Relating to catabolism, the metabolic process in which complex molecules are broken down into simpler ones to release energy.
From Greek katabole 'descent' or 'throwing down,' combined with -ic. The term was coined in the 19th century to describe the metabolic phase opposite to anabolism.
Your muscles are catabolic right now if you're running or exercising hard—your body is breaking down stored nutrients to fuel movement, which is why athletes need recovery time to rebuild what they burned.
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