Biochemistry in Day-to-Day Life

 

Biochemistry in Day-to-Day Life

Biochemistry is not just a laboratory science — it is the chemistry of your everyday life. Every breath you take, every emotion you feel, every food you eat, and every medicine you swallow works because of biochemical reactions inside the body.

Below are the most common, relatable everyday examples:

1. Breathing & Energy: The Biochemistry of Life

• When you breathe in oxygen, your cells use it to break down glucose (from food).
• This process, called cellular respiration, produces ATP, the energy currency of the body.
• Without ATP, you cannot walk, think, study, or even blink.

👉 Every breath = a biochemical reaction that keeps you alive.

2. Digestion: How Your Body Breaks Down Food

• Your saliva contains enzymes like amylase that start digesting carbohydrates the moment you eat.
• In the stomach, pepsin digests proteins.
• In the intestine, lipase digests fats.

👉 What you eat becomes usable nutrients through biochemical enzymes.

3. Blood Sugar Control: Everyday Biochemistry

After meals, your blood sugar rises.

• Insulin is released to lower it.
• Glucagon is released when your sugar levels drop.

This keeps you energetic and prevents weakness, dizziness, or diabetes-related problems.

4. Emotions & Stress: The Biochemistry of the Mind

Your mood is controlled by special chemicals:

Emotion/Feeling	Biochemical Messenger
Happiness	Serotonin, Dopamine
Stress	Cortisol, Adrenaline
Sleepiness	Melatonin
Love/bonding	Oxytocin

👉 When you laugh, cry, feel hungry, stressed, or motivated — biochemistry is working behind the scenes.

5. Immunity & Fighting Infections

When you get a cold or fever, your immune system releases:

• Antibodies to attack microbes
• Cytokines to coordinate defense
• Histamine in allergies

👉 Fever, inflammation, and recovery are all biochemical events.

6. Medicines: How Drugs Work Biochemically

Most medicines act on biochemical pathways:

• Paracetamol blocks prostaglandins → reduces fever.
• Antibiotics stop bacterial enzymes.
• Antacids neutralize stomach acid.
• Antihistamines block histamine → reduce allergy symptoms.

👉 Medicines are effective because they alter biochemical reactions.

7. Exercise & Muscle Activity

When you walk or run:

• Muscles use stored glucose (glycogen).
• Lactic acid builds up during intense exercise.
• ATP is constantly used and regenerated.

👉 Muscle pain after workout is due to biochemical changes in muscles.

8. Skin, Hair, and Aging

Your appearance also depends on biochemistry:

• Collagen gives skin strength.
• Melanin gives skin color.
• Keratin forms hair and nails.
• Antioxidants protect against aging.

Sunlight changes skin tone through melanin activation — a biochemical reaction.

9. Food Cooking & Browning

Even cooking involves biochemistry:

• Caramelization of sugar
• Maillard reaction → browning of bread, dosa, chapati
• Protein denaturation while boiling eggs

👉 Kitchen is the biggest biochemistry laboratory!

10. Household Products & Daily Chemicals

• Soap removes dirt through micelles.
• Shampoos use surfactants to dissolve oil.
• Toothpaste contains fluoride to protect enamel.
• Sanitizers kill germs using alcohol.

👉 Everyday cleansing is controlled by chemical properties.

Summary in One Line

Biochemistry is not just a subject — it is the invisible chemistry happening inside and around you every moment.