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.
green cleaning service Park Ridge ..Eating healthy and taking care of yourself is essential to... Read More
Some experts consider carbohydrate craving and addiction as something more... Read More
Just as our country is currently engaged in a war... Read More
What is health? Everyone wants this thing called health, and... Read More
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in... Read More
The most incredible thing you can do for yourself is... Read More
How often do you pick up items at the grocery... Read More
When I hear the word fat I usually think of... Read More
The sugar industry and the food manufacturers are capitalizing BIG... Read More
"To eat an apple before going to bed will make... Read More
The fact that diet directly affects behaviour is no news,... Read More
In the brain, a typical protein can live for approximately... Read More
Spring is in the air and ? summer is around... Read More
You are a mineral bodyEvery part of you is made... Read More
The adrenal or "stress glands" are small, triangular shaped glands... Read More
Dr. Arthur Agatston, the cardiologist who developed South Beach Diet... Read More
I had finally come to a place in my life... Read More
Today's tip is on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).Hypoglycemia affects both... Read More
If you or someone you know suffers from rheumatoid arthritis,... Read More
How To Have A Healthy ThanksgivingEnd of the year holidays... Read More
It is ironic how something as obvious as nutrition has... Read More
This is usually the forgotten element of most mass programs.... Read More
I'm going to be a bit radical here, but know... Read More
Summer is not too far away. It is almost time... Read More
Constipation is the passing of dry, hard faeces fewer than... Read More
cleaning help near Bannockburn ..Diets don't work. If they did the U.S. of A.... Read More
Have you seen those "fat free" foods in supermarkets? Have... Read More
The field of nutrition is awash with charts, tables, diagrams,... Read More
This free list of fat burning foods will help you... Read More
Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other?Communication! It permeates our... Read More
For the executive, maintaining the much-needed balance between career, family,... Read More
In this newsletter we will discuss the current controversy about... Read More
The cry of "I have no willpower!" often emerges from... Read More
There are basically four major components, or essential molecular components... Read More
It is believed that cane sugar was discovered before the... Read More
Dieters who dejectedly complain they are figuratively "stuck" with their... Read More
The Human Body is in a constant flux with the... Read More
Weight loss plans are almost always trying to get you... Read More
A fictional overheard conversation at a Thelma's Fine Dining.Hi, I'm... Read More
The dangers of processed foods and diets Why is that... Read More
Nuts are readily available and provide a highly nutritious food.... Read More
Inflammation is not a disease.Inflammation is best described as a... Read More
In order to eat fewer calories than you need, you... Read More
What if I told you tap water and homogenized milk... Read More
The word 'homeostasis' is made up of two Greek words:... Read More
An American culture that is marked by a chronic lack... Read More
The debate regarding Fluoride continues to rage, is it good... Read More
You can spot a juicer a mile off at the... Read More
One of the biggest mistakes many new bodybuilders make is... Read More
Every where you look you see articles or news or... Read More
Nutrition |