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Nutrition & Dietetics vocabulary · Digestion and Metabolism

Metabolism

Meaning in nutrition & dietetics, with examples

/məˈtæbəlɪzəm/nounCore term

In nutrition & dietetics, metabolism means: All the chemical processes in the body that turn food into energy and into the materials cells need, and that break down and remove waste.

In Turkish: metabolizma

How it is used

Used in science and in everyday talk. Scientists speak of carbohydrate, fat or protein metabolism; clients often say they have a 'slow' or 'fast' metabolism. The adjective is 'metabolic', as in metabolic rate and metabolic syndrome.

Example sentences

  1. Many clients blame a slow metabolism, but their food diary often tells a different story.

  2. Thyroid hormones play a major role in regulating metabolism.

Common collocations

  • fast metabolism
  • slow metabolism
  • energy metabolism
  • glucose metabolism
  • metabolic rate
  • metabolizeTo process a substance through the body's chemical reactions, for example to break down food for energy or to change a drug or alcohol into other compounds.
  • basal metabolic rateThe amount of energy the body uses at complete rest to keep basic functions such as breathing, circulation and cell repair going. It is usually the largest part of daily energy use.
  • digestionThe process in which the mouth, stomach and intestines break food down into small molecules that can be absorbed into the blood and used by the body.
  • insulinA hormone made by the pancreas that helps glucose move from the blood into cells, which lowers blood sugar. It also helps the body store energy as glycogen and fat.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Digestion and Metabolism

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.