Dr Sanjay Bhojraj Busts the Metabolism Myth: ‘It’s Muscle Loss, Not Hormones or Ageing'

Lifestyle News: Dr Sanjay Bhojraj, a cardiologist located in the United States, took to Instagram on July 17 to discuss the importance of muscle in metabolism. Muscle is one of the most metabolically active tissues in the body, and muscle loss after the age of 30 can have a substantial impact on metabolism, he explained.

Muscle is Metabolism

“Slow metabolism gets blamed for everything. We hear about it in every weight loss ad, every health podcast, and every TikTok wellness tip. But 'fixing your metabolism' means nothing if you do not understand what drives it,” shared the doctor in his post titled 'The metabolism myth that is keeping you stuck.' The cardiologist went on to explain 'what is actually happening', saying, "The real reason it is slowing down is muscle degeneration, not ageing or hormones. Muscle equals metabolism. And most individuals are losing it quickly." Speed comes from strength."

‘No muscle = no metabolic engine’

In his caption, he wrote, "We've blamed a slow metabolism for decades." But it's time to talk about muscles. Muscle is your body's most metabolically active tissue. And after 30, you begin losing 3-8 percent per decade. No muscle means no metabolic engine. The causes of resistant weight gain include muscle loss, hormonal fluctuations, poor protein timing, and sedentary lifestyles. "If we want to speed up metabolism', we must protect and prioritise muscle."

Metabolism can slow down due to low muscle mass

He added that the metabolism can slow down due to low muscle mass, which eventually makes the weight management harder. The metabolism is influenced by what you eat, which also involves one's protein intake for muscle management.