Metabolism Questions Answered, Plus Covid-19 Update

Metabolism is defined as all of the chemical processes that go on continuously inside your body to keep you alive and have your organs functioning normally, such as breathing, repairing cells and digesting food. These chemical processes require energy. Energy comes from the food we eat.  Calories are measurements of the energy held in food. The process of metabolism has two main parts. One part helps you grow new cells, store energy and maintain your body tissues. The other part breaks down fat and carbohydrate molecules to release energy that fuels your body’s cellular and energy needs and keeps you warm when cold, sweat when hot and enables your muscles to move.

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is a measurement of the calories needed to maintain basic body functions when you are at complete rest (sleeping, being a couch potato etc.) such as breathing, circulation, digestion and kidney function.  So for instance, if you way 165 lbs, your basal metabolic caloric intake to maintain 165 lbs  while completely at rest would be 1650 calories per day.  With activity added in, like walking, standing, working, exercising, the caloric requirement would go up to maintain that weight.  Activity determines how many calories are burned through out the day and affects metabolic rate.  No one does nothing unless they were in a hospital bed all day every day.  The more energy we expend, the more calories are needed to maintain body weight.  On the opposite side of the coin, if over weight and trying to lose weight, you would need to eat less calories then your energy expenditure.  If you eat more calories then your energy expenditure, weight gain occurs.

A common thought on metabolism is that the older we get, our metabolic rate slows down and we require less calories to maintain current body weight.  Since most people do not eat less as they get older (because hungry is still hungry), weight gain is typical.  To compensate for the slower metabolism an increase in exercise is needed to burn those extra calories that are not used for metabolic function.

Now the sad news.  Researchers at Duke University have recently published a paper in Science journal finding that our metabolic rate is actually steady from age 20 to age 60.  Under age 20, the metabolism is typically higher, plateaus from age 20 to 60 and then after 60 we see a decline in metabolism.  So, if you are in your 40’s or 50’s and are blaming weight gain on metabolism slowing with age, you need a different excuse.  The weight gain you are experiencing comes from over eating an lack of exercise.  And if that continues to occur, guess what will happen once you are in your 60’s?  More weight gain from your body burning less calories due to slower metabolism.

At all ages it is important to pay attention to your diet, not just for weight issues, but for overall health.  Avoid eating processed foods, using seed or processed vegetable oils and most importantly sugar. Sugar is the root of most illnesses and only provides an increase of empty nutritionally void calories.

Covid-19 Update:  Childhood obesity affects an estimated 50 million girls and 74 million boys worldwide. Obesity is defined as 30lbs over ideal weight.  These children are at greater risk of developing related functional, metabolic and psychological conditions.  Although children are not as severely affected by COVID-19 as adults — experiencing fewer symptoms, mild cases or no symptoms at all, children who do develop severe cases of Covid-19 and end up in the hospital typically have a co-morbidity illness such as asthma, diabetes and obesity.   Extended lockdowns and social distancing measures have increased children’s exposure to weight gain and have contributed to obesity, as well as disrupting their participation in health promoting activities like gym class and recreational sports.

Natural immunity vs vaccination immunity:  The CDC recently published a paper that said vaccinated people have twice the amount of immunity to covid-19 than people who have naturally contracted covid-19. According a recent law suit challenging covid-19 immunity rights, the study was flawed, but more importantly, flawed or not, the study was misrepresented by the CDC and now also the news reporting on this study.  The study said that if you had covid-19 and  have had the covid-19 vaccination you have a 0.02% of chance of reacquiring the covid-19 virus. If you had covid-19 and  have natural antibodies but are not vaccinated you have a 0.05%  of contracting covid-19 again.  According to the CDC, the percentage is double.  As you can see by the numbers, it may be double, but the percentage difference is miniscule and the actual numbers are not being reported on, only that covid-19 vaccination offers two times the protection of natural immunity as far as reinfection goes.

Atlantic County, NJ and Covid-19:  Atlantic County has 635 new cases of Covid-19 over the last two week period, up from 408 cases the prior 2 weeks. Atlantic County has had 3 deaths in the last two week period, down from 4 the prior two week period.  On August 8/14/2021, there were a total of 776 people admitted in all of New Jersey’s hospitals for care of Covid-19 infections, up from 638 a week ago.  In the USA, 353.8 million doses of the vaccine have been given out.  36.7 million people have contracted the Covid-19 virus in the USA.

Vaccine Informed Consent Information:   Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System data released 8/6/21 by the CDC showed a total of 545,338 reports of adverse reactions from all age groups following COVID vaccines, including 12,366 deaths. Serious injuries increased by 7000 this week to a total of 70,105 between Dec. 14, 2020 and July 29, 2021. According to the CDC, as of July 24th 2021,  As of July 30^th, 125,000 fully vaccinated people have tested positive for Covid-19 and 1400 have died.  This week’s data for 12- to 17-year-olds show 15,741 total adverse events, including 947 rated as serious and 18 reported deaths among 12- to 17-year-olds.  2,323 cases of anaphylaxis, 406 reports of myocarditis and 77 reports of blood clotting disorders in the 12-17 year old age group. This week’s data for pregnancy /prenatal vaccination shows pregnant women had 2,636 adverse events reported including 912 reports of miscarriage or premature birth. As of July 29th, 344.9  million doses of the vaccine were administered. VAERS is the primary government-funded system for reporting adverse vaccine reactions in the U.S. Reports submitted to VAERS require further investigation before a causal relationship can be confirmed. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database contains information on unverified reports of adverse events following immunization. Reports are accepted from anyone and can be submitted electronically.

Pregnancy and Prenatal chiropractic care info:  How long before you know if you are pregnant?  It takes about 2 to 3 weeks after sex for pregnancy to happen. Some people notice pregnancy symptoms as early as a week after pregnancy begins — when a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of your uterus. Other people don't notice symptoms until a few months into their pregnancy.

Author

Dr J. Zimmerman, Chiropractor Dr. Zimmerman is a practicing chiropractor from Galloway, NJ with 30 years of chiropractic practice.