The first step in glucose breakdown to produce energy.
Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway of glucose breakdown into pyruvate or lactate, producing 2 ATP molecules. It takes place in the cytoplasm of all cells.
Glycolysis is the rapid anaerobic pathway that fuels intense efforts. It produces only 2 ATP per glucose (vs 30-32 for the complete aerobic pathway). In aerobic conditions, pyruvate enters the mitochondria and fuels the Krebs cycle. In anaerobic conditions, it is converted to lactate, causing muscle acidosis.
Break down glucose into rapidly accessible energy, first step of cellular respiration.
Carbohydrates with a high glycemic index are useful before intense efforts to quickly fuel glycolysis.
Glycolysis is rapid but inefficient — the aerobic pathway produces 15 times more ATP.
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