Energy and Energy Systems

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The human body needs energy to function.

Energy that keeps us moving comes from the food we eat.

We cannot use energy directly from food when we eat it. It must first be converted into adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, the immediate useable form of chemical energy utilized for all cellular function.

The body stores a minimal amount of ATP (but it is a relatively UNSTABLE and reactive molecule, so your body does NOT store a lot in the body) within the muscles, but the majority is created from the foods we eat.

What is metabolism?

Metabolism refers to the continuous processes that your body uses to sustain life by converting food into energy. Some examples of these processes include breathing, circulating blood, digesting food, and building and repairing muscles and tissues

Metabolism has three main purposes:

Converting food for energy to run cellular functions,
converting macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats) into fuel for the body,
and the excreting toxins out of the body (i.e., what happens when you go to the bathroom).

Catabolism (cut up) & Anabolism (add to) work together as part of very important metabolic processes.

Catabolism is what happens when you digest food and the molecules break down in the body for use as energy. Large, complex molecules in the body are broken down into smaller, simple ones.

Catabolic is an adjective for catabolism, a set of metabolic pathways in the body that break down molecules (such as fat lipids and protein) into even smaller units used for energy or other bodily actions.

A catabolic workout is Cardio or Playing a sport- because your body breaks down glycogen for fuel during long periods of activity.

EXAMPLE: of catabolism is glycolysis

Excess catabolism is caused by overtraining, not hitting your macronutrients, and not getting enough sleep. When either of these things happens, your body is emitting too much cortisol. Cortisol is known as the "stress" hormone - your body secrets it when the body or brain needs extra glucose (or energy). But excess cortisol is also linked to a weakened immune and digestive system, higher heart rate and blood pressure, and mood changes.

Anabolism is about growth and building - the organization of molecules. In this process, small, simple molecules are built up into larger, more complex ones.

Anabolic is an adjective for anabolism, a set of metabolic pathways that build up essential parts of your body from smaller molecules. In other words, the anabolic system is responsible for building up muscle and the maintenance of organs and tissue matter. Also called biosynthesis reactions.

Protein intake is essential to keeping yourself in an anabolic state because protein is the building block of all muscles.

EXAMPLE: of anabolism are building bone, muscle mass, and new proteins, fats, and nucleic acids

STERIODS

Anabolism and the processes related to it don't necessarily have anything to do with anabolic steroids.

They're called anabolic steroids because they mimic the natural reactions of the anabolic pathways - primarily by helping build muscle mass and limiting catabolic reactions in the body. They essentially make it easier to stay in an anabolic state when the body makes itself bigger and stronger.

Written by Anthony O'Reilly May 20th, 2021 https://barbend.com/anabolic-vs-catabolic/

NUTRITION

MACRONUTRIENTS

In order for muscle to work there must be a fuel supply. When muscles contract the energy is taken from the breakdown of a chemical called adenosine-tri-phosphate or ATP. ATP gives up a phosphate in the process to become adenosine-di-phosphate.

There are three different systems in the body to produce and replenish ATP stores.

SPORTS NUTRITION ARTICLE: https://imcwc.bpl.fyi/html5-blank/sports-nutrition-part-1-muscle-function-and-hormones/

MICRONUTRIENTS

ATP and MITOCHONDRIA

Mitochondria are the 'powerhouse' of the cell - synthesizing large amounts of ATP

All eukaryotic cells (plant & animal cells) possess mitochondria

Just as fire burns oxygen and gives off carbon dioxide and water, mitochondria act like furnaces when they convert glucose into adenosine triphosphate (ATP): They "burn" (use) oxygen and give off carbon dioxide and water. Because the process uses oxygen, it is said to be aerobic (as in aerobic exercise).

Interesting facts about our incredible mitochondria:

there are about 10 million billion (100,000 trillion) mitochondria in an adult human!
about 2 billion mitochondria are made every second throughout a person's life
the lifespan of a mitochondrion averages around 100 days
each mitochondrion contains 17,000 tiny assembly lines for making ATP (energy)
mitochondria are responsible for creating more than 90% of the energy needed to sustain life and support organ function
heart muscle cells contain about 5,000 mitochondria per cell
mitochondrial DNA can mutate up to 10x faster than nuclear DNA in an ordinary cell.
mitochondria use over 90% of the oxygen we breathe

The structure of the mitochondrion is adapted to the function it performs:

Outer membrane - the outer membrane contains transport proteins that enable the shuttling of pyruvate from the cytosol
Inner membrane - contains the electron transport chain and ATP synthase (used for oxidative phosphorylation)
Cristae - the inner membrane is arranged into folds (cristae) that increase the Surface Area to Volume Ratio (more available surface)
Intermembrane space - small space between membranes maximizes hydrogen gradient upon proton accumulation
Matrix - central cavity that contains appropriate enzymes and a suitable pH for the Krebs cycle to occur

ENERGY SYSTEMS

What does leptin do for the body?

Leptin is sometimes called the satiety hormone. It helps inhibit hunger and regulate energy balance, so the body does not trigger hunger responses when it does not need energy.