Why Focus on Cellular Health?

When improving one’s health, most people think in terms of prescription medication and therapies. While conventional medicine has its practical applications, it tends to focus more on the symptoms of the condition rather than addressing the underlying problem. On the other hand, if we can address health at the cellular level, we can prevent aging, prevent infections and diseases, manage serious health conditions, reduce fatigue, and promote overall health. Here at the Pain Relief Institute, we specialize in revolutionary non-invasive treatments aimed at relieving pain and boosting overall levels of cellular health and wellbeing.

There are ways that you can boost your health from the cellular level. Generally speaking, improving cellular health involves adopting a healthy diet and using supplements where necessary. But before you take these crucial steps to better physical and mental health. It is important to understand how the cell works and the function of some of its most critical constituent parts.

The Mitochondria and Cellular Health

The mitochondria are commonly referred to as the powerhouse of the cell. They provide energy by producing ATP (adenosine triphosphate). They are found in higher numbers in the muscle and kidney because these cells require more energy. The mitochondria perform a lot of work round the clock, and it is estimated that the average person can produce over 60kg of ATP per day from the mitochondria. The body needs the energy to sustain its various biochemical functions, and the mitochondria provide it.

However, the role of the mitochondria does not stop with energy production. They perform other important functions related to cellular health. They help to modulate programmed cell death to avoid atrophy or growth of tumors. They regulate communication between cells and also regulate metabolism and are influential when it comes to your overall health and wellbeing and what we can do to improve our health.

Mitochondria, Cellular Health, and Aging

Why are the mitochondria often associated with aging? One reason is that mitochondrial dysfunction seems to increase significantly as we age. There are also increasing mutations and chromosomal arrangement errors.

The reason the mitochondria begins to deteriorate with age is believed to be because of their intensive energy producing mechanism. When ATP is produced, the byproducts are free radicals that can cause damage to nearby molecules and in turn to tissues and organs.

Free radicals are molecules missing one or more electrons. These molecules need to acquire the missing electrons to regain their stability. In the process, electrons from nearby DNA, enzymes, and lipids are taken, and the free radicals form a new compound that could prove to be more unstable than the first free radical. For example, a hydroxyl free radical formed from superoxide radicals can cause a lot of damage to the cell membrane, RNA, and DNA of the cell. When the damage is very extensive, it can kill the entire cell.

There are certain foods that contain substances that can mop up the free radicals without becoming unstable themselves. These substances are referred to as antioxidants. They are considered to be very important to the body because by getting rid of free radicals, they can prevent RNA and DNA damage and uphold the integrity of biochemical systems that need to be running efficiently for the sake of your health.

Boosting Mitochondrion Function and Cellular Health

You can prevent the development of mitochondrial diseases and avoid complications related with age by doing a number of things. The first is to use supplements, adopt a diet that is rich in mitochondria-beneficial nutrients, and adopt certain healthy lifestyle practices that can boost your health from the cellular level. We’ll look at each of these in detail.

Supplementation and Cellular Health

There are supplements that you can use to boost energy and cellular health. Scientific research has provided evidence that these supplements can indeed be beneficial to your health and particularly target the mitochondria and other biochemical processes that may speed up aging.

Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is a biological compound that plays a critical role in the generation of energy in the cell and the regulation of the energy production process. As a supplement, it is recognized by health practitioners, fitness experts, and doctors for its anti-aging and energy boosting ability and beneficial effect on cellular health.

The Electrical Transport Chain (ETC) needs this biological compound to function effectively. Coenzyme Q10 sits in between the lipid layers of the mitochondrion. It is strategically placed in a position that allows it to facilitate the movement of electrons between these layers of lipids to encourage the production of energy by the cell.  It acts as a battery that holds the electron and releases as they are needed for energy production. It can also mop up electrons to prevent oxidative damage by the cell.

Outside the cell, CoQ10 acts as an important antioxidant. Almost half of all the quantities of this compound found in the human body, work outside the cell to contain oxidation. It’s a water insoluble compound that has the ability to restore other water soluble antioxidants such as vitamin C without becoming unstable.

CoQ10 has been found to be effective in addressing various dysfunctions that occur at the cellular level due to aging. It has proven to be effective in addressing the neurodegenerative damage, and oxidative stress. CoQ10 has been proposed as a potential treatment remedy for headaches, cardiovascular conditions, and even Parkinson’s disease.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha lipoic acid is an important compound that can combat mitochondrion dysfunction. It has several properties that give it the capacity to fight aging and prevent certain diseases.  It can regulate lipid levels in the body and acts as an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant that can protect your body from damage at the cellular level.

One of the remarkable properties of the lipoic acid is its ability to prevent and fight cardiovascular diseases. Heart diseases are often caused by the accumulation of plaque in the blood vessels and capillaries. The lipoic acid has been shown to be effective in getting rid of these plaques and clearing up blood vessels to reduce the risk of heart failure for people with various heart conditions.

L-Carnitine

This is an amino acid that can be synthesized in the body and can also be obtained from dietary sources. People who have disorders that prevent their body from synthesizing this amino acid may need daily supplementation.

While CoQ10 acts as a battery, this amino acid acts as the fuel tank for the cell. It provides high-octane lipids needed for the production of cellular energy. It does this by combining the various fatty acids and modifying them so that the mitochondria can be in a better position to utilize them effectively for energy production and the maintenance of cellular health.

L-carnitine also plays an important role in maintaining cellular health by clearing up lipofuscin. Lipofuscin is a yellow pigmentation that appears in the liver and kidney and is believed to be a product of oxidation and the breakdown of unsaturated fats and lipids. By clearing up this substance, l-carnitine helps to prevent illnesses such as degenerative eye diseases, muscular degeneration, and a number of neurodegenerative disorders.

Carnitine ability to work on lipids and fatty acid in the cells is probably the reason why it has proven to be quite effective in addressing certain heart complications. Heart attack survivors given the supplement for a period of 12 months reduced their symptoms as well as their risk of getting subsequent heart attacks.

The amino acid also helps to improve the functionality of the immune system. It boosts the cell’s macrophage ability to engulf and combat pathogens and toxins that find their way to the cell. It also enhances the cell’s ability to regulate programmed cell death.

Take Powerful Antioxidants For Cellular Health

Free radicals cause a lot of damage in the cell. Some free radicals can damage the cell membrane, DNA, RNA and other important parts that are needed for the proper functioning of biochemical processes.

Your cells produce these free radicals as part a byproduct of the aerobic process that is necessary to ensure that your body is supplied with energy. Your body also produces antioxidants to counteract the effects of free radicals and prevent them from causing further damage to various parts of the cell and thus undermining cellular health.

The antioxidants produced by your body are often outnumbered by the free radicals. Taking antioxidant supplements can help prevent degenerative damage to various tissues and organs of the body.

Different antioxidants work on different areas of the body. For example, beta carotene found in carrots is beneficial to eye health. Flavonoids are good for preventing cardiovascular complications. Other types of antioxidants can support the immune function by preventing the damage done to the immune system by various free radicals. You, therefore, need to consider incorporating a number of antioxidants that are beneficial to cellular health and to overall health.

Glutathione

This is considered to be the most powerful agent in clearing up free radicals and has been referred by some scientists as the “mother of all antioxidants”. In other words, it can be a powerful agent for promoting cellular health. It is believed to be very powerful because it works within the cell. It plays such an important role, that people with low levels of the antioxidants are believed to be at high risk of getting certain diseases.

Sometimes referred to as GSH, it is a peptide that has three amino acids namely; L-cysteine, L-glutamic acid, and glycine. It is a cofactor that facilitates physiological metabolites such as leukotrienes and estrogen. It works with nitric acid to facilitate the utilization of amino acid and lipids in the body.

Glutathione is therefore crucial for disease prevention, production, and the utilization of energy as well as getting rid of toxic chemicals. As we age, our bodies are not always capable of producing enough quantities of this important antioxidant. You can use supplements or try to get it from sources such as whey protein, milk, and eggs.

Quercetin

Quercetin is another important antioxidant that can protect the cell and its membrane from damage and thus safeguard cellular health. It is a polyphenol that is found in fruits and vegetables and has anti-inflammatory, anti carcinogenic, antioxidant as well as antiviral properties.

Quercetin is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that can protect the gut and prevent inflammation. It can be found in berries and green leafy vegetables. 500 milligrams of the supplement taken daily can help prevent infection, allergies, and autoimmune disorders.

Beta Carotene

Beta carotene is a carotenoid and an antioxidant. It gives fruits and vegetables their orange hue. It is converted into vitamin A, which is an essential vitamin needed for various important functions of the body. Studies have shown that taking adequate amounts of beta carotene helps to prevent cognitive decline that comes with age, as well as keep cancer and cardiovascular illnesses at bay.

Some of the foods rich in beta carotene include apricots, sweet potatoes, onions, peppers, and peas among others. Quercetin helps to make beta carotene more bio-available. Taking foods rich in beta carotene with foods rich quercetin like berries can boost the availability of vitamin A in the body and thus promote cellular health.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a polyphenol that is found in fruits such as grapes, cocoa, and vegetables. It is a powerful antioxidant that has been reported as having strong anti-aging and illness prevention capabilities. It lowers levels of bad cholesterol in the body, which helps to prevent complications that may lead to a heart attack.

Though more research is needed regarding the efficacy of Resveratrol, initial research shows that it could be very beneficial in preventing, managing and treating various serious ailments. It is believed to have the ability to protect nerves from damage, thereby preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s. It can prevent insulin resistance for people with diabetes or those prone to the disease.

Curcumin

Another great antioxidant is curcumin. This is a group of compounds that give curry its yellow color and is one of the most extensive studies compounds from medicinal plants. It has been used as turmeric for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine.

When it comes to relieving the cell of oxidative stress from the mitochondria, curcumin is amongst the best. It promotes cellular heath by working on oxidative stress that could damage cell lipids. This way, it helps to prevent the disintegration of the cell membrane.

It also helps facilitate intracellular communication. By preventing the oxidation of important lipids in the cells, it allows them to continue performing the critical role as chemical messengers. It, therefore, encourages action within cells such as preventing the degeneration of nerves.

Curcumin has been shown to be effective in containing cancerous growths. It modulates the programmed cell death and therefore prevents a cancerous tumor from spreading or causing complications.

Adopting Healthy Habits

To boost cellular health and to make the most of the antioxidants and nutritional supplements shared here, you’ll need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. These are a few practical steps you can take that will promote cellular health, boost cellular energy, and improve your overall quality of life. Being healthy and making healthy choices is the best thing you can do to improve the success of any treatments you do get and can help turn your story into one of our success stories! 

Exercise

Exercise is recommended by doctors and health experts as being the one single thing you can do to promote overall health and keep signs of aging at bay. It does more than just strengthen muscles, tendons, and bones, research now shows it stimulates the mitochondria and can, therefore, boost cellular health and energy.

How does exercise increase your cellular health and energy? It does this by stimulating the mitochondria to produce more proteins. The proteins are critical for building enzymes, hormones, and many other structures needed for communication and support of the cell.

Regular exercise prevents the cellular damage that comes with aging. Endurance, interval training, and strength training are all beneficial in slowing down the aging process and preventing the onset of serious cardiovascular diseases.

A Healthy Diet

To get all the important compounds that are needed for cellular health, you can either adopt a healthy diet or take supplements. Taking supplements is sometimes more convenient. It may be easier to carry to work or on a trip when you are on the move.

However, the best way to consume the minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants necessary for cellular health is from natural dietary sources. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably the ones grown organically. Fresh vegetables contain important compounds that can combat inflammation.

Vegetables also contain minerals such as magnesium. Magnesium plays a critical role in the production of ATP in the cell’s mitochondria. Magnesium has been linked to fatigue, and those who are deficient of these minerals have been observed to have low energy and be unable to perform simple chores. Unfortunately, due to pesticides and depletion of the soil due to unsustainable farming practices, many people are deficient in these mineral. You may supplement if you think you are not getting adequate levels of magnesium.

Stem Cell Treatment for Mitochondrial Diseases

Interventions for damage to the mitochondria have so far been addressing the symptoms. Even though some antioxidants are believed to be capable of regenerating parts of the cell, generally speaking, the solutions only contain the problem rather than address the root cause of the deterioration of cellular health.

How can stem cell treatment be used to reverse cellular diseases and restore cellular health? Stem cells are blank cells capable of turning into any specialized cell of any tissue or organ. Some scientists have been looking at the possibility of using induced pluripotent cells to address mitochondrial diseases.

The advantage of stem cell therapy is that it has the ability to replace cells that have been damaged. It can regenerate tissues and organs and help reverse signs of a wide range of diseases. PRP stem cell is a cutting-edge technology that is supported by scientific research and has no side effects.

Contact Us Today

To learn more about cellular health and pain relief,, call our pain management center in Chicago today. Phone the Pain Relief Institute or schedule a consultation appointment online.