Glucose is an important source of energy for our bodies. It is used in different ways depending on how our body is working, especially during digestion and exercise.
Glycolysis is the first step in using glucose for energy. It happens in the cytoplasm, which is the fluid inside our cells. During glycolysis, one glucose molecule () is changed into two smaller molecules called pyruvate. This process gives us 2 ATP (which is the energy our cells need) and 2 NADH (which helps carry electrons). For example, when we exercise hard, glycolysis speeds up to help give us quick energy.
When there is enough oxygen, pyruvate moves into the mitochondria, which we can think of as the power plants of our cells. Here, it goes through aerobic respiration. This process includes:
When there isn’t enough oxygen, like during really intense exercise, pyruvate goes through a process called fermentation. This makes lactate and helps glycolysis keep going, but it produces less energy—only 2 ATP from each glucose molecule.
When our body is short on glucose, like when we haven’t eaten for a while, it can create glucose from other sources using a process called gluconeogenesis. The body uses things like lactate and amino acids to ensure we always have enough glucose for important functions.
In short, our body uses glucose in different ways like glycolysis, aerobic respiration, anaerobic fermentation, and gluconeogenesis. These processes show how flexible our energy production is based on what our body needs at any moment.
Glucose is an important source of energy for our bodies. It is used in different ways depending on how our body is working, especially during digestion and exercise.
Glycolysis is the first step in using glucose for energy. It happens in the cytoplasm, which is the fluid inside our cells. During glycolysis, one glucose molecule () is changed into two smaller molecules called pyruvate. This process gives us 2 ATP (which is the energy our cells need) and 2 NADH (which helps carry electrons). For example, when we exercise hard, glycolysis speeds up to help give us quick energy.
When there is enough oxygen, pyruvate moves into the mitochondria, which we can think of as the power plants of our cells. Here, it goes through aerobic respiration. This process includes:
When there isn’t enough oxygen, like during really intense exercise, pyruvate goes through a process called fermentation. This makes lactate and helps glycolysis keep going, but it produces less energy—only 2 ATP from each glucose molecule.
When our body is short on glucose, like when we haven’t eaten for a while, it can create glucose from other sources using a process called gluconeogenesis. The body uses things like lactate and amino acids to ensure we always have enough glucose for important functions.
In short, our body uses glucose in different ways like glycolysis, aerobic respiration, anaerobic fermentation, and gluconeogenesis. These processes show how flexible our energy production is based on what our body needs at any moment.