Metabolism: the basics

If it means starting a movement to debunk all of the lies we've been told about metabolism, I'd gladly take a stand.

The mechanism of the human body can be likened to a complex machine: A decentralised structure of systems that work together to achieve the function of keeping us alive. Therefore, the human body in order to access functionality allows conjunctive interaction between different organs which are essentially assembled together in different systems. 

Even I had trouble comprehending all that, don't worry. Basically, as a human in ideal conditions, your primary goal is to live. Not to make a lot of money. Not to get married to a perfect hunk of perfection. No, all you want to do is stay alive.

Now to do that, you body has a bunch of organs that work together to achieve little milestones like eating and pooping that all contribute towards the one thing you need: staying alive. And these bunch of organs are what make up the systems!

One of those systems is the Digestive system. This system consists of organs that break down the foods we eat into their most basic forms, such as starch to glucose, protein to amino acids, and fat and oil to fatty acid and glycerol. 

Once these foods are broken down, the end products are further converted to energy through the process of metabolism.

Metabolism refers to the chemical reactions that occur in the cells of the body to convert food into energy.

Metabolism is divided into two categories: catabolism and anabolism. Catabolism is the decomposition of the organic matter, whereas anabolism is the use of energy to construct cell components such as proteins and nucleic acids.

Contrary to popular opinions, the body does not initiate metabolism. This is absolutely a logical fallacy. Your body is not a football game that needs to be kicked off. It is constantly working and never stops. Except, of course, when you're dead.

Even when your body is at rest, your metabolism never stops. It continuously supplies energy for basic bodily functions such as:

• Breathing
• Digestion
• Blood circulation
• Cell growth and repair
• Regulating hormone levels
• Maintaining body temperature

The Basal Metabolic Rate is the amount of calories required to keep your body operating at rest and because BMR is also known as your body's metabolism, any increase in your metabolic rate through something like exercise, drinking water and getting enough rest, will boost your BMR.

One thing is certain: we do not come in exact sizes and shapes. Therefore diet, lifestyle, genetics, and exercise all have an impact on how we look. All of these factors are related to the metabolic activities of the body.

Your metabolism naturally regulates itself to meet your body's needs. Many people blame their weight problems on metabolic issues but even though it has a part to play in your weight gain/weight loss journey, it is never the cause of weight loss or gain. 

A slow metabolism burns fewer calories, which means more energy is stored as fat in the body; this is why some people struggle to lose weight simply by cutting calories.

But on the other hand, you burn more calories at rest and during activity if your metabolism is high/ fast. A fast metabolism means you'll need to consume more calories to stay the same weight. That is one reason why some people can consume more calories than others without gaining weight.

Human beings have the tendency to believe other human beings when they say or write things in an assertive manner which leads me to👉 believe👈 that we live in a world where rewarding algorithms are more favourable than actual truth.

Many lies have been told about dieting, exercise, metabolism, and other related topics in order to benefit producers rather than consumers. We must be cautious when viewing information on the internet, and we must conduct research to obtain accurate information.

That is, of course, why I am here to enlighten you by providing you with tried-and-true information to keep you going.

What intriguing blabs have you heard about metabolism, do well to share with us in the comment section 🤗.

Fun facts:

✧ The longest war in recorded history lasted 335 years and 19 days. It was between the Dutch and the Isles of Scilly, there were no casualties.

✧ If you ever feel alone. Turn the lights off and watch a horror movie. After that you will always feel that someone is standing behind you.