The process of ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, being converted into energy is fairly complex. However, here’s a quick rundown of how it works:<\/p>\n
Since ATP is so critical, your body has several systems to create it, which work together in phases. The most fascinating thing about this is that different workouts utilize different systems, so a marathon runner will get ATP differently than a sprinter.<\/p>\n
ATP is the result of 3 biochemical systems in the muscle:<\/p>\n
Below, we’ll explore each one of these systems in detail:<\/p>\n
Your muscles are made up of cells and those cells have some ATP in them that can be used immediately for energy. However, it is only enough to provide approximately 3 seconds of power.<\/p>\n
In order to quickly restore those ATP levels, the cells in your muscles also contain a compound known as creatine phosphate. An enzyme known as creatine kinase separates the phosphate molecule from the creatine and is added to ADP to create ATP.<\/p>\n
The cell turns the ATP into ADP and phosphagen quickly turns ADP into ATP. As the muscle works, creatine phosphate levels decrease. The creatine phosphate and ATP levels together are known as the phosphagen system. The phosphagen system can give you the energy your muscles need to carry out HIIT workouts, but only for approximately 8 to 10 seconds at a time. This is how the best creatine supplements can help increase athletic performance.<\/p>\n
Your muscles also have significant stores of glycogen, which is a chain of glucose molecules. It is a complex carbohydrate. Glycogen is split to create glucose. At that point, anaerobic metabolism is used to create ATP and a byproduct known as lactic acid from glucose.<\/p>\n
According to the experts, approximately 12 different chemical reactions must occur to create ATP under this process. Therefore, the glycogen lactic acid system creates ATP much slower than the phosphagen system. That being said, it still acts rapidly and the amount of ATP produced lasts approximately 90 seconds.<\/p>\n
This system does not need oxygen, which is good because it can take some time for the lungs and heart to work together. It’s also helpful because the rapidly contracting muscles squeeze the blood vessels within it, which deprives it of blood that is rich in oxygen.<\/p>\n
Due to the lactic acid, there is a limit to anaerobic respiration. Lactic acid is what causes your muscles to ache. When it builds up in your muscles, it causes fatigue and soreness that most people associate with intense workouts.<\/p>\n
Within 2 minutes of working out, your body begins to respond and supply your working muscles with the oxygen they need. Once the oxygen is present, glucose is broken down into carbon dioxide<\/a> and water. This process is known as aerobic respiration. The glucose for this process is sourced from 3 places:<\/p>\n\n