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.
cleaning help near Mundelein ..Better sleep = better metabolism. I have been saying it... Read More
Since Dr Basant Puri, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer... Read More
The word herb is used to refer to any part... Read More
The confusion about eating healthy and dieting will now be... Read More
"What exercises can I do to ?? As fitness professional... Read More
Eating healthy is fast becoming a way of life. American's... Read More
Copyright ? 2004 priya shah Glutathione, the body's... Read More
Having a large amount of such "visceral fat" is associated... Read More
THE RISKNo doubt you've heard of the increasingly popular "raw... Read More
Weight loss plans are almost always trying to get you... Read More
The fact that diet directly affects behaviour is no news,... Read More
Apple cider vinegar is a product of apple juice fermentation.... Read More
Your healthOrganically grown fruit and vegetables are not covered in... Read More
With so much 'diet advice' around today it is little... Read More
Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document... Read More
Are there any benefits to be obtained from drinking water... Read More
You are what you eat is a simple, time tested... Read More
Strict "no carb" phases of low carb diets have developed... Read More
Fruit calories are very healthy as compared to calories in... Read More
Heart Disease remains the number one cause of death in... Read More
Since the beginning of time, everyday fruits have been known... Read More
Understanding ocular nutrition and eye health can be one of... Read More
Niacin, also called nicotinic acid, is a member of the... Read More
Bright white teeth and fresh breath does not necessarily... Read More
Every person on earth has experienced pain at one time... Read More
reliable maid service Wilmette ..Herbal teas have long been known to have medicinal benefits... Read More
The Zone Diet has been around since around 1995, when... Read More
DIETARY SOURCES OF GLUTATHIONE: Glutathione (GSH) is an antioxidant and... Read More
If you're suffering from constipation, you are no doubt looking... Read More
Diets don't work. If they did the U.S. of A.... Read More
Since Dr Basant Puri, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer... Read More
I'll preface this article by saying that it will help... Read More
With all the news about Splenda of late and the... Read More
Just as our country is currently engaged in a war... Read More
Fiber is the part of the plant that is resistant... Read More
Better sleep = better metabolism. I have been saying it... Read More
Since the beginning of time, everyday fruits have been known... Read More
The wonders of modern science continue to amaze us with... Read More
ABC News has recently focused on the possible anti-aging benefits... Read More
The secret of success is knowing how to deal with... Read More
Hi Readers,My message today is simple short and perhaps blunt... Read More
Your fiber intake is a critical factor in weight loss... Read More
Inflammation is not a disease.Inflammation is best described as a... Read More
The debate regarding Fluoride continues to rage, is it good... Read More
With so many people concerned about natural and organic foods... Read More
Whenever possible, we should try to get our antioxidants and... Read More
Ionized minerals, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals . . . What... Read More
Protein must be a part of a healthy diet for... Read More
Are You Half The Man Your Father Was?It is a... Read More
Weight loss plans are almost always trying to get you... Read More
Nutrition |