Page 12 - Boost Your Metabolism (Marie Egyed) : Flip It & Read It

The metabolism is a harmonizing process that manages to achieve two
critical bodily functions that, in a sense, seem to be at odds with each other,
but is really a beautifully orchestrated system that keeps us alive.

Anabolism and Catabolism

One function of our metabolism is to create tissue and cells. Each moment,
our bodies are creating more cells to replace dead or dysfunctional cells.

For example, if you cut your finger, your body (if it's functioning properly)
will begin the process of creating skin cells to clot the blood and start the
healing process. This creation process is a “metabolic response” and is
called anabolism.

On the other hand, there is the exact opposite activity taking place in other

parts of the body. Instead of building cells and tissue, the body is breaking
down energy so that it can do what it's supposed to do.

For example, when you exercise, your body temperature rises as your
heartbeat increases and remains within a certain range. As this happens,
your body requires more oxygen so, your breathing increases.

All of this requires additional energy. After all, if your body couldn't adjust
to this enhanced requirement for oxygen (both taking it in and getting rid of
it in the form of carbon dioxide), you would collapse!

Presuming, of course, that you aren't overdoing it, your body will begin
converting food (e.g., calories) into energy. This is a “metabolic process”
called catabolism.