Metabolism and Calories: Understanding How Food is Converted into Energy in the Body

We often say that a certain food is "nutritious" or "not nutritious," but this is not accurate. Nutrition refers to the intake of food and its use to sustain life and carry out healthy bodily functions. The nutrients contained in food include enzymes, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. In other words, food must be digested and absorbed in the stomach and intestines, processed in the liver, and transported to the cells throughout the body to become nutrition.

On the other hand, heat refers to the "work" generated due to metabolism and other processes. Animals maintain their survival by burning the nutrients they ingest from food, and the unit of this heat is the "calorie." One calorie (cal) is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. In nutrition, it is expressed in terms of one hundred and hundred times that amount, which is one kilocalorie (kcal).

Food ingested orally is first broken down (digested) in the mouth, stomach, and small intestine. The digested food components or nutrients are mainly absorbed into the body through the small intestine, processed in the liver, and transported to various parts of the body via the heart or blood (circulation). The body's cells use oxygen obtained through respiration to oxidize (burn) the components absorbed through digestion, enabling the body's organs to function and generating heat that fuels life activities. On the other hand, nutrients, primarily protein, after absorption, become materials for building body cells and tissues. Components not digested and absorbed during metabolism (such as dietary fiber) are excreted through the lungs, skin, large intestine, kidneys, sweat, feces, and urine (excretion).

Humans, and all animals, eat in order to survive. In other words, living organisms must eat to sustain life. The process by which food is processed and utilized in the body is called metabolism, and its structure will be briefly explained here.

Always eat breakfast. It's a well-known fact that skipping breakfast is bad for your health. If you don't understand the importance of breakfast, especially for those living alone or accustomed to a nightlife, even if you make a firm decision, it will likely only last a short time. To improve your two-meal-a-day habit, you must understand the importance of breakfast.

Morning is when the body, having rested during sleep, re-enters an active state. Breakfast is an important meal that prepares the body for optimal function before the day's activities begin. Skipping breakfast results in insufficient glucose, the energy source for brain, nerve, and blood circulation, leading to a low body temperature throughout the morning and hindering the brain and body from functioning properly.

After dinner, the body's stored energy begins to work until morning. If you "don't want to eat breakfast and just want to sleep" during this time, it will actually harm your body. Eating a proper breakfast to replenish nutrients will raise your body temperature. As your body gradually activates, your daytime calorie expenditure rate will increase, ensuring you feel hungry at appropriate times for each of your three meals. Therefore, this regular and healthy eating pattern can be established by starting to eat breakfast.

Furthermore, when there is no food in the stomach in the morning, the intestines are not stimulated, which can lead to constipation. Naturally, the number of foods consumed at one time will also be reduced, making it difficult to achieve a balance of essential nutrients.

Eating only two meals a day can actually lead to weight gain. There are many other drawbacks to skipping breakfast. If the interval between meals is too long, it can cause anxiety, irritability, and even physical health problems, leading to frustration and setbacks. Some people rush out with a cup of coffee in the morning. Even if they've decided to "make their own breakfast," they often encounter setbacks. Therefore, for those who only drink coffee for breakfast, try replacing it with milk initially. By adhering to this rule and gradually increasing the ingredients-such as "milk replaced with tortilla chips and a piece of cheese"-you can gradually move closer to your goal of "making your own breakfast."