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Metabolic Test Specialist

NutriD

Dr. Diana R. Schwartz, RD, CDN

Laser Hair Removal & Nutritionist located in Brooklyn, NY

Dietary recommendations are often based on the measurement of calories. Too many calories cause weight gain, but you also need an adequate amount to maximize your energy levels and maintain optimal health. At NutriD, registered dietitian Diana Rafailova conducts a metabolic test to help evaluate your individual calorie burn. The information helps her develop a diet and wellness plan customized to your body and goals. If you live in or around Brooklyn in New York City, learn more about metabolic testing by contacting the office or by using the online booking agent.

Metabolic Test Q & A

What is your metabolism?

Your body breaks down the food you consume and digest through the process of metabolism. Metabolism describes the chemical reactions that occur within cells to extract nutrients and energy. You need energy to power your daily activity, exercise, and life-sustaining bodily functions, such as breathing, brain function, and your heart pumping blood throughout your body.

Why should I care about my metabolism?

Although metabolism consists of thousands of complex reactions within your cells, it can be boiled down to the concept of calories. To craft a diet plan that helps you lose weight or maximize energy, it’s important to know how many calories your body uses daily.

Consume more calories than you burn through bodily functions, daily activity, and exercise, and you gain weight. If you consume fewer calories than you burn, you generally lose weight. If your energy is lacking or you’re losing weight without wanting too, you would also benefit from understanding your calorie burn rate to ensure you’re eating enough calories to fuel your activity needs.

Why do I need a metabolic test?

Charts and equations that estimate your calorie burn rate are available, but can be grossly inaccurate. They take into account an average person, but most people are not average. A metabolic test helps Diana understand if you have an abnormally low or high metabolic rate. It also allows her to pinpoint the precise caloric intake required for weight loss, maintenance, or weight gain.

How is metabolism tested?

At NutriD, Diana uses REEVUE®, which measures the amount of oxygen your body consumes at rest through a process known as indirect calorimetry. This tells her the minimum number of calories you must consume to survive, which is a measure of your resting metabolic rate.

What happens during a REEVUE test?

A REEVUE test requires you to rest completely to achieve an accurate measure. It involves no pain or discomfort. You relax in a room with lowered lights and soft music. You’re hooked up to the machine using a nose clip and you breathe into a disposable, sterile mouthpiece. Diana instructs you to breathe only through the mouthpiece for the duration of the test. The entire procedure takes about 20 minutes to complete.


*Individual results may vary