The Krebs Cycle

The Krebs cycle is named after German Biochemist Hans Adolf Krebs. The Krebs cycle refers to the variety of chemical reactions that happen within animal cells. Humans and animals utilize the Krebs cycle to process oxygen via respiration. The Krebs cycle also produces two byproducts:

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) – Used oxygen atoms bind with carbon atoms and are exhaled as CO2 which is a waste byproduct.

Adenosine Triposphate (ATP) – ATP is a high energy compound that is used in our protein synthesis process. With ATP, animals can create protein from amino acids as well as replicate deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) within cells.

The Krebs cycle is an integral part of cellular metabolism. Beginning with citrate and a series of chemical changes, it is a major part of energy creation and consumption within living animal organisms. ATP is usually created from glucose in the food that animals consume. Fats and proteins can also be used to generate ATP, but is less efficient when processed. The Krebs cycle uses the chemical process to package carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into energy, which is converted into CO2 as a result of using water as a processing agent. Citrate is produced at the end of the cycle, and is also used to start the cycle again.

In essence, the Krebs cycle is simply the process that cells use to create energy, store energy, or use energy from the food that organisms consume. This is then used to provide the energy which is used to power all of the cellular interactions within the body. An absence or depletion of food energy in the cycle causes the body to start pulling from available resources within the body. The Krebs cycle can be supplemented with a wide variety of foods that increase the efficiency of the cycle and can contribute to healthier cells.

The Krebs cycle may undergo problems if there is an absence of mitochondria (which are inherited from the female parent) within the cellular mass or a disorder/mutation that causes the cells to not use oxygen fast enough. This can cause a wide variety of problems within the body. Cells are basically oxygen deprived and function at a much lower capacity than is normally possible.

This may result in the following side effects:

Anxiety – An unpleasant state of mind that can generate concern or uneasiness within the individual.

Depression – A state of mind that is characterized by pessimism and a feeling of inadequacy in the mind of the individual.

Panic – Sudden fear and an overwhelming feeling of anxiety.

Suicidal Thoughts – A tendency to think about ending one's own life.

An example of a condition in which the Krebs cycle is not functioning correctly is Multiple Sclerosis. Conditions like multiple sclerosis have no known cure. Treatments are meant to reduce damages caused by the condition.