Metabolism. So Misunderstood.

 Metabolism? The Simple Truth 

• What Your Body Burns When it's Doing Absolutely Nothing? 
• Discover How ATP is connected to Metabolism.
• What is Catabolism? What is Anabolism?
• Does Metabolism have an effect on Hair growth?

Introduction: Why Metabolism Matters More Than You Think

We hear the word metabolism everywhere — especially in weight loss ads, health blogs, and gym conversations. If you can't lose weight blame the metabolism. If you can eat like a horse and never gain a pound, well that's because of your metabolism.

In today's vernacular, metabolism seems to be so polarising..

So, what actually is metabolism? And do we have any  control over it?

What Is Metabolism? A Real Definition

Metabolism is the sum total of all the chemical reactions happening inside your body to keep you alive and functioning. That includes:

• Breathing
• Circulating blood
• Regenerating cells
• Digesting food
• Regulating temperature

When people talk about "speeding up" or "slowing down" metabolism, they're usually referring to how quickly the body burns calories. This can also be called your metabolic rate.

Key Terms to Know 

BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) – The number of calories your body needs just to function at rest.

What Your Body Burns When it's Doing Absolutely Nothing.

The truth of the matter is that even when you're asleep (or binge-watching TV!), your body is hard at work: keeping your heart beating, your lungs breathing, and your brain running the show.

Example: If your BMR is 1,500 calories, that’s how much energy your body burns each day just to stay alive — even if you never get off the couch!

TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) – Your BMR plus the energy used for physical activity and digestion.

Tdee is :What your body burns in a full day — including when you're moving around with your body digesting food.

Tdee includes your BMR plus calories used for walking, working, cooking, cleaning, even chewing and digesting lunch.

Example: If you go for a walk, take the stairs, and eat a hearty dinner — your TDEE might be around 2,000 calories for the day.

ATP

Adenosine Triphosphate

ATP  is the energy currency of your cells and metabolism is all about producing ATP efficiently.

ATP is an energy store and it is  what powers everything from thinking to lifting weights.

All the food you eat gets turned into ATP. It’s the gasoline for your cells, so without it, nothing works.

Example: Just like your phone needs battery power, your muscles need ATP to move — whether you’re typing, dancing, or  waiting at a bus stop.

Catabolism describes the process of  the breaking down of molecules to release energy. 

This is when your body breaks down food (or stored fat) to release energy.

Example: When you skip breakfast and your body taps into stored fat for fuel — that’s catabolism in action.

Anabolism – The building up of molecules to create new tissues and structures, for example, hair.

How Anabolism Builds Up Your Hair – Think of It Like a Construction Crew!

Imagine your scalp is a busy construction site, and your body is the foreman calling the shots.

'Anabolism', becomes the hardworking crew that builds and assembles things. Their job? To construct strands of hair, one protein brick at a time! Here’s how it works:

Protein as Building Blocks

Your body breaks down food into nutrients. One of the most important recipients is your hair which involves the breakdown of  Protein into amino acids. Anabolism takes these building blocks (the amino acids) and assembles them into keratin, the strong protein that makes up your hair.

 Energy from Calories

Just like any crew needs power tools, your anabolic system needs energy (calories) to keep building. If you're not eating enough, especially enough protein and healthy fats, your body might slow down hair production to save energy.

Hair Follicles as Mini Factories

Inside each hair follicle is a tiny "factory" where anabolism happens. These factories take raw materials from your bloodstream and build hair from the root up.

 Why It Takes Time

Hair grows in cycles — it’s like a construction project with planned phases. Anabolism is most active during the growth phase (anagen phase) when the hair is actively being "built."

 Anabolism is your body’s very own, builder! It uses nutrients and energy to assemble new tissues — and hair is one of its beautiful creations! Just feed the builders right, and they’ll keep constructing  shiny strands strands of hair for you.

I hope this very brief intro into metabolism was helpful. 

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