Food contains chemical potential energy that the body uses. How do you think that the body gains this energy? Propose an explanation.
Answers
Answer:
Energy homeostasis is critical for the survival of species. Therefore, multiple and complex mechanisms have evolved to regulate energy intake and expenditure to maintain body weight. For weight maintenance, not only does energy intake have to match energy expenditure, but also macronutrient intake must balance macronutrient oxidation. However, this equilibrium seems to be particularly difficult to achieve in individuals with low fat oxidation, low energy expenditure, low sympathetic activity or low levels of spontaneous physical activity, as in addition to excess energy intake, all of these factors explain the tendency of some people to gain weight. Additionally, large variability in weight change is observed when energy surplus is imposed experimentally or spontaneously. Clearly, the data suggest a strong genetic influence on body weight regulation implying a normal physiology in an ‘obesogenic’ environment. In this study, we also review evidence that carbohydrate balance may represent the potential signal that regulates energy homeostasis by impacting energy intake and body weight. Because of the small storage capacity for carbohydrate and its importance for metabolism in many tissues and organs, carbohydrate balance must be maintained at a given level. This drive for balance may in turn cause increased energy intake when consuming a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrate.
Explanation:
In the complex process of the energy system, the cells of the human body break a chemical molecule, adenosine triphosphate, or shortly called ATP into adenosine diphosphate or shortly ADP to supply energy for muscular contraction. ATP is made up of a complex molecule known as adenosine bonded with three phosphate molecules (denoted as P). In the process of the energy system, the body produces energy by breaking the bond of ATP and converts it to ADP (adenosine diphosphate).
Adenosine-P-P-P (ATP)⇒ Adenosine-P-P (ADP) + P + Energy
If the situation or workout demands repeated muscle contraction or energy, such as running, long duration of aerobic activity, the ADP left after the breakdown of ATP, needs to be converted back to ATP for next energy conversion. After conversion to ATP, the process can again be repeated by breaking ATP to supply more energy.
Adenosine-P-P (ADP) + P + Energy ⇒ Adenosine-P-P-P (ATP)
The whole process goes like a cycle, ATP to ADP and energy, and again ADP recombines with energy from elsewhere to form ATP again. Although this looks simple and straight forward, it is a complex series of reactions for breaking of ATP to ADP and energy for muscles contraction Question may arise, from where energy comes from to combine with ADP to form ATP again.
The answer is in the contribution of three energy systems. Our body has three different energy systems in order to supply the energy needed to recombine ADP to ATP.
ATP – PC system
Lactic acid system
Aerobic system
ATP-PC and lactic acid systems are anaerobic means these systems require no oxygen to happen. Whereas in an aerobic system there is the requirement of oxygen. In normal, all three systems work to some degree during a performance but one system provides a greater percentage of energy than others depending on the duration of the workout, the intensity of a workout, and the fitness level of the performer at that time. All three energy system provides energy to our muscles and other organs in three different ways.