Metabolism

What is Metabolism?

– Simply put, metabolism is defined as the chemical processes occurring within our bodies that are crucial for the maintenance of life.

– The sum of the chemical processes that occur in living organisms, resulting in growth, producing energy, elimination of waste and all other life functions.

The term metabolism refers to all of the chemical reactions by which molecules taken into the body are broken down to produce energy and by which energy is used to build up molecules in the body.

All metabolic reactions can be categorized into these two basic categories: catabolic and anabolic reactions, or the processes of breaking down and building up.

Catabolic

The metabolic breakdown of complex molecules into smaller ones, resulting in the release of energy.

---

Anabolic

The metabolic build-up in which simple substances are created into the complex materials of our living tissue.