Metabolism, in short, is a chemical reaction that changes food into energy. Metabolism has two parts; the first is called catabolism. This is the “destructive” half of the process that is responsible for breaking down food into simpler forms. A piece of bread will become carbohydrates and an orange becomes vitamin C. This break down  extracts the energy and health benefits from the vitamins and minerals in everything eaten. It also breaks down medicines, utilizing their healing purposes. A person with a faster metabolism will feel the effects of a pill faster because it will break down and spread through the bloodstream faster due to the work of catabolism. After catabolism is done, the leftover energy is handed over to anabolism.

The second half of metabolism is the “constructive” half called anabolism. It’s responsible for building up cells and living tissue with the nutrients and energy extracted. This process synthesizes proteins, sugars, fats, enzymes, antibodies, and hormones. Both parts of the process are important for tissue to be created and maintained, as well as balance a body’s weight.

Metabolism, and all the functions it covers, is run by the hormonal and nervous systems. On a level that humans look at, it’s responsible for the balance of calories that are needed and taken into the body. A person’s caloric needs are based on three factors–the calories burned while the body is at rest, which is known as a person’s basal metabolic rate (BMR), the calories burnt during exercise or any movement, and the calories burned in the process of digesting food. Fat is burned when more calories than are needed to match those three categories, and it is put on when more calories are taken in.

Other factors weigh into how a person’s metabolism works. Some people have faster or slower metabolisms, and some even learn to enhance how fast they burn calories. In the end, though, it’s up to a person’s metabolism, which breaks down food to become energy, nutrients, and, if more calories are taken in than burnt, fat.

One of the easiest ways to achieve that goal is through setting our diet and lifestyle in a more fresh and natural way. We should begin to cut down on junk foods, red meats, foods high in preservatives, and definitely smoking and drinking. From this day on, we should think about munching on lots of nutritious vegetables and fruits like goji berries, drinking fresh fruit juices, a daily walk around the community, and perhaps even helping in the community as our new form of vice.

With this scheme, we’re not only providing ourselves a healthier body but also we serve as an inspiration to others like our age and even people much younger or older than us. We should be the teacher of each other because we need to help creating a community that’s full of lively, healthy people who in return bring hope to everyone who surrounds us.

We should accept the fact that the good function of our body relies on our conscience and that conscience should only think about what’s right and just. After all, it’s our own selves who are going to take the blame for all the pain and misery we get from diseases because once or twice in our lives we’ve neglected our health. To live a long and happy live anyway isn’t just for our own sake, it’s also for people who love us most. We have to have a deeper grasp for that so that we may realize the importance of living a healthy life.

]]> http://www.gojiberriesblog.com/2010/05/16/why-do-we-need-a-healthy-life/feed/ 0 http://www.gojiberriesblog.com/2008/11/25/staying-healthy-for-the-holidays/ http://www.gojiberriesblog.com/2008/11/25/staying-healthy-for-the-holidays/#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:42:26 +0000 Goji Berries http://www.gojiberriesblog.com/2008/11/25/staying-healthy-for-the-holidays/ With the holiday season coming soon some might be thinking how they are going to maintain proper nutrition with all the goodies and temptations that will be right before your eyes. For some to splurge will not be to big of a deal, but for those who are trying to stick with what they have started and not slip it will be very hard to just say no. If you are planning to entertain at your house this season then it will be a little easier to control what you eat because you can make yourself things that are nutritious and satisfy your family and friends at the same time. However if you are spending your holidays at someone else’s house it will be much harder maintain your nutrition diet. All is not lost though. There are a few things you can do to enjoy the time with your family and stay healthy at the same time. One thing that you can do is bring food you can eat with you. Another is to request foods that you can eat if you feel comfortable enough to do that. If neither of those options are available don’t panic just be careful of what you eat and do it in moderation. Most of all remember to enjoy the holidays.