Terry White Chemists - Weight Loss Science Energy Creation

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Weight Loss Science

How the body makes energy

The majority of what we eat each day has one main purpose: to provide energy for the body. The energy in food that we can use comes from the chemical bonds between the atoms in carbohydrate, fat, protein and even alcohol. Each of these nutrients can be broken down (metabolised) into simpler molecules through different biochemical pathways to make energy. Every cell in our body has the ability to use nutrients to make energy; in fact, every cell in our body needs to make energy from nutrients or else it cannot function!

The main pathway where carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism meet to produce energy is called the Kreb's cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle). The Kreb's cycle takes place inside the cell in a specialised structure called mitochondria. The mitochondria are known as 'the powerhouses' of the cell. The Kreb's cycle allows electrons to be taken from nutrients to help drive pumps that produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is the main energy currency of all cells in the body and is used to pump molecules into and out of cell, allow enzymes to work and muscles to contract. Metabolism of nutrients to make ATP results in by-products such as carbon dioxide, water and heat. For a typical adult eating a normal diet, almost all of the ATP produced each day comes from the carbohydrate and fat we eat; only small amounts of ATP come from protein.

When dieting (and typically eating less food), we rely on existing fat stores to make ATP and resulting in loss of body fat. The body breaks down ATP every second of the day, so much of the 'energy' in food goes towards helping the body remake ATP.

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Green beans are a great source of energy.

Fast Fact..

The continual breaking down and resynthesising of ATP means each person makes their own body weight in ATP every day!

While the body can make some ATP from glucose without needing oxygen, almost all of the ATP made each day comes from metabolic pathways that require oxygen so this is given the name of aerobic metabolism. ...read more

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Food

Quick facts about food

Food sustains us, promotes growth and provides our body with fuel to make energy. To remain healthy, the body needs three types of nutrients.

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