According to the Mayo Clinic, metabolism encompasses the bodily processes we need to sustain life.

Today, the word “metabolism” is generally used in reference to weight. You may hear someone say they are having a difficult time losing weight because their metabolism is slow.

Although there is a certain amount of truth to such a statement, weight is regulated more by exercise and intake of food than from metabolism.

Metabolism is essentially a process through which the body turns the food we eat into the energy we require for our day-to-day life. And, there are 3 factors in your metabolism that are often overlooked.

Myths About Your Metabolism

There are a number of myths about metabolism that make their way around the internet including:

• Slim people have a higher metabolism than larger people. In fact, larger bodies require more energy than smaller bodies. As a person loses weight, he or she will require less food to fuel their smaller body.
• Exercise increases your metabolism. This is true to some extent—exercise certainly burns calories, but if you want to boost metabolism, choose activities that build muscle, such as strength training. High-intensity interval training can not only burn calories but can also boost calorie burn following the workout.
• Multiple small meals throughout the day boost metabolism more than three square meals—This is a myth through and through. While eating smaller meals throughout the day may keep some people from getting really hungry, without good portion control, you could actually end up gaining weight.

Well-Known Factors Other Than Diet and Exercise

While diet and exercise can certainly affect your metabolism, there are a number of other things which can also affect metabolism, including:

• Medications – certain medications can affect metabolism—slowing it down or speeding it up.
• Eating Breakfast – having breakfast every day can “jump-start” the metabolism.
• Losing Weight Quickly – rapid weight loss actually slows the metabolism, since it takes less energy for the body to function at a lower weight. This means that as a person loses weight, he or she will have to take in fewer calories or increase physical exercise to keep losing.
• Aging – as we age, our metabolism naturally slows. Older people generally become less active, gaining fat and losing muscle. Becoming more physically active as we age is key to maintaining normal metabolism. 

However, while these are all important factors in your metabolism, here are 3 which don’t get as much attention but are just as important:

What is Cellular Metabolism?

Cellular metabolism is a set of chemical reactions that occur in our bodies and which are necessary to maintain life. Cellular metabolism involves a complex sequence of controlled biochemical reactions, often known as metabolic pathways.

If you start thinking about your metabolism at a cellular level, you’ll understand how these 3 areas can have an enormous impact:

Little-Known Metabolism Factor #1 – Sleep

According to NCBI, we are a sleep-deprived society.

Since sleep is intricately connected to metabolic process in the body, sleep deprivation and sleep disorders can have not only a profound metabolic effect but also adverse cardiovascular implications.

Metabolic dysregulation is believed to result from sleep deprivation, sleep apnea, and circadian “misalignment.”

Most healthcare providers will tell you that sleep is a critical component of the healing process. It’s how our body regenerates naturally every day. Click here to read more about the role of sleep.

Little-Known Metabolism Factor #2 – NAD+ Levels

NAD+ levels decline as we age so its no surprise that maintaining good metabolism gets harder as we get older.

Raising NAD+ levels can support metabolic functions, potentially increasing overall metabolism. NAD+ is an essential component of the cellular processes which are necessary to support various functions of the metabolism.

As a co-enzyme that catalyzes cellular reactions, NAD+ is fundamental to metabolic processes. Since NAD+ levels decline during the normal course of aging, supplementation with NAD+ can effectively restore the NAD+ “pool,” boosting cellular functions. 

Obesity and metabolic syndrome can also decrease NAD levels, as can sun exposure and changes in the circadian rhythm.

Little-Known Metabolism Factor #3 – Biotin

Biotin is a water-soluble B-vitamin which is important for energy metabolism and is necessary for the function of enzymes, known as carboxylases. These enzymes which contain biotin participate in the production of fatty acids and glucose, which are essential for overall metabolism and health. 

You can increase levels of biotin in your body by eating foods such as: eggs, almonds, cauliflower, cheese, mushrooms, salmon, dairy, avocados, sweet potatoes, and spinach.

But sometimes, diet and supplements aren’t enough to get the biotin you need. That’s when new biotin supplements such as Myetin® can play an important role in your overall health by delivering as much as 300mg daily of D-Biotin.

Myetin® is a first-of-its-kind nutritional supplement delivering 150mg of D-Biotin and 25mg of NAD+ in every dose. When taken twice daily as recommended, you get the nutritional power of D-Biotin and energy-producing qualities of NAD+ delivered at the cellular level where your metabolism needs it most.