Period 2. Human Energy Metabolism

Postprandial metabolism is the energy-generation process that takes place in the cells when nutrients are absorbed from the digestive tract after a meal. Fasting metabolism is the energy-generation process that takes place in the body when we cannot eat — when we go hungry.

Zoe "But there's plenty of food at the supermarket, and restaurants everywhere — why would we go hungry?"

Dr. Lee "It's a fair question. Walk into a supermarket and you'll find a richly stocked variety of foods. Walk down the street and you'll find restaurants lined up everywhere. So we eat easily — three meals a day, plus snacks and drinks in between. But up until the 1960s, in our country, there was something we called the 'spring barley hump,' when many people went hungry. Today Korea is one of the wealthier nations in the world. I bring this up to point out that, on a global average, our country has become wealthy enough that almost no one starves to death."

Zoe "Right — I've heard that there are still many people around the world who suffer from malnutrition or hunger. I once met some volunteers handing out flyers asking for donations to help people going hungry in Africa or in other poor countries. I also saw a photo exhibition about it."