More to Explore
Food and Nutrition
Our bodies use the calories in the foods we eat for energy. But how does that work, exactly? Cells get the majority of their energy through the process of aerobic cellular respiration. That means that cells use oxygen carried to them via the bloodstream to break down the chemical bonds in proteins, carbohydrates and fats. In the process, cells produce ATP—and ATP, in turn, can be used as an energy source. Cellular respiration is the reverse of photosynthesis, in which plants use energy from the sun to create sugar, and produce ATP in the process.
Explore the following links to learn more:
> Cellular Processes
(from Britanica)
Click on "cellular metabolism" and then "cellular respiration."
> Cellular Respiration
(from Georgia State University)
> Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
(from J. Stein Carter, Assistant Professor of Biology at University of Cincinnati)
As you read, think about:
- Where is the energy in food stored?
- How are cellular respiration and photosynthesis related?
