Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other?
Communication! It permeates our lives. We communicate for many reasons such as: 1) to get what we want, 2) to get rid of what we don't want, 3) to let people know how we feel, 4) to show people we care, 5) to work productively with co-workers, etc. As members of the human race we are fortunate to have various ways to communicate our needs and desires. We can talk, use body language, write our requests or key them into the computer.
But what would happen if we spoke one language and the intended receiver of our message spoke another language. Or perhaps we are speaking on the phone to a friend and static interfers so much that they only hear some of our words or we say one word and they hear it as a different word. Perhaps we are sending our message via computer but some of the keys are either missing or mixed up. That could cause some confusion, right? And the more static or more keys that are missing, the more confused the message is. On the other hand the better we can communicate with other people, the higher level we can function at.
Did you know that the same thing happens in our body? Our body is designed to function at an amazing level. When we think of how complicated our body is, of all the things that could go wrong, and of how much actually goes right without our even thinking about it, it is truly amazing. But why do things sometimes go wrong?
Our body is made up of various systems (circulatory, nervous, muscular, etc) that are made up of organs (heart, lungs, blood vessels) that are made up of cells. To understand the importance of communication in our body, let's take a look at what would happen if our body was a business.
If our body was a company, our systems would be the various departments in the company, our organs would be the teams of people working together within each department, and the cells would be each individual person within the teams. The individual people are the powerhouses of the company. If they are doing what they are supposed to do, when and how they are supposed to, and if they are communicating well to each other to get their individual needs met, then the team will work well. If the teams are working well and communicating so their needs are met, the department will work well. And if all departments are communicating and getting their needs met, the company is successful. But if communication brakes down at any level, it puts the success of the company in jeopardy.
Just as people power companies, our cells power our bodies. So what do our cells need and how do they communicate to each other? Let's look at their needs first. In order to work optimally our cells require nutrients which they use to produce energy and repair themselves. This process produces waste materials which they must eliminate. And they must identify themselves as to what kind of cells they are and if they are native to our body or if they are an intruder (virus, bad bacteria, etc). Each cell is covered with glycoproteins (much like a fuzzy ball). When our cells touch each other these glycoproteins pass messages from one cell to another. The glycoproteins are comprised of variations of 4 proteins and 8 essential sugars (also called carbohydrates or saccharides).
If all glycoproteins are completely formed (no missing sugars or proteins), the message gets passed along intact and the needs of the cell are satisfied. However, just like having static on the phone lines or missing keys on the computer keyboard; if something is missing from the glycoproteins, communication breaks down and the cell either doesn't get what it needs or is sabotaged by sending out a wrong message.
What happens if a cell doesn't get the nutrients it needs to produce energy or repair itself?
Oooh! Energy drain! Premature aging!
What happens if it's message to get rid of waste material is not understood?
Ouch! Toxin build-up! Yuck!
What if it is an invading virus but the body doesn't know it because of faulty cell communication?
Cold? Flu? Pneumonia? _____?
What if it is in fact a native cell that gives out a message that is interpreted by another cell that it is an invader?
Oh-oh! The macrophages are called in to eat it up pac-man style. If this happens frequently enough, we will eventually be diagnosed with one of the 85 known auto-immune diseases.
Wow! Did you have any idea how important each of your cells is (yes, all trillions of them). So how do we keep our cells communicating? It is in the glycoproteins. If our glycoproteins are complete and properly formed, our cells are happily sending and receiving the right messages. Highly functioning cells make highly functioning organs, which make highly functioning systems, which make a highly functioning body for us. The bottom line is getting the right nutrition so our cells can make complete and properly formed glycoproteins.
? Jan Barosh 2004. Permission is granted to reprint this article in print or on your web site so long as the following paragraph is included and contact information is provided to http://www.janbarosh.com
Jan Barosh's degree is in health and physical education with post- graduate work in exercise science and psychology. She is a licensed corporate wellness coach and a certified teleclass leader and has helped adults and children be more healthy and fit for over 25 years. Jan has developed a unique weight management program called LifeWeight? which is being taught in the US and licensed for distribution in the UK.
tidy up service Glenview ..You can eat whole flax seeds but you need to... Read More
What is health? Everyone wants this thing called health, and... Read More
"Organic" has some quite specific legal definitions in most developed... Read More
Toxic metals exist in our environment as pollutants in our... Read More
I would like to dispel some of the myths and... Read More
Looking into statistics, we can see the average American consumes... Read More
Images of "protein powder" containers with accomplished bodybuilders on their... Read More
The total calories that you should be consuming depend on... Read More
Okay, before we start, let me explain the purpose of... Read More
The old clich? that you are what you eat is... Read More
Fat burning compatible foods seem to be a popular topic... Read More
Do you know the risks to daily intakes of Starbucks... Read More
Numerous reports have recently appeared in both the lay and... Read More
The acai (ah-sigh-ee) berry has been around for thousands of... Read More
Vitamins & Minerals are essential to sustain life. Its what... Read More
According to the Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis... Read More
Spring in New York City is a really magical time.... Read More
Fiber is the part of the plant that is resistant... Read More
Do you know your ph? By getting ph strips at... Read More
Unfortunately, it has been proved beyond doubt that a large... Read More
When you take your food next time, take care of... Read More
Dr. Christine Wood, M.D, a practicing pediatrician in Encinitas, California,... Read More
We've heard it not only once or twice or even... Read More
The most incredible thing you can do for yourself is... Read More
Essential fatty acids are the number one recommendation for anyone... Read More
maid service near Winnetka ..I start from the premise that eating instinctively means eating... Read More
(ARA) - By now you probably think you've heard all... Read More
Heart Disease remains the number one cause of death in... Read More
Flaxseeds may be the smallest seeds you will find in... Read More
Post nasal drip is a sensation of mucous build up... Read More
Cranberry juice was first made by American settlers in 1683.... Read More
The egg, the symbol of birth, of life and, therefore,... Read More
The question most people think they need an answer to... Read More
The fact that diet directly affects behaviour is no news,... Read More
The latest tallies show that over three million people in... Read More
The subject of health care itself often seems plagued with... Read More
Okay, before we start, let me explain the purpose of... Read More
In a new study published by the American Heart Association,... Read More
Most recipes end with instructions to "serve immediately." You could... Read More
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and potentially life-altering disorder with symptoms... Read More
Nutrition usually only comes up when people are finally deciding... Read More
When you actually sit down and think about it, bottled... Read More
OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More
The dangers of processed foods and diets Why is that... Read More
There's no doubt--carbohydrates have taken center stage in public discourse... Read More
Did you know the average American gains 5-7 pounds every... Read More
What is the best protein powder to buy? I get... Read More
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in... Read More
Because of consumer demand, the food industry focus is on... Read More
Have you ever thought about where your drinking water comes... Read More
Nutrition |