Often many people has doubts regarding how metabolism works? Metabolism works as a significant process for our body. It is a collection of chemical reactions in the body cells. Everything we eat for enhancing our physical energy, synthesis of biological substances all that.
Metabolism assists in energy and formation of cell formation, by critical chemical response. The function of making the necessary molecules that are essential for the body growth and smooth functioning. The creation of energy is one of the main components of metabolism.
Definition of Metabolism.
In general terms, we can define metabolism in such a way, that metabolism is a chemical and physiological response that helps any organ to keep their lives healthy. It caters to the need for energy for basic physical functions such as digestion, blood circulation, cell growth and physical repair.
Types of Metabolism.
Metabolism can be divided into two sections, such as;
In-digestibility.
The breakdown of molecules to obtain energy is called in-digestibility, which releases a large amount of energy, that is why indigestion is known as destructive metabolism. It removes organic substances from the body.
Anabolism or Anabolic.
The synthesis of all essential compounds through the cell is anabolic action. Therefore, anabolic or anabolism helps in cell formation by using the energy present in the body, so anabolic is known as creative metabolism.
Weight Gain Due to Metabolism Problems.
Weight gain is a complex process. Sleep, physical activities, stress, diet, environmental effects, changes in hormones and genetic weight gain can be the main cause. Metabolism is a natural process that slows down such problems.
The main reason why our body gained weight is that we consume more calories according to our physical activities, that extra calories later turn into fat and accumulate in the body, which increases obesity. Our body weight will remain constant if we burn more calories that we are consuming.(1),(2)
To burn calories, we should take food at a regular interval as well as in small quantities. You can also burn more calories in your body by using a workout habit.
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How Metabolism Works?
First of all, it is necessary to know that metabolism can be cured with the help of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Plants take energy from sunlight, so that they react with chlorophyll, organic dioxide and water to make sugars and this process is called photosynthesis.
So, people who eat animals and plants receive sugar. The body breaks down sugars through metabolism, thereby gaining energy and this energy is distributed as fuel through the cell of the body.
Metabolism stores sugars into tissues and works to use stored energy when needed. There are many hormones that control the condition and direction of metabolism, including thyroid.
The hormone released by this gland plays an important role in determining how fast and how slow the chemical reaction of metabolism is in a person’s body. However, metabolism is a very complex chemical process that shows you how much energy is provided in your body.(3)
The Function of Metabolism with Essential Nutrients.
Food provides various types of nutrients, which are essential for the maintenance and repair of the body tissues. The diet only supplies water, minerals, vitamins, proteins, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and about 20 essential nutrients;
Carbohydrates.
Foods provides carbohydrates in three types – starch, sugar and fiber. Body tissue depends on glucose for all activities.(4)
Carbohydrates and sugars produce glucose through metabolism. Most people consume about half of their diet in the form of carbohydrates. It comes from rice, bread, wheat, potatoes, pasta and macaroni, etc.
Protein.
Protein is known as building block of our body. It is helpful for cell structure, haemoglobin formation and other functions of the body. Metabolism helps to conduct this works smoothly.
DNA and RNA plays an important role in supplying nitrogen to genetic material and energy production. Protein is essential for nutrition, essential amino acids are found from proteins. These amino acids are covered – lysine, tryptophan, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, valine, threonine.
The highest amount of protein is derived from eggs, milk, soybeans, meat, vegetables and cereals.
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Fat.
Fat is the main source of energy, it generates twice the energy from carbohydrates and proteins. It create cellular structure in the body and create a protective loop around the vital body parts.
Fats provide a reserve storage for energy. Essential fatty acids are linoleic and arachidonic.(5)
Minerals.
Minerals in foods do not work directly in energy supply but it is important for the body. It plays an important role in the body’s metabolism pathway. More than 50 elements are found in the human body, of which 25 elements are necessary.
Important minerals include calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, iron, chloride ions, copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc, magnesium, zinc, fluorine and iodine etc.
Vitamins.
Metabolism contains particularly important vitamins like vitamins A, B2, niacin, pantothenic acid.
These vitamins are essential organic compounds, without which the human body cannot synthesize itself, so all these vitamins must be present in your diet.
Metabolism Pathway.
Chemical reactions of metabolism are arranged in the metabolism pathway, allowing enzymes to move efficiently into cells through the chemical chain in their order. Therefore, enzyme is important for metabolism.
It is closely associated with nutrition and nutrient availability. Bioenergetics is a term that describes biochemical or metabolism pathways by which cells eventually gain energy.
Bottom Line.
Metabolism is a chemical reactions which enhancing our physical energy, synthesis of biological substances. It plays a crucial role in our overall health.
However, person with good metabolism can prevent several health issues with an effective way. With a positive metabolic rate you can digest the food easily. However, those have weak metabolic rate, they have to face several digestive issues.
+5 Sources
Freaktofit has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, educational research institutes, and medical organizations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and up-to-date by reading our editorial policy.
- Metabolic Determinants of Weight Gain in Humans; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31012296/
- Energy metabolism, fuel selection and body weight regulation; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2897177/
- New research developments and insights from Metabolism; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4459594/
- Carbohydrates metabolism; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321938058_Carbohydrates_metabolism
- Studies in Fat Metabolism; https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(18)84103-5/pdf