Healthy cells are key to a healthy body

Healthy cells are key to a healthy body

To achieve health and remain healthy, it is key to understand the mechanics of what our bodies need: healthy cells.

Cells are the smallest unit of life found in every living thing on earth. First and foremost, we cannot live without an abundance of healthy cells versus malfunctioning cells in the body. Just like an automobile cannot operate without a properly running engine, our bodies cannot operate without healthy cells. The body is made up of cells — trillions of them. Together, all of these cells combine to perform the building blocks of the body’s biological structure and function.

What is the Function of Cells in the Body?

Your body’s 75 trillion cells (nerve cells, blood cells, muscle cells, bone cells, etc.) are all working together, day and night. Cells combine to form many different types of tissues that enable us to eat, breathe, feel, move, think, and reproduce. There are around 200 different types of specialized cells with specific functions throughout the body such as in:  the brain, the heart, the blood, the muscles, the liver, the eyes, and more. All of these cells communicate with each other and rely on these communications in order to keep us alive. Each cell must perform specific tasks in order to collaborate effectively with other cells in the body and each cell must make the molecules it needs to survive, grow, multiply, and do its job. In our bodies, cells are constantly being damaged, dying, and being replaced — even in healthy people.

Our bodies produce more than 10 million new cells every second as we rebuild our tissues! If for any reason a healthy cell starts to malfunction, it is less able to perform its specific task. When a number of multiple cells malfunction, this begins to impair the body’s ability to self-repair and self-regulate. The scientific term is called cytopathy — this is when sickness and disease occur. As cells die off, are we replacing them with healthy cells or sick cells?

The Body Signals When Cellular Malfunction is Occurring

Our body tells us when it is having trouble. We have to recognize the signals by listening for them and then not ignoring them until the problem becomes serious enough to cause a severe decline in our health. Often the warning signs are evident in our physical appearance — we just don’t look like we feel well. Other signs include:

• Low energy level or fatigue
• Aches and pains
• Skin problems
• Allergies
• Digestion troubles
• Sleep difficulties
• Susceptibility to infections
• Mood, thought, or behavior problems
• Weight issues

Foods

Consuming nutrient-dense natural food versus highly processed chemical-laden food is critical in building healthy cells. Food manufacturers often create food that has shelf life and marketability over nutrition and health. Three of the worst food choices for meeting the nutritional needs of cells are:  sugar, enriched flours, and processed oils. These food ingredients are stripped of nutrients in the manufacturing process, and, in the case of flour, has to be “enriched” to put some nutritional value back in the end product. When these foods are consumed on a daily basis, they rob the health of your cells. Every time you choose an organic, fresh, unprocessed food instead of one of these, you will be aiding the health of the cells your body builds.

Toxicity

We face more toxic chemicals and man-made poisons in our lives than ever before. From our food, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, etc., our bodies are under attack every day from toxins taken into our bodies from the outside. Chemical overload affects the body’s natural ability to detoxify, which can create malfunctioning cells. Spotting and then avoiding hidden dangers can help limit this toxicity to cells.

Exercise and Sleep

Exercise is like an essential nutrient; without it, your body malfunctions. Lack of activity can contribute to a number of health problems such as low-back pain, arthritis, osteoporosis, and obesity. Exercise is also important for mental function. Letting days or weeks go by without exercise can affect the health of brain cells as well as all other cells. Long-term sleep deprivation contributes to cellular malfunction and disease. The body also needs adequate sleep for recuperation — a deep biological necessity. Think of sleep as nature’s nurse as the body builds new cells, repairs damaged ones, and replenishes cellular energy levels. Sleep deprivation dulls the brain, lowers energy levels, increases inflammation in the body, and can create irritability and depression making people more accident-prone.