Anabolism, Metabolism, and Catabolism

The body is continuously shaped by three transformational processes. Anabolism — the building up of the body through the creation, growth, and repair of cells — is governed by kapha and is most active from birth through the early teenage years. Metabolism — the maintenance of cellular activity, in which food and thoughts are transformed into energy, heat, and vitality — is governed by pitta through its fire component, agni, and is especially prominent during adult years. Catabolism — the destructive but necessary breakdown of larger molecules into smaller ones, culminating in cellular death — is governed by vata and is most active in old age.

The example of a red blood cell illustrates all three: its production is anabolism (kapha), the upkeep of its activity is metabolism (pitta), and its eventual death is catabolism (vata). When anabolism exceeds catabolism there is growth; when catabolism predominates there is emaciation or deterioration. Robust agni keeps these processes in dynamic balance and thereby supports a long, healthy life.

Each of these three phases can be disturbed by wrong diet, wrong lifestyle, and unprocessed emotions — kapha by heavy and stagnating habits, pitta by heating and reactive ones, vata by drying and destabilizing ones.