How Does Metabolism Work?
After a meal, enzymes are released by the digestive system to:
– Break carbs down into simple sugars
– Break fats down into fatty acids
– Turn proteins into amino acids
These products are then absorbed into the blood and carried to the cells. Once inside the cells, other enzymes work to store them in body tissues or release energy from them. Metabolism is a process that balance two activities that happen simultaneously:
– Anabolism: energy stores and body tissues are built up
– Catabolism: energy stores and body tissues are broken down to release energy [2]
