Shall we simply talk about your body's energy factory – metabolism?

Have you ever wondered how our bodies get energy from the food we eat? That's what we simply call metabolism . It's like a little, non-stop factory inside our bodies. This factory is what keeps us alive, breathing, thinking, running, jumping, and even helping us recover when we get sick.

What exactly is metabolism?

Simply put, metabolism is the sum of all the chemical processes that occur within your body's cells every second. These processes are what turn the food and drink you eat into energy. This energy is like gasoline for your car. Keeping all of this in balance is called homeostasis. That is, a natural control that helps everything in your body run smoothly and properly.

When we talk about metabolism, we often think about how many calories we burn from the food we eat. This is called your ``Metabolic Rate`` . There are three main things involved:

• Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): This is the amount of energy your body needs to maintain its basic functions (breathing, heart rate) even when you are just doing nothing (like sleeping).
• Thermic Effect of Food: When we eat food, it takes energy to digest it and absorb its nutrients. That's why it's called the thermic effect of food.
• Energy used for physical activity: You need energy when you run, jump, exercise, and walk.

But, metabolism is not just about burning calories. It's a much more complex system that affects the health of our entire body.

So, what does this metabolism do to our bodies?

Your metabolism is the way your body uses energy to do everything it does. This energy comes from the food we eat. Even when you're sleeping, your metabolism never stops. It keeps working, keeping your body running. Think about these things:

• Breathing
• Blood circulation (moving blood throughout the body)
• Digestion
• Cell growth and repair (this is why wounds heal)
• Managing hormone levels
• Body temperature regulation

For a healthy, life-sustaining metabolism, cells must be able to adapt to changing environmental conditions, even when they are at rest. This includes situations such as:

• Meal times
• Fasting times (`Fasting`)
• Starvation
• When engaging in physical activity
• When you are sick, sad, or injured
• During pregnancy and breastfeeding

This tells you that your metabolism doesn't always work at the same "speed." At different times of the day, for different reasons, your metabolism signals your body to use more or less energy.

There are two main processes in metabolism, right?

To explain what happens in metabolism a little more, there are two main processes: catabolism and anabolism .

Catabolism is the process of breaking down the macronutrients you eat – namely carbohydrates, protein and dietary fats – into their simplest forms. For example, your body breaks down carbohydrates to make glucose. This glucose is released into the blood as sugar. The body also stores this glucose as glycogen – mainly in your muscles and liver. These macronutrients are the “fuel” that every cell in your body needs.

Anabolism is the opposite of catabolism. Your body takes smaller units (such as amino acids) and puts them together to make larger structures (such as proteins). When you have an injury, your body needs to heal. That's when anabolism is very important. It's also essential for bone growth and muscle building.

Simply put, catabolism is the process of breaking down big things. Anabolism is the process of putting together small things to make big things. These two are like the two tracks of a train; one cannot function properly without the other.

What is the relationship between metabolism and our weight?

Many people think that the main reason for gaining weight or losing weight is a problem with your metabolism. But in reality, your metabolism is naturally regulated to suit your body's needs. Metabolism is rarely the only reason for weight gain or loss. In most cases, if your body uses more calories than you take in, you lose weight. If the opposite happens, you gain weight. However, there are many factors that affect how many calories your body needs – many of which are difficult for us to predict or know exactly.

What is "fast" and "slow" metabolism?

A person with a "fast" metabolism, or a fast basal metabolic rate (`fast BMR`), burns more calories even when they are just standing still. If you have a "slow" metabolism, or a slow `BMR`, your body needs fewer calories to function on a daily basis. But remember, your metabolic rate doesn't determine your body size, and your body size doesn't determine your metabolic rate.

What are these metabolic disorders?

A metabolic disorder is any condition that occurs when there is a problem with the way your body uses energy. Since any of the countless processes involved in metabolism can be affected, there are many different types of these diseases. As you can imagine, the symptoms of these diseases vary greatly.

Here are some of the possible causes of metabolic problems:

• Nutritional deficiencies: For example, a lack of vitamin D can reduce calcium absorption, which can affect bone health. Iron deficiency can cause anemia.
• Calorie imbalance: If you consume fewer calories than your body needs over a period of time, your metabolism can slow down. Similarly, if you consume too many calories, you can gain weight.
• Enzyme deficiencies or problems: Inherited conditions like phenylketonuria (PKU) occur when the body lacks an enzyme needed to break down certain proteins.
• Hormonal imbalances: Thyroid problems, such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), can slow down metabolism, causing fatigue and weight gain. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) can speed it up, causing weight loss.
• Effects of medications, drugs, and toxins: Long-term use of medications like corticosteroids can cause weight gain and insulin resistance. Excessive alcohol consumption can interfere with liver metabolism.

There are two main categories of metabolic disorders: those that you can develop later in life (Acquired) and those that you are born with (Genetic).

Acquired Metabolic Disorders

Some metabolic disorders develop during your lifetime. Many of these diseases are endocrine system conditions and are related to hormonal imbalances. They can be caused by organ damage, disease, or autoimmune attacks. However, there are other causes as well.

Some examples of such diseases are:

• Diabetes Mellitus (This is the most common metabolic disorder)
• Thyroid diseases (e.g. hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism)
• Underweight and Obesity
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Insulin Resistance
• Cushing's Syndrome

Inherited Metabolic Disorders

Inherited Metabolic Disorders, or Inborn Errors of Metabolism, are a group of diseases that affect the way your body processes certain nutrients or enzymes. They are caused by a genetic variation (`Genetic Variant`) in your DNA. You inherit these from one or both of your biological parents.

There are hundreds of diseases like this – many of them very rare. Some examples are:

• Glycogen Storage Diseases
• Hemochromatosis
• Lysosomal Storage Disorders
• Maple Syrup Urine Disease
• Mitochondrial Diseases
• Tay-Sachs Disease
• Wilson's disease

What can we do to maintain a healthy metabolism?

The health of your metabolism and your metabolic rate are largely out of your control. However, here are some steps you can take to help boost your metabolism and overall health:

• Continue to eat a balanced diet. Don't skip meals. Your metabolism works best when it has a steady source of energy. Skipping meals or eating less calories can slow down your metabolism.
• Focus on nutritious foods. Choose fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats.
• Stay active. Exercise, especially strength training and resistance exercises, helps build muscle. Muscle burns more calories than fat, even when you're just standing still. This can increase your metabolic rate.
• Get enough sleep. Quality sleep is essential for a healthy metabolism. Not getting enough sleep can disrupt your hormones and reduce your body's ability to use energy efficiently.
• Drink plenty of water. Drinking enough water helps your body's metabolic processes work properly. Even mild dehydration can slow down your metabolism.
• Avoid extreme diets or prolonged fasting. Cutting calories too much suddenly or fasting continuously can slow down your metabolism and cause your body to store energy.

How do I know if my metabolism is healthy?

This is something that is difficult for us to take care of at home. Doctors use medical tests to check your metabolism (how well your body is working as a whole). The two most commonly used blood tests for this are the Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) and the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) . Each of these tests checks several essential substances in your blood. These provide important information about your body's chemical balance and metabolism.

Doctors generally recommend that adults have one of these tests at least once a year. If you have risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or obesity, your doctor may recommend that you have these tests more frequently. In addition, various other blood tests and urine tests can assess many problems with metabolism.

If you have any concerns about your metabolism, or if you're experiencing unusual symptoms like unexplained weight gain or fatigue, be sure to talk to your doctor. He or she can recommend tests to better understand your health and help you improve it.

The most important thing we need to remember (Take-Home Message)

So, metabolism is like a team of hard workers in our bodies. Without them, we couldn't breathe, think, or live. We often think of metabolism in terms of how many calories we burn, but it's much deeper and more complex than that. It's very important for your overall health.

If you have any questions or concerns about your metabolism, don't be afraid to talk to your family doctor or midwife. They are there to help you. Got it? The most important thing is to take care of your body.

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