A living being is kept alive by a series of chemical reactions. These
are also responsible for development and reproduction. Many people are
unaware of this process, which, however, defines mood, accelerates
or delays ageing and helps to maintain physical fitness.
A rather complex system, these reactions include anabolism and catabolism. We can also distinguish between two forms of metabolism, namely basal metabolism and active metabolism.
So let's talk about the metabolisms. An essential element to know to master its basics in nutrition.
What is metabolism?
Metabolism defines the set of chemical reactions that take place in the cells of the human body. Two opposing mechanisms constitute metabolism. The first is catabolism, which extracts energy from nutrients.
The second is cellular metabolism: this is the anabolic effects, due to
synthesis reactions of the constituent elements essential to the
structure and activity of the cells.
This is also known as energy
metabolism, which is specific to the human body, and whose reaction
consists of the production of energy usable by the cells.
The basic energy molecule, which is primarily responsible for muscular contraction, is the ATP or Adenosine Tri-Phosphate molecule, which enables the body to carry out a sporting activity.
For larger and longer efforts, a form of ATP is required and these are products of the mitochondria, energy released from triglycerides, fats stored in the muscles and fat tissue, and glycogen, glucose stored in the liver.
What are the different metabolisms?
When we talk about metabolism, we are not talking about a single process, there are in fact several types of metabolism. We have already seen what cellular metabolism and energy metabolism are, but we can also mention basal metabolism.
This consists of the energy expenditure of a body "at rest", without any physical activity as such. It is the process that ensures the basic activities of the human being including breathing, the proper functioning of the nervous system through the brain, body temperature, the digestive system and so on.
There is also the active metabolism which includes the increase in energy requirements, ensuring the proper functioning of the body during efforts and high energy expenditure. Carbohydrate metabolism is specific to carbohydrates and is equated with glycogen synthesis, which is essential for the supply of energy in the form of glucose, the most common sugar.
These different metabolisms are both essential to the body, whether for cellular respiration or energy production through glycogen synthesis.
The impact of physical activity on metabolism and the production of ATP molecules
While basal metabolism ensures the proper functioning of a human being's basic needs and activities, active metabolism is "kick-started" during physical exercise by means of ATP molecules that activate muscle contraction.
Several systems are "boosted" by physical exercise, namely the nervous system, which will have an effect on the mind, and the hormonal system, which allows the release and regulation of hormones necessary for the effort.
In overweight subjects, who are often exposed to type 2 diabetes, carbohydrate metabolism would be improved by an expenditure in line with the energy released by the quantity of carbohydrates in the body, particularly in the blood.
Fat stored in adipose tissue will be better expended and prevent dyslipidaemia due to the more optimised lipid metabolism. And thus to boost the metabolism.
There are also beneficial consequences for the musculoskeletal
system. Other tissues that make up the human body are also stimulated
and restored, namely bone tissue, cartilage tissue and nerve tissue.
Moving the body has an effect on the muscles by giving them volume, strength, flexibility and endurance. It is also the case at the level of the bones, boosting their solidification, their maintenance and preventing decalcification.
The impact of food plans on metabolism
The metabolism ensures health: if it functions in the right way, longevity and tonus will be ensured, if it is disturbed, all the mechanisms suffer. The "balanced" consumption of food is the guarantee of the proper functioning of the metabolism.
There has been a resurgence of several disorders and diseases in recent years, including cancer, stress, degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, obesity and diabetes, digestive disorders and others.
A balanced intake of fatty foods provides energy in the form of fat. This is also the case for glucose-based nutrients, in this case sugar, which in the right proportion ensures good glycogen synthesis.
It is not only these systems that benefit from a stable and balanced diet plan, but also physical fitness and a strong intestinal system. The detoxification of the organs, mainly the liver, will also be ensured.
More specifically, the acid-base balance that keeps the pH of the body and the whole organism in balance will be maintained. A good balance ensures the elimination of acidic loads accumulated in the lungs and kidneys.
Brain performance will also be ensured, as neurons will be produced and renewed systematically thanks to the nutrients and micro-nutrients contained in certain foods.
