Metabolism¹ is a combination of biochemical processes that your body uses to convert food into energy. These metabolic² processes include breathing, eating and digesting food, the delivery of nutrients³ to your cells through the blood, the use of energy by your muscles, nerves and cells, and finally the elimination⁴ of waste products from your body.

新陈代谢是你的身体把食物转换成能量的生物与化学结合的过程。那些代谢过程包括呼吸、进食和消化食物,从血液到细胞的营养物质运送,肌肉，神经和细胞所需能量的使用,还有最后身体废物的排出。

The Definition of Metabolism

新陈代谢的定义

When dieters talk about metabolism, they usually aren't talking about a long list of physical and chemical processes.

当节食者谈论新陈代谢时,他们通常不谈论物理和化学的一长串过程。

We often use the word "metabolism" to describe the rate at which our bodies burn calories. This is the rate at which your body converts food into energy (calories) and then uses the energy to perform essential and non-essential daily functions. The rate at which we burn calories or burn energy is called metabolic rate.

我们经常用“新陈代谢”这个词来描述我们的身体燃烧卡路里的速度，这是你的身体将食物转化为能量(卡路里)的速率,然后用能量来衡量必要和非必须的日常功能，我们燃烧卡路里或燃烧能量的速率被称为代谢率。

Your metabolic rate might change from day to day depending on your activity level, but your basal metabolic rate stays fairly steady. Your basal metabolic rate is the number of calories needed to fuel your body's essential functions, like breathing and circulating blood. Basal metabolic rate is the most significant component⁵ of your total metabolic rate.

你的代谢率可能会逐天改变，这取决于你的活动水平,但是你基本的代谢率保持相当平稳。你的基本代谢率是需要卡路里的数量以维持你身体的基本功能,如呼吸和血液循环，基本代谢率是你总的代谢率最重要的组成部分。

What Is My Basal Metabolic Rate?

什么是基本代谢率？

There are several different ways to determine your basal metabolic rate. The most accurate way to measure BMR is to have it tested in a lab. Some health clubs also do metabolic testing for a fee.

有几种不同方式决定了你的基本代谢率。最准确的方法是在实验室里进行测试。一些健康俱乐部也做收费的新陈代谢测试。

Your total metabolism or metabolic rate is a combination of your BMR and other variable metabolic processes like eating, exercise and other daily movement.

你的总新陈代谢或代谢率是你的基本代谢率和其他代谢过程如喜欢吃、运动和其他日常运动的结合。