Metabolism

“Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in living organisms to maintain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments” (Metabolism). Metabolism breaks down the food that we eat, transforming it into energy for our bodies. Metabolism is broken down into two categories Anabolism and Catabolism, which help aid in the chemical reaction process. Specific proteins in the body control the chemical reactions of metabolism, and each chemical reaction is coordinated with other body functions (Dowshen). Metabolism is a constant process that begins when we're born and ends when we die. It is a vital process for all life not just humans, and …show more content…

It is also involved in the thickening of the inner membrane of the uterus (endometrium) and other aspects of regulating the menstrual cycle. Examples of Catabolism include:
• Polysaccharides are broken down into monosaccharides Complex carbohydrates, such as starch, glycogen, and cellulose are polysaccharides. Simple carbohydrates, such as glucose, ribose, and fructose are monosaccharides.
• Nucleic acids are broken down into nucleotides Nucleic acids are the chemical basis of life and heredity - they encode our genetic information. They serve as transmitters of genetic information. Examples are RNA (Ribonucleic acid) and DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid). Nucleic acids are broken down to purines, pyrimidines and pentoses, which among other things, are involved in our body's energy supply.
• Proteins are broken down into amino acids The amino acids produced by catabolism may be directly recycled, used to make new amino acids, or be converted to other compounds. Sometimes protein is broken down into amino acids to make glucose, which appears in the blood.” (Nordqvist) Metabolism is a great influence on our weight. But unlike many beliefs it is not our metabolism’s fault that may cause us to be over or under weight. People who are overweight typically consume more calories than our body can burn, and people who cannot gain weight do not consume enough calories for our body to burn.