Metabolism and metabolic pathways govern every living cell in the body in order for it to function properly. The primary aim of cellular metabolism is to provide energy from intake of food to maintain function and hence, sustain life.
Metabolic processes are, essentially, made up of many interconnected biochemical reaction and cycles that break down nutrients from our food intake and those that build and repair the body. These processes affect many factors including diet, exercise, age, gender, genetics and health conditions.
When metabolic processes and pathways are compromised due to genetic or environmental factors, this may lead to metabolic-related disorders such as cancer, diabetes and heart conditions. Many of these disorders can be prevented or treated and others may need to be managed in order to maintain a healthy and long life.
In this course, you will be introduced to the major metabolic pathways that break down the various nutrients such as sugars, fats, proteins and carbohydrates from the intake of food and how they are converted to energy and other molecules that maintain the cells' function in order to respond favourably, in spite of their immediate environmental surrounding, and sustain life. This can be done through cellular growth and cell division. The course will also discuss how metabolic disorders may arise and how they may be managed, prevented or treated.