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 ..Essential Fatty Acids are oils, omega-3 and omega-6, that you... Read More
Aging occurs when the body's cells die at faster rates... Read More
I confess: I'm completely addicted to Pringles. My determination weakens... Read More
So, what is new about this that you already don't... Read More
Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other?Communication! It permeates our... Read More
Healthy eating is important for everyone, from babies to the... Read More
Could it be possible that our beloved chocolate may actually... Read More
I'll preface this article by saying that it will help... Read More
In parts 1-4 of this series of articles titled "Take... Read More
Acid reflux disease, or GERD, is a common compliant of... Read More
Coq10 is also known as Coenzyme Q10.This co q10 is... Read More
Question from Jack:A question from Jack, one of the subscribers... Read More
Secretly we all want just a few things in life,... Read More
Here's food for thought! Did you know the average restaurant... Read More
The quality of food we eat (or lack thereof) has... Read More
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a dangerous condition that can... Read More
You may have heard of the "Portfolio Diet" wherein it... Read More
When I hear the word fat I usually think of... Read More
The Benefits of SnackingYou may feel regretful about snacking, but... Read More
Can we really stop the aging process, slow it down,... Read More
Do you know the risks to daily intakes of Starbucks... Read More
I would like to raise a question: Is Rejuvenation possible... Read More
What Ever Happened to the Basic FourThe USDA was originally... Read More
Who suffers from Eating Disorders?Eating Disorder sufferers are male and... Read More
Remember the old adage, you are what you eat? The... Read More
maid service near Winnetka ..What is health? Everyone wants this thing called health, and... Read More
Secretly we all want just a few things in life,... Read More
Each and every person living in the UK is... Read More
It is a question we must ask ourselves continually if... Read More
Nutrition has everything to do with health. This isn't news,... Read More
Since Dr Basant Puri, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer... Read More
You may have heard of the "Portfolio Diet" wherein it... Read More
It's 5:30 p.m. and you're heading home after a long,... Read More
The best weight training and cardio workouts will do very... Read More
1. Enjoy what you eatWhether someone is following the Atkins... Read More
There's no doubt--carbohydrates have taken center stage in public discourse... Read More
Olive oil is a healthy choice over other fats such... Read More
Our bodies are truly incredible machines. What makes cells healthy?... Read More
Since 1994, food manufacturers have required the Food and Drug... Read More
Last year I had a number of clients who started... Read More
Ionized minerals, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals . . . What... Read More
Acid reflux disease, or GERD, is a common compliant of... Read More
Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More
The word herb is used to refer to any part... Read More
BASIC MEAL & MENU PLANNINGAs a basis for meals and... Read More
Female and male athletes respond to training in a fairly... Read More
All carbohydrates are not the same. Generally it is assumed... Read More
I would like to dispel some of the myths and... Read More
The fact that diet directly affects behaviour is no news,... Read More
It is amazing to be able to say I am... Read More
Nutrition |