Introduction to metabolism

When many people hear the word “metabolism” they think of how quickly our body breaks down food. However, there is much more to it! Metabolism is the term given to describe the chemical reactions and processes that are occurring within the body at any given time. These biochemical processes are necessary for life and help to maintain daily bodily functions.

Metabolism encompasses the reactions that are necessary to break down the food and drink you consume, as well as their conversion into a form of energy called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Metabolic reactions also involve the utilization of this energy for different requirements within the body.

There are two main types of metabolic reactions - catabolic and anabolic. Catabolic reactions involve the breaking down of molecules into smaller pieces to produce ATP. An example is glycolysis. An anabolic process involves building and synthesizing molecules. Examples of this are protein synthesis or DNA replication.

Metabolism is influenced by our genes, diet, activity levels and even sleep.