Metabolic pathways are a series of chemical reactions that occur within a cell to convert food into energy and building blocks for growth. These pathways involve enzymes, which are special proteins that speed up the reactions. For example, when we eat carbohydrates, they are broken down through a metabolic pathway into simpler sugars, which can then be used for energy. There are two main types of metabolic pathways: catabolic and anabolic. Catabolic pathways break down larger molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy in the process. In contrast, anabolic pathways use energy to build complex molecules from simpler ones, such as when our bodies create proteins from amino acids.