Metabolism FAQ’s
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ATP is our cellular energy, that fuels all cell functions.
It’s made from carbs, fat, and protein in the mitochondria. Making it requires oxygen, nutrients, and a healthy metabolism.
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the sum of all biochemical processes in the body that convert food and stored energy into cellular energy, ATP, to sustain life.
It includes two main components:
Catabolism: The breakdown of molecules (like fats, carbs, and proteins) to release ATP.
Anabolism: The building and repair of cells, tissues, and molecules using that ATP.
When catabolism produces enough ATP, your body can recover, repair, and make hormones efficiently.
But if ATP is low, anabolic processes slow down—leading to poor repair, low hormone production, and common health issues. -
Small organelles within cells responsible for producing the majority of the cell’s energy, ATP
Healthy mitochondria generate more ATP, which enhance performance and tissue repair.
Unhealthy mitochondria produce less ATP, that weakens cell functions and lead to degeneration in the long run.
Mitochondria are highly dynamic, with their efficiency deeply influenced by how you eat, sleep, move, think, and feel.
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the study of how energy flows through living systems, particularly how cells produce, store, and utilize energy at the molecular level.
It focuses on the biochemical and physiological processes that convert food and oxygen into cellular energy, ATP, and how disruptions in this process affect metabolism, health, and disease.
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Fatigue, low mood, excess weight, cravings, digestive issues, poor sleep, trouble gaining muscle, hormonal imbalances, skin problems, PMS, PCOS, painful periods, anxiety, PTSD, headache, joint pain, inflammation, sick all the time.
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Bioavailability is the degree to which a nutrient is absorbed and used by the body.
Animal based food is generally high, plant based food is generally low.
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PUFA stands for polyunsaturated fatty acids, a type of fat found in foods like seeds, seed oils, margarine, nuts, and fatty fish.
In excess—especially the vegetarian omega-6 PUFA called Linoleic Acid—disrupt metabolism by integrating into our cell membranes, where they are highly prone to oxidation, leading to oxidative stress, promoting inflammation and cellular damage.
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an imbalance between free radicals (unstable molecules) and antioxidants in the body, which can damage cells, proteins, and DNA.
It triggers inflammation and health issues.
The Bioavailability Factor
Just because a food is packed with nutrients and comes from nature doesn't mean it's automatically optimal for us.
The real question is: Can your body break it down and absorb those nutrients effectively?
In some cases, even so called superfoods can mess with our metabolism, especially when eaten everyday or in unbalanced amounts. They can also lose their benefits—or worse, become harmful—if they've been stored for too long, oxidized or improperly prepared.
Worried About Blood Sugar Spikes?
Spoiler alert: sugar is not the villan!
When your metabolism is functioning properly, sugars like glucose, fructose, and even sucrose (yep, that’s table sugar!) are actually great fuel for ATP production in your cells.
The issue arises when free radicals from a poor diet, weakened antioxidant defenses, sluggish mitochondria, and lifestyle habits throw your glucose metabolism off course.
So: sugar's not actually the villain—it's about how your body is set up to handle it.
Want to get it back on track?
Less Calories = More Weight?
Eating less and still not losing weight?
Extra weight isn’t always about overeating—it can actually mean you’re not eating enough. When your cells lack the nutrients to turn calories into energy, those calories get stored as fat instead.
Calories are just potential energy—they don't do anything unless your cells can actually use them.
Under-eating also triggers stress, raises cortisol, slows your metabolism, and leads to fat gain and muscle loss.
Sure, cutting calories might work short-term—but it can backfire fast.
Inflammation: When Healing Gets Stuck
The silent driver of (almost) all health issues…
Acute inflammation is your body’s emergency response when it senses damage - essential for healing. t's a well-coordinated, natural process that's essential for recovery.
But when that inflammation keeps firing off or doesn't calm down even though injury is gone? That's when it becomes chronic, and things get messy.
It disrupts your cells' normal metabolism, drains energy, and creates waste instead of ATP, to fuel normal cell functions.
Chronic inflammation can sneak up on you, quietly sabotaging your health over time, leaving you feeling off without even realizing why.
You probably heard about free radicals and oxidative stress? But do you know how it works and how to manage it?
Cell Membrane Permeability
Your cells are like tiny engines, and their membranes—made mostly of fat—control what gets in and out. The fats you eat directly shape these membranes. Poor-quality fats can damage them, making it harder for your cells to absorb nutrients, remove waste, and produce energy.
Even small amounts of the wrong fats can disrupt this process, especially if you’re not getting enough high-quality animal fats.
Metabolism starts at the cell membrane. If they’re not working, nothing else will.
Endogenous antioxidants
You've probably also heard that antioxidants like vitamin C help neutralize free radicals and shield us from oxidative stress, right?
While those dietary antioxidants are great, the real power players are actually the ones your body makes—if has the right nutrients to work with.
These protectors are called endogenous antioxidants, and they outshine anything you can get from food!
The catch? Most modern diets—also the trendy, plant-heavy ones—fall short on the key building blocks needed to support a high production of these absolute super heroes.
When did you eat skin and bones last time?
Mitochondria
Tiny organelles inside all of our cells. When they’re functioning optimally, they produce ATP, clear out metabolic waste and manage oxidative stress.
But when neglected or damaged, they can slow down, break down, and start releasing harmful byproducts that cause inflammation and damage your cells.
Feeling sluggish all the time? It could be your mitochondria calling for help.
3 simple hacks for better metabolism
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1. Ditch seed oils
Avoid seed oils like sunflower, canola, margarine and any processed food containing them (it’s harder than you think - they sneak their ways into everything!)
Use butter, tallow, coconut oil or olive oil instead.
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2. Swap shelf food for fresh food
Change processed carbohydrates like bread, wheat, oats, grains for fresh fruit and root vegetables.
Watch out for long best before dates and ingredient lists.
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3. Include animals, nose-to-tail
Muscle meat, collagenous cuts, skin, marrow, organs, milk, eggs and broth from bones – broad spectrum of bioavailable nutrients and the most reliable way to meet your nutritional needs.
Looking for something special?
Hormones 101
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Hormones 101 *
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The engines of your metabolism. Drive ATP production, regulate temperature, digestion, and mood. Low thyroid = low energy and sluggish everything.
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Your stress hormone. Helpful in emergencies, but chronic high levels break down tissue, slow thyroid, and block healing. Lower it with carbs, rest, and safety signals.
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Not really the female hormone made out to be. In excess (very often, both in men and women!), it slows the thyroid, promotes fat storage, and can increase inflammation. Needs to be balanced with progesterone and properly cleared by liver and gut.
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The calming, anti-stress hormone. Supports thyroid, protects against inflammation, stabilizes mood, and balances estrogen. Often low with stress and low nutrient levels. You want more of this!
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Builds muscle, boosts energy, and sharpens focus. Both women and men need it. Depends on enough protein, calories, zinc, and cholesterol. Low levels can cause low libido. Definetly not the vibe your after.
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Often misunderstood. While it’s known as the “feel good” chemical, excess serotonin can actually slow metabolism, suppress thyroid, and increase inflammation. Balanced serotonin is good—but more isn’t always better. Sunlight, carbs, and thyroid support help regulate it naturally.
Metabolism runs on hormones, and hormones are built from the nutrients we eat—powered by the energy (ATP) our cells produce. When energy or raw materials are lacking, hormone balance gets disrupted. And they’re not just about reproduction— they regulate everything from mood to digestion to immune function.