the.com/metabolism
the constant chemical riot that keeps you alive by gently burning you down.
means The sum of all chemical reactions in a living organism that convert food into energy and building blocks, keeping cells running, growing, and repairing.
from From Greek 'metabolē,' meaning 'change' or 'transformation' — built from 'meta-' (over, across, beyond) and 'ballein' (to throw or cast). So at its root it's a 'throwing across,' the body endlessly tossing one substance into another. It entered scientific English in the 19th century as biology learned to measure the body's chemical bookkeeping.
resting burnBrain alone eats 20% of your calories.
speed mythFast metabolism barely explains thinness; it varies little.
heat outputYour body radiates roughly a 100-watt bulb.
cellular ageMost atoms in you replace within a year.
hibernation hackSome animals slow metabolism 99% to survive winter.