Have you ever wondered why some of us store even the smallest surplus in energy intake as fat deposits, while others get to enjoy food in excess and seemingly never put on weight?
It’s all down to how efficient we are at the production and usage of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) – body’s energy currency used in all cellular activities.
The energy consumed through molecules from the macronutrients in our food (carbs, protein and fat) is extracted through metabolic processes, ATP being the end product. Those lucky “fast metabolisers” are actually inefficient at production and usage of ATP, wasting a lot of energy during this activity through a process called thermogenesis, or dissipation of heat, which results in wasting of energy/calories, meaning more calories are”burned”.
Being efficient at ATP production and utilisation means that those with “slow metabolism” extract more ATP with less energy intake – making fat storage much easier for this person.
While it may be true that how fast our metabolism works is determined mostly by our genes, it is possible to naturally speed it up, through regular intense exercise, weight/resistance training and consuming adequate amounts of protein (due to its higher thermic effect – more on this later). Some studies have also found that drinking three cups of green tea can be efficient in boosting metabolism through a compound called epigallocatechin gallate.