Catabolic

Catabolic means breakdown of complex molecules with production of energy.

Catabolic is a technical term in biology. It has to do with processes in the body that break down larger molecules into smaller ones.

When you metabolize protein, fat and carbohydrate by breaking them down into smaller units you make energy. These are catabolic processes, and when they occur it is called catabolism.

The food you eat must be broken down for it to be of use to you. Large proteins are broken down into amino acids. Carbohydrates are broken into small molecules. Fats are long chains that are broken to smaller pieces.

When this occurs there is a release of energy and that is the energy your body uses to do things.

Without catabolism you wouldn't have the energy to climb the stairs or even tie your shoes. So catabolism is necessary. But it can be taken too far and it becomes harmful.

Effect of dieting

When people get sick their body becomes catabolic and starts to break down. They get weak. The same thing happens on fad diets and crash diets that make you lose weight too fast.

When you diet to excess catabolism starts to consume your healthy tissue for energy. When this happens you lose good lean mass.

And without the lean mass you don't burn up energy as fast. You get weak and unhealthy. And hungry. And then you gain weight faster.

And this is why crash diets and fad diets doom you to failure.

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