1st Health Articles

Metabolism, to put it simply, is the amount of energy or calories that our bodies burn to maintain itself. In whatever activities that we may be indulging in, whether it’s eating, drinking, sleeping or walking, our metabolism is constantly engaged in burning calories to keep us going. The energy or calorie that is burnt comes from the food that we eat.

There are many factors which influence our body’s metabolism, ranging from our genes to the composition of individual bodies, to the kind of food that we eat and what kind of activity we do to burn those calories. Some people simplify the meaning of metabolism further and conclude that metabolism is that which influences how we gain or lose weight.

If the engine of a locomotive runs on fuel, the human body also needs fuel in the form of food and nutrients. Without fuel, the engine stops; similarly, our metabolic engine (our body) will also stop functioning without food.

Over and above converting nutrients into energy, our metabolic system is also responsible for a host of other functions: it helps in digesting the food that we eat, absorbs the nutrients of the good in to the cells, breaks down the nutrients and removes harmful toxins from the body.

There are particular proteins which control the various chemical reactions of metabolism. Each of these chemical reactions is linked to various body functions. The rate at which metabolism takes place are controlled by a set of hormones produced by a system called the endocrine system within our body.

For instance, thyroxine is such a hormone produced by the thyroid glad. It plays a critical role in determining the speed at which the chemical reactions will occur within the body. 

Metabolism can be divided into two components: anabolism and catabolism. Anabolism, as the name suggests, is the creative or constructive role within metabolism, which is responsible for the build-up, growth and storage functions.

Growth of new cells, body tissue maintenance and fat storage for future use are some of the anabolic functions. The catabolic role within metabolism is the destructive component, which is the process responsible for the energy required for all cellular activities.

The biochemical process of metabolism involves calories, generated by the carbohydrates, proteins and fats from our food intake, combined with oxygen to produce the energy our body needs to function. Thus, total energy expenditure is the amount of calories that the body burns every day.

Even when we are sleeping, the process of metabolism is at work, as the body needs energy to perform some basic functions like breathing, circulating blood, growing and repairing cells, and maintaining hormonal balance.

The single largest portion of energy used per day, sometimes two thirds to three quarters of total calories, is typically the basal metabolic rate of a person. Under normal circumstances, the body’s basic energy requirement for processing food is stable and does not alter drastically. Weight gain is thus a direct result of imbalance in energy expenditure – more calorie intake than calorie burning.

Metabolism is a process without which all living organisms would die. Knowing how to take care of the body would result in a stable metabolism, which is vital for good health.