"So, what do you do?” — A common question you get asked when you meet someone for the first time. Your response usually divulges your career choice, hobbies and other interests. Now imagine you had to ask your body the same question. The answer would include the countless chemical reactions taking place every second, transforming the food you eat into energy, repairing damaged cells, and maintaining the delicate balance that keeps you going. All these internal processes can be put together to identify what we call metabolism.
So, what exactly does the metabolic process entail and why do we need to understand it?
Let's break it down: When you eat a sandwich, you're not just satisfying your hunger. You're providing your body with the raw materials it needs to function. Your metabolism is the chemical process that breaks down the sandwich into smaller components, through a series of reactions. Carbohydrates become glucose, proteins are broken into amino acids, and fats are converted into fatty acids. These smaller molecules are then distributed throughout your body, fueling everything from your heartbeat to your latest brainwave.
But metabolism isn't just about breaking things down and energy distribution. It's also responsible for building up and repairing our body. These two main purposes of metabolism are catabolism, which breaks down molecules to release energy, and anabolism, which uses energy to build complex molecules. These processes work in balance to maintain our body's functions. When you work out consistently, you might notice changes in your muscle tone over time, alongside soreness both during and after your workout. This soreness is known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and acts as an indicator of your metabolism in action, repairing micro-tears in muscle fibers to be stronger and more resilient in the future.
Metabolic Thinking : Fast or Slow?
When people talk about having a "fast" or "slow" metabolism, they're generally referring to how quickly their body burns calories and converts food into energy, i.e, the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).
However, it's important to note that having a fast or slow metabolism isn't inherently good or bad - what matters most is how well your metabolism is functioning and how it aligns with your overall health and lifestyle. Our metabolism is like a finely tuned guitar, a minor key change producing entirely new sounds. A small change in one area - say, a slight imbalance in the thyroid gland - can have far-reaching effects on your health. This tiny gland in your neck produces hormones that regulate how your cells use energy. An underactive thyroid might slow down your body’s internal processes, leading to weight gain and fatigue, while an overactive (hyperthyroidism) one could speed things up, causing unexpected weight loss and mood changes. A focus on interpreting these biological cues gives you and your healthcare provider the power to make efficient choices - like a change in meal timings, or perhaps tweaking nutrition intake or trying exercises at a different time of the day.
Similarly, insulin, a hormone that acts as a conductor for your body's glucose harmony, is a crucial player in your metabolism. Under its direction, your cells absorb and utilize glucose to produce energy, keeping your blood glucose levels stable. If insulin is produced insufficiently or if your cells don't respond to it properly (insulin resistance), glucose can't move effectively from your blood to your cells. Understanding these dysfunctions is a major aid in taking steps towards diabetes prevention.
Fine tuning with tech
Getting familiar with your metabolism is like getting to know yourself on a deeper level. Some people might find they have more energy when they eat certain foods, while others might discover that their body responds better to particular types of exercise.
But measuring these changes is not always easy, especially when it comes to managing chronic health conditions. Advancements in health tech are helping us elevate our understanding of our body and its responses. Biosensors and digital monitoring devices tap into our inner workings to simplify complex metabolic information into simple, actionable insights. Continuous glucose monitors, for instance, allow you to track your blood glucose levels in real-time throughout the day and night, arranging spikes and drops into larger trends and patterns. Knowing how your morning coffee impacts your blood sugar levels, or how your body reacts to that late-night snack empowers you to make informed lifestyle decisions.
Back to basics
Our metabolism is hard at work every second, even when the body is asleep. The journey to wellbeing isn't about drastic overhauls – it's about small, sustainable steps that build over time, leading us towards a healthier, more vibrant future.
Steps like optimizing our protein intake to support muscle growth and repair, potentially boosting our metabolic rate. Ensuring adequate vitamin D levels to support our bone health and metabolic function. And proper hydration to help the countless biochemical processes that keep our metabolism running smoothly. With advanced new health tech, we’re back in touch with the basics of the human system, to know there is more than one way to manage our health.
Disclaimer: The information mentioned in this document is only suggestive /for patient education and shall not be considered as a substitute for doctor’s advice or recommendations from Abbott. Please consult your doctor for more information.
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