What is Metabolism?

by Gary Pepper M.D. | Sep 15, 2013 | diet and weight loss, metabolism, Uncategorized

CHAPTER 1

What Is Metabolism?

From one of our readers: I’ve searched the web but found nothing that tells me how to

distinguish if my metabolism is healthy. I’ve found plenty of

ways to tell me how to improve my metabolism but nothing

that explains what is normal. Are there outward signs that

will tell you if your metabolism is healthy?

Metabolism.com member

According to Webster’s Dictionary, metabolism is defined as a chemical and  physical processes continuously going on in living organisms,  But when most people think about metabolism they focus on one specific process ,  the process that releases and stores energy from the food we eat. This is because this type of metabolism not only affects how efficiently your body burns fuel but also influences how easily our bodies gain or lose weight.

Turning Food into Energy

In simple terms, your metabolism is the rate at which your body breaks down nutrients from the foods you eat and converts them into a form the body can use. After you’ve eaten a bowl of cereal or a sandwich, chemicals produced in the digestive tract, known as enzymes, break down all of the complex molecules that make up the food into smaller, more usable nutrients. Proteins are broken down into amino acids, fats into fatty acids, and carbohydrates into simple sugars like glucose. These nutrients are then absorbed into the blood where they are transported all over the body.

At this point the nutrients can be used in different processes. Amino acids are usually used to build and repair tissues, while glucose enters cells and is metabolized for energy. Any extra nutrients left over after these processes are generally stored in body tissues, especially the liver, muscles and body fat, and used for energy at a later date if the body needs it. (Think of it like a squirrel stocking up nuts for the winter.)

In this way, the process of metabolism really is a balancing act between two very different types of activities: (1) building up body tissues and energy stores, and (2) breaking down energy-rich nutrients, body tissues and energy stores to produce fuel that will power the body.

Anabolism, or constructive metabolism, focuses on building tissues and storing energy. During this process, small molecules are converted into larger, more complex molecules. For example, small molecules of glucose become larger, more complex storage molecules called glycogen. Amino acids are organized into proteins. And fatty acids are combined to create dreaded fat molecules. Anabolism is a very important process in the body, as it supports the growth and repair of cells and tissues and helps the body store energy so it can be used sometime in the future.

On the other hand, catabolism, or destructive metabolism, breaks down large molecules (mostly carbohydrates and fats) to release energy. We mostly refer to this energy burning as metabolism, even though this is not the only type of metabolism. This is the process that fuels all of the activity in our cells and keeps our body running. It also provides the energy needed for anabolic, energy-storing processes, helps heat the body and enables our muscles to contract so we can move.

The Importance of Hormones

Hormones are chemical substances in the body that control and regulate the activity of certain cells or organs, as well as specific chemical and physical processes. Several important hormones are involved in controlling the rate and direction of metabolism:………..

Interested to learn more about what makes your metabolism tick, what makes it run fast or slow? Are you curious if your thyroid gland is working and healthy? How about how to avoid developing diabetes or if you have diabetes, how to avoid paying for expensive but ineffective treatments? If so, you can purchase the complete book,  Metabolism.com,  in the Kindle section of Amazon.com

Best regards,

Gary Pepper, M.D.