Most of us take the body's ability to perform a variety of tasks and repetitive movements for granted -- drawing on energy sources like a bottomless well. But there is a lot going on beneath the surface. By understanding the biological processes that occur on the cellular level, you can take measures to optimize performance and propel your body to new heights of fitness.
Cellular Respiration
Not to be confused with pulmonary respiration, cellular respiration takes place in each living cell of your body. Professor Michael J. Gregory, Ph.D., of the State University of New York defines cellular respiration as the process by which the energy stored in glucose is converted to ATP, the cell's primary energy source. In muscle cells, ATP fuels muscular contraction, allowing for human movement. Aerobic respiration involves several steps of chemical processes, both anaerobic and aerobic.
Glycolisis
The first step to aerobic respiration is anaerobic glycolisis which takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell. In this phase, glucose is partially oxidized and broken down into carbon molecules called pyruvic acid, yielding ATP. The anaerobic metabolism of glucose sets the stage for aerobic respiration, yielding a net of only two ATP.
Aerobic Respiration
Aerobic respiration takes place in the mitochondria of the cell. As glucose is combined with oxygen, it yeilds energy, along with carbon dioxide and water as metabolic bi-products. In this phase, the pyruvate produced from glycolisis enters the Krebs cycle, a series of 10 enzymatic reactions, followed by nine more steps occuring in the inner membrane of the cell's mitochondria. At the end of all these processes, the end yeild of the aerobic phase is 34 ATP, plus the two ATP yielded in glycolisis, for a total of 36 ATP, according to starsandseas.com.
Maximizing Energy Reserves
To maximize the capacity for the cells to produce ATP, the body's systems must be developed. Lung capacity, cardiovascular endurance, capillaries and mitochondria are all developed through aerobic exercise like running, cycling, brisk walking and dancing. Aerobic exercise also maximizes the capacity for the muscles to store glycogen, the storage form of glucose. However, you must replenish glycogen stores by consuming carbohydrates. Other nutrients like calcium and Vitamin C play a vital role in cellular respiration. Muscle cells must be well-hydrated for optimal ATP production.
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