Understanding Metabolism: What It Is, How It Works & Disorders

Introduction:

Metabolism is a very important process in your body that helps to maintain its normal functioning and sustain life. In this article, we will cover essential points like what metabolism is, its way of working, factors affecting it, and much more. 

What is metabolism?

The term “metabolism” refers to the complex chemical processes that take place within your body as it breaks down food and liquid in order to convert them into energy. This complicated mechanism helps to create and release energy by combining oxygen and calories, which are then used to fuel different body functions. A lot of these bodily functions require a constant flow of energy to work properly, even when your body is at rest. A few examples include:

1. Breathing
2. Digestion of food
3. Circulation of blood
4. Regulation of body temperature
5. Growth and repair of cells
6. Regulation of hormone levels

How does metabolism work?

Your body is always burning energy, even when it is in a state of complete rest, like sleeping. Metabolism incorporates two functions called anabolism and catabolism, in order to carry out its task. During catabolism, foods and liquids that you consume are broken down into smaller units which result in energy release. On the other hand, during anabolism, this energy is utilised to create complex molecules from the smaller units. Both these processes are essential in maintaining proper body functions. 

Factors affecting metabolism

There are various factors that can influence metabolism or the metabolic rate in individuals. These can include things like:

1. Age: Metabolism can slow down with increasing age due to the decline in muscles. 
2. Gender: In most cases, men have larger bones, more muscle mass, and less body fat than women, which results in a faster metabolism. 
3. Muscle mass: More muscle mass is frequently associated with faster metabolism and higher calorie expenditure. This is because it requires more calories (energy) to grow and maintain muscles, unlike fat. 
4. Physical activity: Individuals who indulge in physical activities like high-intensity exercises, regular workouts, etc. are prone to burn more calories than the ones who are inactive. 
5. Lifestyle habits: The nicotine present inside cigarettes can increase metabolism. This is evident among individuals who gain weight after quitting the habit of smoking. However, it causes more harm than it does good, and some of the health risks of smoking include heart disease, diabetes, COPD, cancer, etc. 
6. Genetics: The capability of gaining muscle mass and muscle size are both influenced by inherited genes. This ties up as a contributing factor that influences metabolism among individuals.

What are metabolic disorders?

A metabolic disorder occurs when the process of metabolism malfunctions and leaves your body with either excess or insufficient amount of vital components required for staying healthy. A lot of factors can give rise to this health condition, including genetics, organ dysfunction and mitochondrial dysfunction. Some common examples of metabolic disorders include:

1. Hemochromatosis: This is a health condition that impacts the body’s ability to absorb iron properly. 
2. Gaucher disease: Individuals with this rare inherited disorder have difficulties in glucocerebrosidase production.
3. Wilson’s disease: This is a type of inherited metabolic disorder that causes the accumulation of copper in several vital organs of the body, like the brain, liver, etc. 
4. Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD): This is yet another serious condition that affects an individual’s capability of processing certain amino acids.

Conclusion:

Even though you can not alter genetic influences, you can follow a few steps in order to maintain a healthy metabolism, like eating a nutritious diet, not skipping meals, doing regular exercises, avoiding smoking habits, and so on.