What does metabolism mean? Do you understand?

Metabolism is the general term for all orderly chemical changes in living organisms. It is the process of transformation of substances and energy in the body, and the same is true in the human body. In addition, it has powerful functions, such as obtaining nutrients from the surrounding environment, decomposing organic nutrients, etc.

1. Concept

Metabolism is the general term for all orderly chemical changes in organisms, among which the chemical changes are generally carried out under the catalysis of enzymes. It includes two aspects: material metabolism and energy metabolism. The exchange of matter and energy between organisms and the external environment and the transformation of matter and energy within organisms are called metabolism.

2. Functions of metabolism:

1. Obtain nutrients from the surrounding environment;

2. Convert nutrients introduced from the outside into structural elements needed by the body, i.e., precursors of macromolecules;

3. Assemble structural elements into their own macromolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, etc.;

4. Decompose organic nutrients;

5. Provide all the energy needed for life activities.

3. Influencing factors

Metabolism is the process of internal body activities that takes place continuously without your awareness, including the beating of your heart, maintaining body temperature, and breathing. Metabolism is influenced by:

Age: The younger a person is, the faster their metabolism. This is because the body grows, especially rapidly during infancy and adolescence.

Body epidermis: The larger the body epidermis area, the faster the metabolism. If two people have the same weight but different sizes, the shorter one will have a slower metabolism than the taller one. Tall people have a large skin area and their bodies dissipate heat quickly, so they need to speed up their metabolism to generate heat.

Gender: Men generally have faster metabolisms than women. It is generally believed that this is due to the greater proportion of muscle tissue in men's bodies. Muscle tissue is active even when a person is resting, while fat tissue is inactive.

Exercise: Intense physical activity speeds up your body's metabolism both during and in the hours afterward.