noun
Biological and health term for the body's chemical processing of nutrients, energy, alcohol, medicines, etc. Common in compounds and phrases such as 基礎代謝 and 代謝がいい／悪い.
運動を続けると基礎代謝が上がる。
Continuing to exercise raises your basal metabolism.
肝臓は薬の代謝に
The liver is involved in the metabolism of drugs.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
renewal; regeneration; turnover
Broader use for old elements being replaced by new ones. Often appears in 新陳代謝, and standalone 代謝する in this sense tends to sound somewhat abstract or written.
新しい人材を入れて、組織の新陳代謝を促す。
They bring in new talent to encourage renewal in the organization.
語彙も時代とともに代謝する。
Vocabulary, too, renews itself with the times.