Basal metabolic rate

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the amount of energy that an individual’s body needs at rest to maintain vital functions such as breathing, blood circulation, body temperature regulation, and organ function. This value is individual and depends on factors such as age, gender, weight, and level of physical activity.

The Role of BMR in the Ketogenic Diet

Understanding and taking into account the basal metabolic rate is particularly important in a ketogenic diet, as total calorie consumption and macronutrient distribution need to be carefully adjusted to maintain a state of ketosis.

Factors Affecting BMR

• Age: BMR usually decreases with age.
• Gender: Men typically have a higher BMR than women.
• Weight and Body Composition: More muscle mass contributes to higher BMR.
• Genetics: Genetic factors also influence BMR.

To maintain the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet and control calorie intake, it is important to know your basal metabolic rate. This will help distribute daily fat, protein, and carbohydrate intake in a way that keeps the body in ketosis and efficiently burns fat.

Calculating BMR

BMR can be calculated using various methods, including the Harris-Benedict, Mifflin-St Jeor formulas, and others. These formulas take into account the aforementioned factors, such as age, gender, height, and weight. The resulting number indicates how many calories the body burns at rest per day.