Discuss the Role of Energy in the Body

M1) Discuss the role of energy in the body

In this assignment, I will be discussing the role of energy in the body. Energy forms, energy metabolism and any reactions will be discussed during the course of this assignment.

Energy is used up at all times for body processes and is supplied from an individual’s diet, in the form of calories. Within the human body, energy is needed for a variety of reasons. Firstly, without energy humans will be unable to function correctly, preventing them from doing absolutely anything. For example, humans will not be able to communicate as they will have no energy to talk. Human muscles will not be able to function as they are energy-less, preventing them from performing simple everyday tasks (Moonie, 2010). Energy is needed to extract oxygen from certain areas within the human body and release it into the bloodstream. Furthermore, the human body needs energy to circulate blood and tissue fluid around the body. Energy is necessary is for breathing, taking in oxygen and making new tissues for growth and repair. Energy also transmits nerve impulses so that the human body is able to respond to changes within the environment in order to build different complex molecules, such as enzymes and hormones. This is to form the simple molecules produced after the digestion of food (Aldworth, 2010).

Without energy stored in human bodies, humans would not be able to function properly. Energy comes from: fats, carbohydrates and proteins in the food that individuals eat. Glucose is a simple sugar that provides the body with its primary source of energy. This type of sugar comes from digesting carbohydrates into a chemical that the body can easily convert to energy. Every individual’s body relies specifically on carbohydrates and fats from foods they eat for energy. The blood conveys these chemicals to the cells of the body through the circulatory/cardiovascular system. Within the cells are organelles called mitochondria (Heinemann, 2007). This is where energy production occurs through a complicated series of chemical reactions to produce ATP- the energy currency of the body. The circulatory/cardiovascular system will also ensure that the cells have sufficient oxygen. The journey of digestion begins as soon as individuals begin eating. Firstly, enzymes found in the saliva start the process of digestion by converting food into energy. Food will then travel to the stomach via the oesophagus. At this stage digestion continues for another two to six hours, depending upon the type of food the individual has consumed. This process reduces food into molecules that the body can then use for producing energy. Most nutrient absorption occurs in the small intestine, while water absorption occurs in the large intestine. The energy provided by the foods people eat is measured in calories. A gram of fat will consequently equal nine calories, whereas both proteins and carbohydrates only contain four calories. Availability of these will determine which source the body turns to for energy (Moonie, 2010).