Monday, January 31, 2011

How To Assess Daily Caloric Requirements

There are six major factors that basically affect calorie requirements. Weight, basal metabolic rate, age, gender, weight, lean body mass and daily activities comprise these 6 factors. You will have a clear idea of what your daily calorie needs are by determining the factors that affect your caloric intake. Your can approximate yopur daily caloric intake with generic charts that take age, gender, activity levels and weight. These things are helpful nonetheless, it would be more accurate to include basal metabolic rate and lean body mass.

The BMR or the basal metabolic rate is the term used to describe the total energy used for bodily functions. This is actually exclusive of physical activities such as working out. This is the one responsible for circulation, digestion, respiration, temperature regulation, cell construction and the other body processes. Two thirds of the sixty percent of total daily caloric intake is comprised of the BMR. The total calories you need to stay alive is mainly comprised of the BMR. BMR varies and it is influenced by the genes. Some people are lucky enough to have high BMR while others don't. It is at its lowest when a person is sleeping. This is when your body is not digesting anything.

You should consider your physical activities when you are computing daily caloric needs. Second to BMR, physical activites are the most important determinant of daily caloric allowance. All the other activities that make up your day along with exercise are included. There will be fewer caloric allowance for physical activities for those with sedentary lifestyle. A higher caloric expenditure will accompany a lot of activities. Weight is another considerable factor. A heavier weight means more cells to feed and therefore requires more calorie intake. This is also the reason why people who are heavier expend more calories during exercise than those whose weights are lower.

The more accurate way of determining your caloric needs is the lean body mass or LBM. A high LBM means a high BMR. Determining your lean body mass is simply separating your lean body parts from fat. Muscles are active tissue and require more calories to function properly. Age and gender affect metabolic rate and therefore, affects daily caloric intake. Males have more muscles and require a higher amount of calories. Older people have a slower metabolic rate than the younger set. Also, senior citizens are more likely to have lesser daily physical activities.

Eating appropriate amounts of food is one way to ensure the maintenance of a healthy weight. Choosing the right kinds of food to supply your daily caloric needs not only regulates weight. It also gives you vital nutrients to enhance health. Tailoring your caloric needs around the factors affecting it allow you to balance what you take in and what you expend.

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Stamina 9200 CPS Indoor Bike