The Cellular System
The Crux of It All - A Perfect Manufacturing Plant
The cell is the center of all the production and manufacturing when it comes to cellular metabolic functions, and each of us has about 250 different cell types in our bodies.
In order to do the unique and specific work your cells are called upon to do, they require three things:
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Specific instructions (in the form of
chemicals or electrical signals) |
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Raw materials |
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Fuel |
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We call it breakfast, lunch and dinner, but at the cellular level, it all translates to a mix of sugars, amino acids and fats. These are what cells burn to create the unit of energy called “ATP.”
ATP is what enables a cell to function as it was designed to do, whether that be moving a muscle, fighting infection, correcting errors or doing whatever that cell was designed to do.
Just as burning a piece of wood in the fireplace creates ashes and waste, when cells burn fuel they also create “toxic waste” in the form of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) such as superoxides and peroxynitrites. They are what we commonly refer to as “free radicals.”
Missing an electron, these ROS waste products are quite reactive and very unstable. If not properly disposed of or made safe by the cell, they can damage your cell membrane, DNA genetic code, mitochondria and other structures, as well as cause protein modifications and shape changes, all of which will eventually lead to cell death. |
The collective damage caused by free radicals is called “oxidative stress” and can lead to aging and a variety of age-related chronic diseases. Antioxidants produced by your body or taken as targeted dietary supplements prevent damage from oxidative stress.
SUGAR… Ally or Enemy?
 While sugar is an important ally to your body as a major fuel source, it can also be a serious enemy. Sugar in your blood and cells can become attached to proteins and to DNA in a process called glycation. Glycation increases through natural aging and can change the shape and properties of proteins. It can result in reduced flexibility and functioning in proteins.
Glycation can also trigger your immune system, leading to many diseases like diabetes, neuropathy, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s, dementia, cardiovascular disease, cataracts and many others. Minimizing glycation is crucial to enjoy peak health. Appropriate choices regarding your meals and how they are prepared, plus dietary supplements, can effectively minimize damage from glycation. |
Why are Mitochondria critical?
Most of our body’s cells contain 500 to 2000 mitochondria. In fact, muscle cells can have up to 10,000 mitochondria.
Mitochondria are inherited only from our mother and are unique in that they have their own DNA genetic code. The conventional teaching in biology and medicine is that mitochondria function only as “energy factories” for the cell.
In reality, the mitochondrion is intimately involved with most of the major metabolic pathways used by your cells to build, breakdown and recycle its molecular building blocks. Cells cannot copy or read their DNA or RNA, make hemoglobin or certain steroid hormones such as estrogen or testosterone, breakdown cholesterol, or detoxify your cells from free radicals without mitochondria.
Without mitochondria, your cells will die…
Hence, mitochondrial biology is one of the fastest growing areas in medicine and genetics. Disturbances in the mitochondrial functioning are known to play a role in many common diseases of aging including heart disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and many more.
Your mitochondrion is highly susceptible to free radical damage, since it is the seat of energy production and intimately impacted by the toxic wastes. Optimizing the health of your mitochondria, minimizing oxidative damage and keeping your cell membrane and cell functioning optimal are critical to achieve peak health and delay aging.
The CENIGENT medical programs assess cellular and mitochondrial functioning, glycation levels, oxidative damage and antioxidant levels in detail using unique and specific cellular biomarkers. Based on the results, a personalized action plan is recommended to restore peak functioning to your cellular metabolic activities, mitochondrial health and antioxidant system and to minimize glycation… a pre-requisite for you to enjoy peak health.
Aging well is a choice and it is yours to make!
You can explore the CENIGENT Enhancement Program by requesting or downloading “Age Less. Live More. The Get Started Guide to Restoring and Enjoying Peak Health” free of charge.
Have a question now? Ask Dr. Lida Ghaderi, Founder and Medical Director of CENIGENT, a question online or call us at 310-998-8600 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
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