Energy in the Body

Food is the body’s primary source of energy; it is broken down into smaller components like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats during digestion.
Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred energy source, converted into glucose to supply cells with energy.
Proteins don’t typically serve as an energy source. Instead, they are fundamentally for growth, repair, and maintenance of body tissues.
Fats play a vital role in maintaining healthy skin and hair, cushioning body organs against shock, maintaining body temperature, and promoting healthy cell function. They also serve as energy stores for the body.
The process of respiration in cells is how energy is produced. It happens in every cell of the body and involves the breakdown of glucose to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate) energy.
ATP energy is used to fuel all other processes in the body such as movement, growth, repairing tissues, etc.
There are two types of respiration: aerobic, which requires oxygen and produces a significant amount of energy, and anaerobic, which doesn’t require oxygen and produces little energy. Both processes begin with glycolysis.
Glycolysis is the first stage in both aerobic and anaerobic respiration. It breaks down one molecule of glucose into two molecules of pyruvate and releases a small amount of energy.
If oxygen is present, pyruvate goes through a series of reactions known as the Krebs Cycle, which generates a large amount of ATP.
In the absence of oxygen, pyruvate is converted into lactic acid through anaerobic respiration. This process is less efficient, producing minimal ATP.
The energy released in respiration is essential for biological processes like muscle contraction, neurotransmission, maintaining body temperature, and metabolic reactions.
Overeating or consuming more energy than the body uses leads to weight gain, while consuming less energy than the body uses leads to weight loss.
Metabolism refers to all chemical reactions that occur in the body to keep it alive, growing and functioning. It can be subdivided into catabolism (breakdown of molecules for energy) and anabolism (synthesis of all compounds needed by cells).
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the amount of energy the body needs while at rest to perform essential functions such as breathing, circulating blood, controlling body temperature, and cell growth.
The endocrine system with its various hormones plays a significant role in the regulation of the body’s metabolism and energy balance.