your basic metabolic predisposition.