"The living state is a non-equilibrium steady state." Explain.

(N/A) $\rightarrow$ Thousands of chemical compounds, known as metabolites, are present in living organisms at characteristic concentrations.
$\rightarrow$ For example, the blood concentration of glucose in a normal healthy individual is $4.5-5.0 \; mM$, while hormones are present in nanogram concentrations.
$\rightarrow$ Biological systems exist in a steady state characterized by the constant concentration of these biomolecules, which are maintained through metabolic flux.
$\rightarrow$ Any chemical or physical process moves spontaneously toward equilibrium. However, the steady state of a living organism is a non-equilibrium state.
$\rightarrow$ From physics, it is known that systems at equilibrium cannot perform work.
$\rightarrow$ Since living organisms must perform work continuously to survive, they cannot afford to reach equilibrium. Therefore, the living state is a non-equilibrium steady state to enable the performance of work.
$\rightarrow$ The living process is a constant effort to prevent falling into equilibrium, which is achieved through energy input. Metabolism provides the mechanism for this energy production.
$\rightarrow$ Consequently, the living state cannot exist without metabolism.