Elemental Naturopathy & Wellness with Carrie Walters

20/10/2025

I remember spending hours and hours learning all of the steps in the Krebs cycle when I was studying Naturopathy ... it's fascinating! 😊

A Simple Guide to the Krebs Cycle. It's easier to understand than you think.

The Krebs cycle (also called the citric acid cycle) is the engine room of your cells. It takes the food you eat and turns it into the energy currency your body runs on: ATP. Here’s how it works, step by step:

1️⃣ Fuel Enters as Acetyl-CoA
Carbs, fats, and proteins all break down into acetyl-CoA, the entry ticket into the cycle.
🟢 Example: A slice of bread, a piece of meat, or olive oil will all eventually feed into this same pathway.

2️⃣ Citrate is Made
Acetyl-CoA joins oxaloacetate to form citrate — this starts the cycle rolling.
🟢 Example: This is why it’s called the “citric acid cycle.”

3️⃣ Stepwise Transformations
Citrate is shuffled through a series of chemical changes (isocitrate → α-ketoglutarate → succinyl-CoA → succinate → fumarate → malate → oxaloacetate).
🟢 Example: Each step extracts energy in small packets.

4️⃣ High-Energy Carriers Are Made
At multiple steps, electrons are pulled out and stored in NADH and FADH₂.
🟢 Example: Think of NADH and FADH₂ as charged batteries carrying energy to the next stage.

5️⃣ ATP is Generated
One molecule of ATP (or its cousin GTP) is made directly in the cycle.
🟢 Example: This is like pocket change compared to the big payoff later.

6️⃣ CO₂ is Released
As carbons are stripped from the molecules, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is released as waste.
🟢 Example: The CO₂ you breathe out is literally waste gas from your Krebs cycle.

7️⃣ Oxaloacetate is Recycled
The cycle regenerates oxaloacetate so it can combine with a new acetyl-CoA — the cycle spins again.
🟢 Example: It’s like a wheel that keeps turning as long as fuel is supplied.

The Krebs cycle is the hub of metabolism. It takes food (via acetyl-CoA), spins it through a cycle, strips out electrons, and sends them to the electron transport chain where the real energy payoff (lots of ATP) is made. Every breath you take and every calorie you eat feeds into this cycle.

19/10/2025

Understanding glucose. How your body manages energy.

Glucose metabolism is how your body turns food into energy, storing and releasing it as needed. Different organs and processes work together, influenced by hormones, to keep blood sugar steady and fuel your cells.

1️⃣ Blood Glucose Glucose from food enters the bloodstream, with levels kept between 0.8–10 mmol/L. The kidneys filter excess into urine if levels get too high.
🟢 Example: After a meal, blood glucose rises, prompting cells to take it up.
🟢 Example: Low levels trigger the liver to release stored glucose.

2️⃣ Liver The liver stores glucose as glycogen or makes new glucose (gluconeogenesis) from lactate, amino acids, or glycerol, releasing it when needed.
🟢 Example: During fasting, the liver breaks down glycogen (glycogenolysis) to maintain blood sugar.
🟢 Example: After exercise, it uses lactate to rebuild glucose.

3️⃣ Muscle Muscles take up glucose for energy or store it as glycogen, especially during exercise, and release lactate when oxygen is low. 🟢 Example: During a workout, muscles use glucose for quick energy via glycolysis.
🟢 Example: Resting muscles store glycogen for later use.

4️⃣ Central Nervous System (CNS) The brain relies on glucose for energy, using aerobic oxidation when oxygen is available, or switching to lactate if needed.
🟢 Example: A steady glucose supply keeps you alert and focused.
🟢 Example: In low oxygen, the brain uses lactate as a backup fuel.

5️⃣ Fat Tissue Fat cells store glucose as fat (lipogenesis) or break down fat (lipolysis) to release glycerol and fatty acids for energy during fasting.
🟢 Example: After a big meal, excess glucose turns into fat for long-term storage.
🟢 Example: During hunger, fat breakdown provides energy via ketogenesis.

Glucose metabolism involves the liver, muscles, brain, and fat tissue, balancing energy use and storage. Hormones like insulin (after meals) and glucagon (during hunger) control these processes, ensuring your body adapts to eating, exercise, or fasting.

17/08/2025

Perspective!!