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EVERY CELL’S NOW


“For each body cell, there is a now”
The human body is an astonishing hub of activities, with so many processes concurrently taking place. Today, energy yielding processes are the focus.



Listing the main energy-consuming and utilizing cellular processes in the body will take but a few seconds; they include:
Ø  Glycolysis: the breakdown of glucose to pyruvate with the release of useable energy. A metabolic process which occurs in almost all the body’s cells. Glycolysis yields 2 net molecules of energy in form of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
Ø  KrebsCycle: also known as the Citric Acid Cycle, the Krebs cycle is the final common pathway for the oxidation of carbohydrate, lipid and protein- in short, all energy sources- since they can all be converted into acetyl-CoA, one of the metabolic substrates of this cycle. 10 ATP molecules are formed per turn of the citric acid cycle.
Ø  Gluconeogenesis: Process of energy production i.e glucose synthesis, from non-carbohydrate sources such as amino acids, lactate and  glycerol. This process promotes weight loss when an individual consumes low-carbohydrate food substances.
Ø  Glycogenolysis: Breakdown of glycogen into glucose in times of energy need. Results in ATP generation.
Ø  Ketogenesis: Involves ketone body formation from fatty acids. These ketone bodies serve as fuel for extrahepatic tissues (i.e. tissues outside the liver). Beta-oxidation of fatty acids generate large uantities of ATP also.
Well, that was a bit explanatory/ quite exhaustive, wasn’t it?
These processes are important because they help in minute-to-minute, day-to-day generation of energy for the body’s use.
They teach us one vital lesson:
Ø  The fact that energy was generated for utilization yesterday does not guarantee today’s energy availability. It still depends on your present nourishment. You cannot keep depending on previous knowledge stores e.g. in your field, for your past doesn’t settle your future!
Cells, that make up our living bodies understand the principle of now, let us emulate them as well, giving yield to ATP as needed, and replenishing our stores actively.

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