s4/e08 "No, Running Won't Break Your Metabolism" with Dr. Stephanie Compton, PhD, RD
Feb 29, 2024
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Dr. Stephanie Compton, a metabolism and nutrition researcher, discusses metabolic flexibility, age-related decline, and the importance of exercise. She explores metabolic syndrome, muscle mass, and supporting metabolism for active individuals. The conversation delves into unrealistic expectations, macronutrient substrates, and the basics of metabolism.
Metabolism involves catabolic and anabolic processes, beyond calorie burn, focusing on building and breaking down substances in the body.
Balancing anabolic and catabolic processes is crucial for metabolic health, requiring proper nutrition to support bodily functions.
Fasted training doesn't solely induce catabolism; emphasis on nutrition overstates categorizing training as purely anabolic or catabolic.
Deep dives
Understanding Metabolism: More than Just Calorie Burning
Metabolism is not solely about burning calories; it encompasses both catabolic, breaking down, and anabolic, building up, processes in the body. While many focus on boosting metabolism for calorie burn, it's crucial to understand that metabolism involves various biochemical processes beyond calorie consumption. It includes functions like biosynthesis, energy utilization for building and breaking down substances, and sustaining life itself.
Balancing Anabolic and Catabolic Processes in Metabolism
Anabolic and catabolic processes in metabolism are not independent but work in tandem to maintain bodily functions. Rather than being in separate states of anabolism or catabolism, the body constantly balances both processes. Anabolism involves building tissues and proteins, while catabolism breaks down food for energy. Understanding that these processes coexist and supporting them with proper nutrition is essential for overall metabolic health.
Fasted Training and Misconceptions About Catabolism
The belief that fasted training is more catabolic than anabolic is a common misconception. Fasted training does not necessarily lead to excessive catabolism, as the body's metabolic processes involve both breaking down and building up, regardless of whether training is fasted or fed. The emphasis should be on proper nutrition to support energy needs and recovery after workouts, rather than categorizing training states as solely anabolic or catabolic.
Impact of Social Media on Perception and Communication
The podcast episode discusses how social media distorts information and communication, often reducing complex ideas into simplified and sensationalized versions for quick consumption. It emphasizes the importance of critically assessing content seen on social platforms due to the potential loss of nuance in scientific information or personal statements when transformed into attention-grabbing sound bites or viral content. Examples such as misinterpretations of a renowned athlete's training routine underscore the significance of context and nuance overlooked by social media's preference for brevity and sensationalism.
Metabolic Flexibility and Impact on Health
The episode delves into metabolic flexibility, highlighting its role in utilizing various macronutrient substrates for energy. It explains how metabolic flexibility allows individuals to adapt to different states, efficiently switching between carbohydrate and fat metabolism based on nutritional inputs. The conversation also addresses metabolic inflexibility, associated with conditions like metabolic syndrome, where individuals struggle to switch between fuel sources, potentially impacting overall health and energy utilization. The importance of factors like exercise, adequate nutrition, and sleep in supporting metabolic health and flexibility is emphasized over quick-fix supplements or biohacking trends.
Let's talk about METABOLISM! No, running doesn't "break" your metabolism; no, your metabolism doesn't screech to a halt once you turn 40. Metabolism and nutrition researcher Dr. Stephanie Compton, PhD, RD, joins the show to discuss metabolism and its impact on our bodies. It's not just about burning calories; it also includes the biochemical processes that build and break down substances in our bodies. Learn about different macronutrient substrates and how our bodies can use them for energy! This conversation explores the topics of metabolic flexibility, metabolic syndrome, age-related metabolic decline, the importance of exercise and muscle mass, supporting metabolism for active individuals, unrealistic expectations of metabolism, and the basics of metabolism.
Stephanie Compton, PhD, RD, LDN is a postdoctoral researcher whose research focuses on the intersections of nutrition, physical activity, and metabolism on cancer outcomes and survivorship. Stephanie is passionate about bridging the gap between science and real life to help others ask questions and dig deeper into nutrition. She has been communicating science via Instagram for over 5 years (@steph.compton.phd) where she talks about science and nutrition education with nuance. She is currently training for her first ultra-marathon.
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