By Elena Voropay

We have heard about metabolism and its importance for the body. But there is another set of reactions that take place within us and are as important as metabolic reactions. Serving as a stabilizing back-bone of all constructive processes, catabolism is the breakdown of large molecules into smaller ones. Catabolic reactions are classified as energy releasing, because the high-energy bonds in these nutrients are broken. Immediately after the energy is released, special molecules that can easily transfer energy capture it.

Although each of these compounds takes different routes as they are broken down, each of them arrives at the same destination in the end. All roads lead to energy in catabolism. Even though glucose, glycerol, fatty acids, and amino acids are sub particles of nutrients, they can be further broken down into atoms like carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen. Catabolism is the breakdown or separation of these molecules from each other.

An important key to understanding metabolism is learning which fuels can be converted to glucose and which cannot. Certain parts of proteins and fats can provide glucose for the body, other parts, however cannot provide glucose, but can provide fat. The body must have glucose to fuel the central nervous system and red blood cells. If glucose is not available from food, the body will devour its lean tissue as fuel. To prevent this, a diet must provide glucose and the primary source of glucose is carbohydrates. If a diet only has fat it can put the body in a state where it has to break down protein tissue for glucose, therefore having a negative effect on metabolism due to the loss of lean body tissue. If a diet only has protein, the body has to convert protein to glucose, which adds a lot of stress to the kidneys. The best diet supplies carbohydrate, protein, and some fat.