Research

Mixed

Metabolic flexibility, defined as the efficient switching between fuel sources (glucose vs. fatty acids) based on availability and demand, is essential for maintaining energy homeostasis and preventing metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes and obesity.

To maintain metabolic health, avoid constant snacking on high-calorie processed foods which impairs your body's ability to switch fuels. Incorporate regular physical exercise and vary your diet to ensure your body can efficiently use both glucose and fatty acids. This adaptability protects against metabolic diseases.

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The ability to efficiently adapt metabolism by substrate sensing, trafficking, storage and utilization, dependent on availability and requirement is known as metabolic flexibility... Metabolic flexibility is essential to maintain energy homeostasis in times of either caloric excess or caloric restriction, and in times of either low or high energy demand, such as during exercise.
Reuben L. Smith et al. · Endocrine Reviews · 2018

Why this rating

This is a comprehensive review of established physiological mechanisms and clinical associations, citing numerous primary studies.

Source

Metabolic Flexibility as an Adaptation to Energy Resources and Requirements in Health and Disease

Reuben L. Smith et al. · Endocrine Reviews · 2018

DOI 10.1210/er.2017-00211

narrative_reviewCited 740×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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