Metabolism isn't an organ or a body part that influences digestion. It is actually a process by which the body converts food into energy. So if you have ever heard of the phrase metabolic process used with the term metabolism, it is because they both mean the same thing.

The Medical Jargon

This isn't complicated, which is really great news! Let's look briefly at the biological mechanisms behind our metabolism. Metabolism is the process of transforming our food into energy. Our body uses the energy to control a large host of essential functions.

If your body didn't have a metabolic process that was converting your food into energy, then your body wouldn't be able to move. In fact, before you realized that you couldn't point your finger or wiggle your toes, your internal processes would have stopped. The basic building blocks of life, like circulating blood, transforming oxygen into carbon dioxide, potentially harmful wastes that are forced through the kidneys and so forth are all dependent on our metabolism.

Keep this in mind the next time someone complains about having a slow metabolism. Even though they may be struggling with losing weight or unwanted weight due to some metabolic factors, they definitely have a functioning metabolism. If they didn't, do you think they would be able to speak because speech requires energy and where does that come from? You got it, metabolism!

It is interesting that while we often refer to the metabolic process as a singe function, it really is an all encompassing term for numerous functions that take place inside our bodies. Every nano second and minute of every day of your life, even when you are asleep countless chemical changes are taking place through metabolism, or metabolic processes.

Catabolism and Anabolism

Creating tissue and cells is the first function. Our bodies are creating new cells to replace our dead or dysfunctional cells ever minute of every day. An example would be if you were cutting up veggies in the kitchen and you cut your finger, your body, if it is functioning correctly, would immediately jump into action and start the process of creating skin cells to clot the blood and to start the healing process. This is a creative process of our metabolic response called anabolism.

On the flip side, there is an exact opposite activity taking place in other parts of your body. This process does not build cells and tissues through metabolism; the body is breaking down energy so the body can do what it is suppose to do.

An example, let's say you were riding your bike for aerobic exercise, you begin to sweat, as your body temperature rises and your heart beat increases and it stays within a certain range. When this happens, your body requires more oxygen; your breathing increases as you breathe in more oxygen. As you know, all of this requires more energy. Just think if your body can't adapt to the intake of more oxygen and the getting rid of carbon dioxide you would faint. If you aren't overdoing it, your body will kick in and convert food (calories) into energy. This is the process called catabolism.

Our metabolism is in constant process that takes care of two totally different functions in our body:

• Anabolism that uses energy to create cells
• Catabolism that breaks down cells to create energy

Our metabolism has a reputation of being the harmonizer. It brings these two conflicting functions together and does it in such an ideal way that it enables the body to create new cells as needed, and then breaks them down again for energy when needed. .

Metabolism....It is a give and take process.

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