The process of converting food into energy is known as cellular respiration. This metabolic pathway allows cells to break down glucose and other organic molecules to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of the cell. Cellular respiration typically involves several stages, including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. It can occur in both aerobic (requiring oxygen) and anaerobic (not requiring oxygen) conditions. In aerobic respiration, glucose is fully oxidized, generating a substantial amount of ATP, while anaerobic respiration produces less energy and results in byproducts such as lactic acid or ethanol.