Metabolism

Metabolism is often misunderstood as just how fast we burn calories, but it’s actually the entire engine of life — that is, the total sum of every chemical reaction happening in the body to keep us alive and functioning. It’s the complex process of turning food into energy and using that energy to build and repair everything from our muscles to our brain chemicals. Ideally, metabolism follows a strict internal (circadian) clock — burning fuel for activity during the day and focusing on maintenance and repair while we sleep. When this timing is disrupted, the body struggles to perform the right tasks at the right time. For people with a mood disorder (major depressive disorder/MDD or bipolar disorder/BD), it can create of state of internal chaos that can trigger or worsen mood episodes.