First, let's go over what basal metabolism is:
the amount of energy consumed by the body at rest simply in maintaining its basic function.
Basal means base, that is, what the body is resting. Metabolism is the chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life. So oxygen is taken into the lungs, finds enough food in the body to combine with to make an electrical charge.
Things that can affect it adversely are lack of sleep rest and nutrition as well as using drugs and alcohol.
