metabolizing
Chemically converting nutrients
Metabolizing is the present participle of metabolize, meaning to process substances through metabolism—the chemical reactions in living organisms that convert food into energy and building materials.
When your body metabolizes alcohol, it breaks it down into compounds that can be used or eliminated.
The term extends beyond digestion to include how the body processes drugs, toxins, and nutrients: Some people metabolize caffeine faster than others.
Figuratively, metabolizing can describe mentally processing experiences or information.
Reaction-speeding proteins
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- ATPCell's energy molecule
catabolism · anabolism · glycolysis · oxidation · respiration · mitochondria · amino acids · fatty acids
enzymes
Reaction-speeding proteins
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
ATP · catabolism · anabolism · glycolysis · oxidation · respiration · mitochondria · amino acids · fatty acids · nutrients
- digestionstomach acid, swallowing, digesting, chewing, digestion
- eatingchewing, biting, swallowing, nibbling, munching
- consumptioneating, drinking, consuming, ingestion, ingesting
- chemical breakdowndecomposition, hydrolysis, pyrolysis, combustion, photolysis
metabolizingstoring
Keeping for future use
accumulating · inactive · inert · dormant · retaining
metabolism, metabolic, metabolize, metabolite, anabolic, metabolisms, metabolized, catabolic, metabolically