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.
Plano taxi to Midway .. HVAC motor replacement partsMost recipes end with instructions to "serve immediately." You could... Read More
All of my life I believed the best way to... Read More
Is the thrill gone? Has the thrill gone out of... Read More
What is Cholesterol?Before we go into how to reduce your... Read More
You are what you eat is a simple, time tested... Read More
If you are like most people, you don't enjoy the... Read More
Have you seen those "fat free" foods in supermarkets? Have... Read More
OmegaRx Fish Oil, quoted as being close to a Medical... Read More
Dieting is a pain. I think basically everyone would agree... Read More
It seems as if the health of America is failing.... Read More
Here is a continuation of the light and darkness metaphor:... Read More
The proliferation of fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and vending... Read More
Our diet is an essential factor for the formation of... Read More
"It is a bone-deep change you are going into, my... Read More
Our bodies are truly incredible machines. What makes cells healthy?... Read More
Our bodies need cholesterol. We use cholesterol to produce vitamin... Read More
Ionized minerals, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals . . . What... Read More
Your healthOrganically grown fruit and vegetables are not covered in... Read More
Much controversy and argument surrounds the idea that food may... Read More
Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the healthiest of them... Read More
Hi Readers,My message today is simple short and perhaps blunt... Read More
White-spotted or yellow splotched teeth may reveal more than needed... Read More
There are basically four major components, or essential molecular components... Read More
Eating right to suit your blood type" is a subject... Read More
For any kid who grew up eating doughy, thick Wonder... Read More
bmw rental chicago Oak Forest ..If you have a business trip tomorrow morning, you've probably... Read More
First some terminology.Fructose ... a five carbon sugar that occurs... Read More
An American culture that is marked by a chronic lack... Read More
What is your brain made ofOver 50% of your brain... Read More
What Ever Happened to the Basic FourThe USDA was originally... Read More
Monosodium glutamate, commonly known as MSG, was thought of as... Read More
Dr. Arthur Agatston, the cardiologist who developed South Beach Diet... Read More
As you've probably heard before, your post-workout meal may very... Read More
Our bodies need cholesterol. We use cholesterol to produce vitamin... Read More
Because I believe diet and exercise are so important, I'm... Read More
The subject of health care itself often seems plagued with... Read More
"It's not what you eat, it's what's eating you that... Read More
Since the 1930's the western diet has dramatically changed. This... Read More
Proper hydration is extremely important during exercise. Adequate fluid intake... Read More
It is always amazing to me when I find a... Read More
Constipation is the passing of dry, hard faeces fewer than... Read More
The research in support of dietary omega-3 fatty acids (such... Read More
Most of us are "regular" people. We don't eat the... Read More
Your healthOrganically grown fruit and vegetables are not covered in... Read More
Cranberry juice was first made by American settlers in 1683.... Read More
Dr. Christine Wood, M.D, a practicing pediatrician in Encinitas, California,... Read More
Health is the thing. And no matter how many ways... Read More
I had finally come to a place in my life... Read More
The word cholesterol has become synonymous with poor health. Indeed,... Read More
Mannatech's patent-pending glyconutrients complex, Ambrotose, is perhaps the greatest wellness... Read More
Nutrition |