Cell energy also offsets the aging process caused by cell degeneration. In a manner of speaking, achieving optimal cell energy is akin to having our own internal fountain of youth.
by Dr. Howard Peiper —
Cellular energy sounds modern, but it is as old as life itself and the very foundation of good health. When we have cell energy, we think better, feel better, move better, look better and perform better. That is because, at a very basic physical level, our cells are responsible for everything our bodies do. Healthier cells mean improved vitality, mental clarity, weight management and physical performance.
Cell energy also offsets the aging process caused by cell degeneration. In a manner of speaking, achieving optimal cell energy is akin to having our own internal fountain of youth.
Our bodies contain trillions of cells. Inside each of them are tiny energy-producing power plants called mitochondria. Mitochondria convert the food we eat into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a substance present in all living cells that provides our bodies with energy. From blinking to thinking, walking to talking, we use ATP for almost everything we do. Healthy, vital cells produce enormous amounts — about 36 molecules of ATP for every molecule of stored glucose.
At the same time, ATP provides the enormous amounts of energy necessary for the processes and reactions that keep our cells healthy and vital. To give you an idea of our bodies’ ATP energy requirements, scientists estimate that a single human brain cell requires ten million ATP molecules per second to carry out its tasks.
The beauty of the metabolic process is that when our cells have the right ingredients, they can make more than enough energy to perform all their functions. In fact, healthy, vital cells can even make that little extra needed for self-repair, if they have enough stores of ATP. So, before our cells go through mitosis, or cell division, they can repair their own DNA, thereby making sure that our next generation of cells is also healthy.
Optimal cell energy will keep you feeling much younger longer. A recent independent study that gave participants a brand of polysaccharide and polypeptides from rice grains showed a daily increase in the ATP by 54 percent.
Today, there is an enormous demand to perform our best in every way, but even the best of us run out of energy at times. When we run out, what has really happened is that our cells have run out of the components they need for efficient energy production. Just like a toy whose battery is going dead, all our movements become slowed and full of effort.
When there isn’t enough energy to fuel them, our cells weaken. Weak cells have a hard time producing energy. For example, they can’t get rid of their own waste or divide properly. Fatty acids, which are more difficult to metabolize, build up and clutter the pathways into our mitochondria. Our cells scream for more fuel. We listen to our bodies and eat more, but get less out of all the things we eat.
And the vicious cycle begins. We put on weight, all the while feeling more stressed out and never quite having enough energy. Eventually, the pattern puts all of our systems — immune, circulatory, nervous, reproductive and so on — at risk. With everyday stress, environmental toxins and the threat of new viruses, including the flu, having sufficient cellular energy is a healthy imperative.
Whether we’re working at a high-stress job, busy raising children, seeking a competitive edge in sports or simply looking for increased vitality, cellular energy needs to be at the core of our healthcare program. By supplementing our diet with polysaccharide and polypeptide functional foods from selected fractions of rice grains, we begin slowing the aging process and feeling the benefits of greater stamina, heightened mental clarity, better physical performance and weight management today.
Howard Peiper, N.D., has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and has written many books on nutrition and natural health. His latest book is titled PSP, Nature’s Healing Miracle. [email protected] or www.walkthetalkproductions.com.
Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 25, Number 4, August/September 2006.
January 1, 2013
Chemical and Toxic Exposure, Colds, Diet, Environment, Flu, Healing, Health, Health Concerns, Stress, Weight issues