Cellular Health
We have made it to the last tier of our drainage funnel, the cells. That’s right, you can heal your body at a cellular level but only if you have addressed the rest of the drainage funnel first.
In case it’s been a while, here’s a quick review of what a cell is: The cell (from Latin cella, meaning "small room") is the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all known organisms. Cells are the smallest units of life, and hence are often referred to as the building blocks of life. Cells also contain the body's hereditary material and can make copies of themselves.
Every cell consists of an intricate system of different structures which all work together to allow the cell to function.
A typical animal cell has these common structures:
Cytoplasm: The cytoplasm is the liquid part of the cell. It consists mainly of water and has many different substances dissolved in it. Many of the cell's chemical reactions occur in the cytoplasm.
Cell membrane: The cell membrane contains the contents of the cell and provides a barrier to control what enters and leaves the cell. The cell membrane is often described as "selectively permeable" as it allows some but not all substances across (permeable) and can choose which substances can pass across (selective).
Nucleus: The nucleus controls everything which takes place in the cell. It does this as it is the site of the cell's DNA. DNA contains the genetic code which is translated into proteins. All of the chemical reactions which take place in cells are controlled by these proteins.
Mitochondria: Mitochondria are the power houses of animal, plant, and fungal cells. They are found in the cytoplasm and the majority of the respiration chemical reactions take place in the mitochondria, which releases chemical energy from food molecules.
Ribosomes: Ribosomes are tiny structures which are also found in the cytoplasm. Ribosomes are the sites of protein production in cells.
If you’re looking for the Cliff Notes version:
Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. They provide structure for the body, take in nutrients from our food (yet another reason why what we eat matters), convert those nutrients into energy, and each type of cell carries out a specific function in the body.
What does this have to do with drainage?
Much like the other drainage pathways we’ve discussed (see all of my previous posts on drainage pathways here), your cells also have toxins and waste products they need to get rid of. The toxins that affect our cells are the same toxins that affect the rest of our drainage funnel: air pollutants, chemicals, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and pesticides. These toxins put stress on our cells and contribute to poor cellular health.
Every organ in your body is made up of cells. If your cells are unhealthy, it’s easy to see how this trickles downstream to the health of your other body systems. By working optimizing drainage, your cells actively support your healing journey.
You may remember that up there in Cell 101, I mentioned that cells contain the body's hereditary material and can make copies of themselves. When cells become damaged or die, the body makes new cells to replace them. This process is called cell division. One cell doubles by dividing into two. Two cells become four and so on.
Here’s the kicker: Cells can continue dividing forever but as they divide, they age. They lose a bit of their DNA each time they divide and after about 40-50 divisions, they lose too much DNA to divide and thus, enter old age. These elderly cells can continue to do their jobs or they can commit suicide.
The exception to this is cancer cells. As a cell becomes cancerous, it learns how NOT to lose DNA during the division process and the result is that they can continue dividing forever.
Our bodies are beautifully designed to replace or destroy damaged cells but when too many cells become damaged, our organs then become damaged. This can lead to chronic disease and/or dysfunction in one or more organ systems. This is why cellular health is essential for optimal health and wellness.
How to support your body at a cellular level:
Exercise has a positive impact on your cells (move your body!)
Minimize exposure to both chemical and environmental toxins
Nourish your cells with nutrient-dense foods
Prioritize sleep (aim for 7-8 hours each night)
Reduce stress
Stay hydrated (at least half of your body weight in ounces of water daily)
Support all the pathways in the drainage funnel from the bottom to the top