Download the program to count calories. Calorie counting software: app features and best variations for Android and iOS

17.08.2019 Healthy eating

One of the ways to lose weight without harming your health is to normalize your diet. And for the normalization of nutrition, it is imperative to calculate proteins, fats and carbohydrates (BZHU), as well as calories.

Why is it worth downloading Calorie Counter for Android?

Calories are energy that is expended when the body expends energy for physical activity, or is obtained when it ingests food. Of course, if you spend more than you receive, then a person will begin to lose weight.

That is why you need a Calorie Counter for Android. Thanks to its huge database, it calculates the number of calories received from the food consumed. This is very convenient, since there is a lot of information in it about the products. You just need to choose your product and enter the amount of grams that you accepted.

Downloading Calorie Counter for android for free will also help people calculate the daily calorie intake for weight loss, slow weight loss, maintaining weight or gaining mass, depending on various factors such as age, height, current weight, lifestyle. Such programs will greatly facilitate the work of those who control the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in their diet. You can plan your menu a day in advance.

The calorie counter for android is used not only by those who want to lose weight, but also by athletes and just people who monitor their health. At first it may seem like a very boring business that requires serious calculations, it can be too tedious, distracting, and time-consuming. But, as soon as it becomes a habit, such a procedure will cease to tire. And a person who is accustomed to his diet will already know how many calories he receives or spends. It's a matter of time.

This is very useful for those who want to take care of their body, take care of its health and live a long and happy life with correct dietary settings. She will develop the habit of eating right, because she will not have to report to herself in her head, where she can hide some truth from herself. All facts will be right before your eyes.

Calorie counters usually include the following:

  • calculation of the daily calorie intake for each individual;
  • a list of popular products with already established norms;
  • daily consumption counter;
  • counter of daily intake of proteins, fats and carbohydrates;
  • weight loss tracking and convenient charts;
  • tracking the water consumed per day.

But what distinguishes each program from each other is how these functions are implemented. Different design, variability of settings, product base - this is what makes the user make a choice in favor of a particular one.

Popular Calorie Counting Apps

FatSecret

FatSecret is a free calorie counting app available for both iOS and Android. Doesn't require any subscriptions and has no in-app purchases. And best of all, there are no ads in it! The advantage of the application is its ease of use: it is easy to find the desired product in a huge database, and it is possible to add your own. The application has already loaded a database of recipes with the calculated nutritional value of dishes. For additional motivation, the program provides a social feed in which users can share their diet, food and achievements.

Lifesum

Another popular app for Android and iOS users is Lifesum. The program is free to download, but you can purchase a paid account that will expand access to information about foods (for example, sugar and cholesterol content), and will also take into account body volume and percentage of adipose tissue.

The free account has a large food base, and Lifesum remembers the foods you eat most often. Therefore, it becomes more and more convenient to use it every time. It is possible to read barcodes from packages, as well as add your own recipes. The application is able to remind about weighing, about meal time and water consumption. Plus, the free account has a pretty good exercise base.

YAZIO

This application, like some of the previous ones, has both paid and free accounts and is available for download on Android and iOS. In the paid one, you can get a base of 100 recipes for a healthy diet, make measurements of different parts of the body and track nutrients (fiber, sugar, etc.) and blood sugar levels. But all the basics are in the free account too. It contains a product database, barcode scanner, weight recording and physical activity tracking. But unlike other programs, you cannot add whole recipes, only individual products. The food diary can be supplemented with photographs, which makes keeping it more enjoyable.

MyFitnessPal

Another handy app for those who decide to take control of their food. It is available for both Android and iOS users. In it, just like in others, you can monitor the nutritional value of foods and your progress in keeping in shape.

The developers believe that the advantage of the application is the daily growing product base, which contains more than 4 million items. Therefore, the user will most likely find most of the products and do not have to enter it on their own. There is also a barcode scanner, a recipe nutritional calculator and the ability to create an unlimited number of your own dishes. The app contains 350 exercises: cardio and strength. It is also possible to add your own. Another nice addition is the ability to synchronize your personal accounts on your mobile phone and on the website.

On the downside, there are in-app purchases in MyFitnessPal, so some additional functions are not available to everyone.

Dine4Fit

Dine4Fit's nicely designed weight loss app contains all the basic functions for a calorie counter. It has a large product base. It shows the cholesterol content and the glycemic index, which are important to know not only for those who are actively losing weight, but also for people who monitor their health.

Pros of the app: good ready-made ones that calculate the number of calories burned in one session. Users note that adding products to this application is very quick and easy.

But there are also disadvantages: you cannot add your own recipe, the program does not show the sugar content in products and takes a long time to load.

Easy Fit

The bright design and animated details of the Easy Fit app will not get bored and will make you open the app every day. The menu is made in the form of bright icons. The user can customize the interface for himself, as in the settings you can choose one of 24 color schemes.

The application contains all the standard functions for tracking nutrition: a large database of products, the ability to set a goal and track statistics. Plus, it can work offline.

The disadvantages that users point out are that the database may not contain the usual products, since the program was made by non-Russian developers. But this is fixable: just add what you see fit. And the second minus - the program, unfortunately, exists only in the version for Android.

"Calorie"

Calorie is another app for Android users only. A very simple program for those who do not want to bother with additional functions. She knows how to work without the Internet, count calories, monitor weight loss statistics, read data on physical activity from Fit. The only thing that is required from the user is to register on the application website and enter nutritional data on a daily basis.

Modern mobile applications not only entertain the user of the gadget, but also help him monitor his health and, in particular, weight. Fitness does not always bring results in the fight against extra pounds, so even athletes have to look at foods in terms of calorie content, not taste. The mobile applications described in the review will help you calculate calories, as well as draw up a training program, keep a diet diary and take other steps towards losing weight.

Android users should pay attention to the following programs:

Lose Weight Together

Price: Free

This application is a real encyclopedia of weight loss; information for this application was collected not only on the Internet, but also in paper sources for a long time. It is especially pleasant for users that this useful program for Android is completely free.

With the application " Lose weight together»The user can:

  1. Get acquainted with a huge number of diets - the Kremlin, economical, Atkins and Elena Malysheva's diets.
  2. Read articles on vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements.
  3. Use one of several functional calorie calculators (section "Calculations") - this will help you to maintain your diet.
  4. Draw up your own weight loss diary in a graphical form - this will allow you to track the dynamics of weight loss and draw conclusions about the effectiveness of diets.
  5. Study the detailed calorie table, which includes more than 25 thousand different products and ready-made meals.

There is only one drawback of the application - intrusive advertising, however, according to 2 million users, this is not a big problem. If you wish, you can get rid of ads by installing the paid version of the program.

My weight loss coach

Price: Free

Android smartphone app My weight loss coach performs not so much informational as motivational function: each user receives a "graphic" body (avatar), by the example of which he sees how his own body is changing as a result of the current diet.

What else is interesting about this slimming app?

  1. Collection of motivational photos... The application contains a whole gallery of pictures of the owners of ideal figures. You can set a target weight and see what the body will be like when it is reached.
  2. The function "SOS hunger" confirms that the app developers have a great sense of humor. If the user intends to eat too much out of boredom, he should press the "SOS" button, and a tip will appear on the screen reminding that food will not make him happier - a call to a friend will help to cope with boredom much more effectively.
  3. Reminder function - thanks to her, the owner of the gadget will never forget that it is time for him to train or weigh himself in order to fix the results.

You can also find paid and free (Pro) versions of the app on Google Play My weight loss coach- Features such as calorie counter and weight loss graph are not available in the free version.

Best Weight Loss Apps for iPhone

In the AppStore, you can find several applications that will surely teach you how to monitor your body and lose weight:

Price: Free +

Is the highest rated calorie counting app for iPhone. By specifying the anthropometric data (weight, height) when installing the program, the user will find out the personal rate of calorie consumption, which must be observed from day to day in order to lose excess weight. The developers of the application claim that it has a number of characteristic features that allow it to go one step ahead of the competition:

  1. The app boasts the largest food database with over 4 million individual foods and dishes. The database is updated on a regular basis.
  2. The program includes a barcode scanner, which makes it easy to find the desired product in the database.
  3. The application is synchronized with the program's website, so you can fill out the diet diary from both a computer and a mobile phone.
  4. The program is excellently Russified, it works perfectly even on iPhones of the 3rd and 4th generations, and with all this it is free.
  5. The app for calculating calories is installed not only on the iPhone and iPad, but also on the Apple Watch.

The application has disadvantages: firstly, it is installed only on devices with iOS 8 or later, and secondly, the paid version of this application (without ads) will cost the user a pretty penny - it costs 749 rubles.

Calorie Counter by Fat Secret

Price: Free +

« Calorie counter"From the developer Fat Secret Is a worthy competitor to the application. With the help of this program, you can find out about the calorie content of all products included in the user's daily diet.

The application provides a number of tools that will allow you to achieve your goal - to lose weight or, on the contrary, to gain it:

Application from Fat Secret Despite the similar functionality, it has several advantages over the more famous: firstly, it can be downloaded for free (no Pro and Lite versions), and secondly, it is compatible with iOS 7.

If you are serious about getting in shape, getting in shape and losing weight, then calorie counting is the perfect way to achieve that goal. Eating a small calorie deficit can help you lose weight efficiently, efficiently and, most importantly, safely.

We are offering to you top free calorie counting apps for Android and iOS... With the help of a convenient program on your mobile phone, you will always have a food diary at hand and you can easily add food even outside the home. Some programs don't even require internet to access the full product list.

All of the below mobile calorie counter apps have following functions:

  • individual calculation of daily calorie intake
  • food calorie counter
  • protein, carbohydrate and fat counter
  • ready-made product list with all macros
  • the ability to add physical activity
  • a ready-made list of basic physical activities with calorie consumption
  • tracking changes in volume and weight
  • drinking water accounting
  • convenient and visual graphs to help you debug power supply

However, even the same functions in these programs are implemented in completely different ways. Calorie counting apps are not only different design and usability, but also a base of products, options for activity, additional functions.

The following calorie counting apps are designed for both operating systems: Android and iOS (iPhone)... The programs can be downloaded from the Play Market and AppStore, the links are listed below. The apps are offered free of charge, but some of them allow you to connect paid premium accounts with additional features. However, even the basic version is often enough to successfully carry out calculations of KBZhU. Average ratings and number of app downloads are based on Play Market data.

My FitnessPal confidently takes the leading position in the list of the most popular calorie counting apps. According to the developers, the program has largest database(more than 6 million product names), which is replenished daily. The application has a full set of functions: creating an unlimited number of your own meals, convenient statistics and reports on the dynamics of weight, a barcode scanner, statistics on basic nutrients, including proteins, fats, carbohydrates, sugars, fiber and cholesterol.

The My FitnessPal calorie calculator app also features a handy workout functionality. Firstly, it is the ability to create an unlimited number of your own exercises. Second, you can make personal statistics for both cardio and strength exercises, including the number of approaches, reps, and weight per rep. Internet access is required to access the food and exercise list.

Another highlight of My FitnessPal is full synchronization with the site: you can fill in the diary both from a computer and from a phone. The app is free, but some additional features are available only with a paid subscription. Of the minuses, users also note the impossibility of synchronizing with individual fitness trackers.

  • Average rating: 4.6
  • Number of downloads: ~ 50 million

Fat Secret Counter

Fat Secret is a completely free calorie counting app with no premium accounts, subscriptions or ads. One of the main advantages of the program is pleasant, concise and informative interface... Fat Secret has a large product base (including product entry by barcode), which is divided into categories: Products, Restaurant chains, Popular brands, Supermarkets... In addition to standard macros, information on the amount of sugar, sodium, cholesterol, and fiber is offered. There is also a simple exercise diary to keep track of your calories burned.

Interesting features include image recognition: take pictures of food and dishes and keep a diary in photos. Among the inconveniences, users note the insufficient number of meals (only breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks), as well as inconvenient addition of recipes without the ability to specify portions. There is a section for weight control, but, unfortunately, there is no volume control.

  • Average rating: 4.4
  • Number of downloads: ~ 10 million

Lifesum is another very popular calorie counting app that will delight you attractive design... The program has a large database of products, the ability to add recipes with indication of portions and a barcode reader. Lifesum also remembers what foods you have eaten, which makes it even easier to monitor your nutrition. The application has a convenient system of reminders about daily weighing, meals and water consumption.

The program is free, but you can purchase a premium account, in which you will have access to additional information on products (fiber, sugar, cholesterol, sodium, potassium), body volume and percentage of adipose tissue, product rating. The free version does not have this functionality. But there is good base of physical activity, which includes all popular group workouts, including the Les Mills programs.

  • Average rating: 4.3
  • Number of downloads: ~ 5 million

YAZIO is also one of the top most requested calorie counting apps. The food diary is accompanied by photographs, so keeping it easy and enjoyable. The program has all basic functions: a ready-made product table with all macros, add your products and create a favorites list, barcode scanner, track sports and activity, record weight. However, adding your own recipes is not provided, you will have to limit yourself to the introduction of individual ingredients.

Like the previous calorie counting app, YAZIO has a number of limitations in the free version. For example, in a premium account, you will receive over 100 healthy and delicious recipes, you can track nutrients(sugar, fiber and salt), keep track of the percentage of body fat, blood pressure, blood sugar, make measurements of the chest, waist and hips. But the basic functionality is also available in the free version.

  • Average rating: 4.5
  • Number of downloads: ~ 3 million

The cute calorie counting app Dine4Fit is also starting to conquer its audience. This program implements all basic functions for keeping a food diary... Also added such useful information as the glycemic index, cholesterol, salt, trans fats, fatty acids in most foods. In addition, there is data on the content of vitamins and minerals, and even practical advice on the choice of products and their proper storage.

Dine4Fit has a very large database of products that is regularly updated. At the same time, this is also a disadvantage: such a list causes confusion and complicates the use of the application. Another disadvantage users call the inability to add a ready-made recipe, as well as long application load... However, it should be noted that in the list of sports loads you will see the familiar fitness programs 30 Day Shred, Insanity, Body Revolution with ready-made data on calories burned per session.

  • Average rating: 4.6
  • Number of downloads: ~ 500 thousand

Calorie counting apps for Android

The presented applications are offered Android platform only... If the programs listed above do not work for you, try one of these three options.

Highly simple and minimalistic calorie counting app, which includes all the most necessary functions for keeping a food diary. If you need a simple and straightforward program, in which there is nothing superfluous, then "Calorie Counter" is the perfect option for your purposes. Plus, it is one of the few calorie counting apps that works great offline too.

At the same time, all the main functions are perfectly implemented: a ready-made set of products with calculated macros, the ability to add recipes, a list of basic sports loads, an individual calculation of the KBZhU. And the reviews of the app, despite its minimalism, are very positive.

  • Average rating: 4.4
  • Number of downloads: ~ 500K

Easy Fit counter

In contrast to the previous app, Easy Fit is designed for those who appreciate bright interface and animated design in programs. This calorie counter has no competition in design. The developers created not just a trivial table with a list of products and macros, but approached the matter from a creative point of view. The program has a lot of animation, products are depicted with visual icons, and in addition, there are 24 color schemes in the settings so that you can choose the design that is most pleasant for you.

Despite the rich design, the program works stably and without interruptions. The app has all the basic functions, and the attractive design only adds to the fun of the calorie counting process. But there are also disadvantages. Since the program was not developed by Russian developers, the database contains some familiar products are missing... However, this can be easily solved by adding the products you need on your own. By the way, the application also works successfully without the Internet.

  • Average rating: 4.6
  • Number of downloads: ~ 100K

Counter SIT 30

The SIT 30 calorie counting app is easily recognizable by the ladybug logo. The program has an ergonomic design, convenient access to all functions in a few clicks and a variety of weight loss statistics. The SIT 30 offers a versatile meal and workout reminder system. Also the program is interesting unique mechanism for adding recipes taking into account heat treatment when calculating calorie content: boiling, frying, stewing.

This calorie counter app works without internet. Among the shortcomings, one can note a not quite high-quality selection of the product base. Very common repetition of products, with slight differences in the name, which makes it difficult to find the right dishes. Also, among the minuses, users note the lack of widgets.

  • Average rating: 4.5
  • Number of downloads: ~ 50 thousand

IOS Apps (iPhone)

In addition to the iOS apps listed above, you can try DiaLife, which is specially designed for iPhone and iPad.

DiaLife's calorie calculator is very easy to use, so it comes as no surprise that it is highly popular with Apple product owners. Everything in the program is subordinated to the main goal - meticulous calorie counting and food analysis... Each product is accompanied by an information card about calories, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, glycemic index, fiber, vitamins and minerals. You will not only lose weight, but also monitor your health. Although some users complain about the small assortment of ready-made meals.

Interestingly, the activity section has as many as 12 sections: "Housework", "Sports", "Childcare", "Leisure", "Transport trips" and others. DiaLife's calorie counting app is free, but you can connect to a premium account, which gets access to a wide range of diets, medication diary, PDF report generation and other functionality. However, the basic package is sufficient for the calculation of KBZHU.

  • Average mark: 4.5

In general, each of these programs can be called great helper for those who decide to take the side of proper nutrition. Calorie counting apps are a handy tool to analyze your current diet and identify factors that are blocking your weight loss.

Our calculator is designed for those who are on a flexible diet, or just want to switch to this nutritional system.

The basic tenet of a flexible diet is that you can eat almost anything, provided the following conditions are met:

  • you need to adhere to your individual level of daily calorie intake;
  • the correct ratio of proteins, fats, carbohydrates is observed.

That is, you must provide your body with a stable supply of the correct amount of calories and the required ratio of protein-fat-carbohydrate (FFA), but the sources of these elements and energy can be represented by an infinite number of foods and dishes.

When using a flexible diet, you not only count the total number of calories consumed, but you also need to manage the ratio of BJU.

For example, you might spend your entire calorie budget on a pancake breakfast, but remember that you need to provide the right amount of fat and protein. And do not be surprised that by lunchtime you may feel tired - you have used up all the carbohydrates and now you have no energy left.

Use this calculator to calculate the amount of calories you need per day and the optimal macronutrient ratio for your age, height, weight, gender, and physical activity. Use these results for a flexible diet to lose weight, maintain weight, or build muscle.

Physical activity level

Higher levels of physical activity are accompanied by higher calorie expenditure. To accurately control the calories consumed, (and therefore, calculate the required daily calorie intake), it is necessary to determine how many calories you burn in sports: for this, use our.

Too much physical activity combined with low calorie intake can lead to muscle catabolism (breakdown of muscle tissue), which in turn slows down metabolism and weight loss. Metabolism usually starts to slow down after 3 days on reduced calories.

Weight loss and fat loss do not always mean the same thing: weight can be lost due to loss of muscle mass, while the amount of adipose tissue remains the same. To prevent this from happening, it is important to calculate the optimal ratio of macroelements - BZHU.

Incorporating regular exercise into your new lifestyle helps you maintain muscle levels even when you're in a calorie deficit.

But remember:

  • The body spends 5-25% of the total energy consumption on physical activity, and this is not only special fitness classes, this also includes walking, doing our daily activities, etc.;
  • about 10% of energy is spent on digesting food;
  • about 60-80% of the energy is spent on the basic vital functions of the body.

Therefore, physical activity will certainly help in the process of losing weight, but, nevertheless, the most important thing is to limit calorie intake.

Moreover, it should be borne in mind that the body can spend a limited number of calories per day, it cannot work indefinitely, even if we constantly throw new energy into it. Therefore, if today you spent a lot of calories on sports, the body will optimize the daily expenditure of calories and use fewer calories for other processes. As a result, the total daily calorie expenditure of this day will not be much more than yesterday's.

Exercise is very important in itself, for both physical and psychological health, but with it we can regulate a maximum of 5-25% of our daily energy expenditure.

What happens if there are too few calories? And is it possible to lose weight only through diet?

With an ultra-low calorie intake, muscle catabolism begins, muscles melt, and, accordingly, the body begins to spend less energy on its main life activities. That is, your base metabolism decreases. This means that as soon as you return to your regular diet, you will not only regain your weight, but also gain more. Therefore, it is very important:

when losing weight, it is imperative to introduce physical activity, this will help not to lose muscle mass while reducing calorie intake or even increase it, and therefore increase the base metabolism. This will help you lose weight much more effectively and prevent you from gaining weight when you return to your regular diet.

Macronutrients: proteins, fats and carbohydrates

Squirrels

Protein is important for the growth of new tissue as well as for the repair of damaged tissue, which is what happens when you exercise.

Protein must be your best friend if you want to gain or maintain muscle mass.

But protein isn't just muscle, it's also a feeling of fullness that will help you stay on track.

Protein Sources: eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, meat, fish, nuts, beans, peas, lentils, soy and other legumes.

Fats

Fat is often mistakenly demonized.

Fats can be very helpful in achieving your body shaping goal, they also affect hormones - too little fat can harm your body.

25% of all calories on a flexible diet are allocated to fat. This can be adjusted later, but this is what the initial proportion looks like.

Sources of fat: olive oil, coconut oil, natural peanut oil and other nut butters, avocado, almond, walnut, cashew, red fish, mackerel, egg yolks.

Carbohydrates

Your body uses carbohydrates to produce glucose, which is the body's preferred fuel or energy. They are the ones that enable us to stay active.

Fiber, which is important to watch out for if you want to stay healthy, is also a source of carbohydrates, but it also contains no calories.

Sources of carbohydrates: To rupees and cereals, bread, cereals, pasta, potatoes, fruits, vegetables, flour products.

Carbohydrates are simple and complex.

Complex carbohydrates

Complex carbohydrates are absorbed more slowly, which means that the energy released during their processing is distributed by the body evenly for its vital functions, without turning into fat reserves. And what is more important, the energy from complex carbohydrates is evenly released within 3-4 hours, which means that all this time the body will have enough energy and it will not require additional food.

Usually, foods containing complex carbohydrates are darker in color than simple ones.

Examples ofoats, brown rice, starchy vegetables, whole grain bread.

Simple carbohydrates

Simple carbohydrates are absorbed too quickly, the body does not have time to use them up and they go into fat reserves. In addition, the body receives energy in the form of a short burst, and then a breakdown occurs.

Examples ofwhite rice, white bread, biscuits and sweets.

Serving frequency and size

A large portion for a single meal, even if the daily calorie intake is observed, can trigger fat storage.

This happens according to a principle similar to the assimilation of simple carbohydrates: a lot of calories and a lot of energy enter the body at once, the body may not have time to use all of it, and then part of the energy can be deposited in the form of fat.

If the daily diet is divided into more small portions, then each meal will receive fewer calories, which the body is more likely to absorb. Also in this case, the load on the digestive organs is reduced - the stomach, pancreas, etc.

In addition, it is recommended to eat before any active activity (physical: for example, before a walk, or just before going to work, or even mental - with increased mental activity, the body also spends more energy). But do not lie on the couch after eating or sleep.

Calories for Fat Loss

It is believed that a pound of fat is equal to 3,500 calories, so a daily deficit of 500 calories should help you get rid of a pound of fat per week.

In fact, this is not entirely true.

In general, the body's energy expenditure gradually decreases as a person begins to lose weight. This means that you will inevitably find yourself at the plateau stage - the stop of weight loss. The amount of food that previously led to weight loss will one day lead to its maintenance. From which the warning follows:

Always try to aim for a "Weight Loss Normal" daily calorie burn.

The level "Extreme rate of weight loss" is the most extreme and dangerous for health. Do not try to switch to it right away in the hope of a quick effect. Ultimately, the result may be the opposite of the desired one. This option provides the lowest calorie intake that can be considered. It should be taken as the exception rather than the rule. It is healthier to burn fat than to get rid of it through fasting.

Weight loss plateau - why when you decrease your calorie intake, weight stops falling

Over time, the body adapts to the reduced calorie intake.

The body begins to use energy more efficiently - it slows down the metabolism, so it burns less fat. This is why many reach a plateau (stop) weight loss.

At this stage, the only option is to speed up your metabolism by:

  • increasing cardio loads, strength training,
  • the use of "deceptive" food (ie periodically introduce high-calorie foods into the diet);
  • periodic changes in the number of calories (the so-called "zig-zag" diet - used in our calculator, in a detailed calculation of calorie consumption by day); Link
  • changes in the proportions of macronutrients.

Important:

Only a decrease in the number of calories, in the absence of physical activity, will slow down the metabolism, and the moment you return to the "normal" diet, the weight will return again. Try to pay more attention to your exercises.

Learn to Eat Slowly - Research shows that fast food eaters tend to be overweight.

Zig-zag diet

For more effective weight loss, it is recommended to adhere to a zig-zag diet, that is, it is necessary to alternate days according to the level of calorie consumption - either less than the norm, then more than the norm, leaving the calculated amount of calories on average. This prevents the body from adapting to the lowered calorie intake and slowing down the metabolism.