the mechanical process of processing calories into heat

Question

How do we mechanically burn calories into body heat.

In: 2

Answer 1

Your body has a bunch of enzymes that break down molecules like glucose in a series of controlled steps. The process involves using up oxygen, and the end products are water and carbon dioxide, so it is technically burning.

In some of the steps, enough energy is released that some of it can be stored in a molecule called ATP, which is what your body uses as a battery to power its other processes. The rest of the energy is lost as heat, same as in any other process.

You can look up glycolysis if you want to see all the steps.