We obsess about caloric input into the system, but output is far more important. What determines the energy output of the system? Suppose we consume 2000 calories of chemical energy (food) in one day. What is the metabolic fate of those 2000 calories? Possibilities for their use include •heat production, •new protein production, •new bone production, •new muscle production, •cognition (brain), •increased heart rate, •increased stroke volume (heart), •exercise/physical exertion, •detoxification (liver), •detoxification (kidney), •digestion (pancreas and bowels), •breathing (lungs), •excretion
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