Melatonin: the Facts

Our body uses special chemicals known as hormones that travel through the bloodstream to tissues and organs and control most of our body’s major systems. Melatonin is one of the vital hormones that our bodies use to help us function properly. This article will shed light on melatonin: the facts.

What is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone that the brain generates in response to darkness. It is primarily released by the pineal gland during the night and has long been associated with control of the sleep-wake cycle. It aids with the timing of the circadian rhythms (our 24-hour internal clock) and with sleep.

Research has suggested that melatonin plays other essential roles in the body beyond sleep, as it is also a powerful antioxidant, which may provide a variety of other benefits such as:

  • ease tinnitus symptoms
  • raise growth hormone levels in men
  • supporting eye health
  • treating stomach ulcers and heartburn

Melatonin used as medicine is generally made artificially in a laboratory. It is most frequently obtainable in pill form, but it is also offered in versions that can be placed in the cheek or under the tongue. This placement allows the melatonin to be absorbed directly into the body.

Melatonin is most regularly used for insomnia and improving sleep under different conditions. For example, it is used for jet lag, adjusting sleep-wake cycles in individuals whose daily work schedule changes (shift-work disorder), and helping people establish a day and night cycle.

How does Melatonin Work?

As mentioned earlier, melatonin works together with the body’s circadian rhythm.

In plain terms, the circadian rhythm is the body’s internal clock. It lets the body know when it is time to sleep, wake, and eat.

Melatonin additionally helps regulate the body’s temperature, blood pressure, and levels of some hormones.

Melatonin levels start to rise in the body when it is dark outside, signaling to the body that it is time for sleep (8).

It additionally attaches to receptors in the body that can aid the body with relaxing.

For example, melatonin attaches to receptors in the brain to aid in reducing nerve activity.

It can reduce levels of dopamine, a hormone that helps the body stay awake. It is additionally occupied in some part of the day-night cycle of the eyes.

Though the exact way melatonin aids in falling asleep is unclear, studies suggest that these processes can aid in falling asleep.

Conversely, light suppresses melatonin production. Light is one way that the body knows it is time to wake up. There is more on the causes of this suppression to follow.

Melatonin Deficiency

As melatonin helps the body prepare for sleep, individuals who do not produce enough of it at night may have trouble falling asleep.

Melatonin: the Facts - Melatonin Deficiency
Melatonin deficiency causes insomnia

Melatonin deficiency is a significant cause of insomnia and sleep difficulties. Inequities in the diurnal pattern (a pattern that occurs every 24 hours.) of the glucocorticoid hormone cortisol can additionally lead to sleep problems. It is formed by the adrenal glands and is often spoken to as the “stress hormone.”

Causes of Melatonin Deficiency

There are numerous aspects that may cause low melatonin levels at night.

Stress, smoking, exposure to excessive light at night (especially blue light), insufficient natural light during the day, shift work, and aging all affect melatonin production. Additionally, medications, both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, can cause a melatonin deficiency.

Taking a melatonin SUPPLEMENT can help offset low levels and normalize the body’s internal clock.

Symptoms of Melatonin Deficiency

Below are symptoms and conditions associated with melatonin deficiency

  • Age-Related Macular Degeneration & Cataracts
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Anxiety
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) & Autism
  • Cancer (e.g., breast, prostate, brain)
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Chemotherapy Side Effects
  • Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome
  • Depression
  • Headaches
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Jetlag
  • Male Pattern Balding
  • Perimenopause
  • Shift Work
  • Sleep Disturbances
  • Tinnitus
  • Wrinkles

How to Avoid a Melatonin Deficiency

Melatonin: the facts - Melatonin preventing deficiency
Preventing a melatonin deficiency will insure a good nights rest!

No matter how hard we try to live a balanced life, conditions can occur that are beyond our control. Below are some things that can help to avoid having a melatonin deficiency

  • Avoid artificial light after sunset with the installation of a blue blocker app on your smartphone, for example, Twilight for Android & Night Shift for iPhone. For the computers (laptop and desktop), the app F.Lux is suitable. Another way one can protect themselves in the evening is to wear blue blocker glasses.
  • The bedroom should be prepared for a peaceful night. Fresh and cool air lets an individual sleep optimally. Dark curtains keep the bright daylight out in the morning to avoid being woken too early.
  • Regular bedtime influences the synchronization of the biorhythms. Therefore, an individual should try to adopt a routine that best suits their needs.
  • Conclude your working day on a positive note by focusing on something peaceful. This will keep motivation up and reduces stress.
  • Nutrition – Certain foods contain melatonin: cherries, walnuts, mustard, corn, rice, ginger, peanuts, barley, oats, asparagus, and tomatoes.

Taking Melatonin

For an individual taking melatonin for the first time, start with a lower-dose supplement.

For example, begin with 0.5 mg (500 micrograms) or 1 mg ½ hour before bedtime. If that does not prove successful with assistance in falling asleep, the dose can be increased to 3–5 mg.

Consuming more melatonin than this likely will not assist an individual fall asleep faster. The objective is to find the lowest dose that will help an individual to fall asleep.

However, it is best to follow the instructions that come with the supplement.

Melatonin is widely available in the US. Shop for melatonin online. [affiliate link]

A prescription is needed for melatonin in other places, such as Australia and the European Union.

There are also natural supplements that contain a calculated combination

of vitamins and nutrients to provide healthy,

Melatonin: the facts - Sleep Supplement Ingredients
Sleep Supplement All-natural Ingredients

restful sleep. Shop for an all-natural supplement online. [affiliate link]

Melatonin - Sleep Supplement
All-natural Sleep Supplement

Melatonin Side Effects and Safety

Current research evokes that melatonin supplements are safe, non-toxic, and not addictive.

Having said that, some individuals may experience mild side effects, such as:

  • dizziness
  • headaches
  • nausea

Melatonin additionally may interact with a variety of medications. These include:

  • *anticonvulsants
  • antidepressants
  • blood pressure medication
  • blood thinners
  • diabetes medications
  • immunosuppressants
  • oral contraceptives
  • sleep aids or sedatives

For individuals with a health condition or on any of the above medications, they should check with their physician before commencing taking a supplement.

There is additionally some concern that consuming too much melatonin will stop the body from making it naturally.

However, several studies have discovered that consuming melatonin will not affect the body’s ability to produce it independently.

Taking Melatonin with Alcohol

Drops in melatonin levels can take place following evening alcohol consumption. One study in 29 young adults established that alcohol consumption one (1) hour before bed can reduce melatonin levels by up to 19%.

Low levels of melatonin have additionally been identified in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Additionally, melatonin levels rise slower in subjects with an alcohol dependency, meaning it can be harder to fall to sleep.

However, it is essential to note melatonin supplementation does not improve sleep in these cases. A study of people with AUD established that, compared to placebo, receiving 5 mg of melatonin a day for four weeks did not improve sleep.

It has been anticipated that the antioxidant effects of melatonin may assist in preventing or treating alcohol-related illnesses. Though, further research is required to investigate this claim.

Concerning Older Adults

Melatonin secretion decreases as an individual ages. These natural declines can possibly lead to poor sleep in elderly adults.

As with other age groups, the use of melatonin supplementation in elderly adults is yet being examined. Research indicates that melatonin supplementation can improve sleep inception and duration in older adults.

One literature review found some evidence for using low-dose melatonin for older people who are having trouble sleeping. However, more research is needed.

Melatonin may additionally assist individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s disease.

Some studies have revealed that melatonin can possibly improve sleep quality, feelings of restlessness, and morning alertness in people diagnosed with these conditions. Research into this topic is continuing.

Even though melatonin is well medically tolerated in older adults, there are worries concerning increased daytime drowsiness. In addition, the consequences of melatonin may be lingering in older adults.

The most efficient dosage of melatonin for older adults has not been determined.

However, a recent recommendation recommends that a maximum of 1 to 2 mg be taken 1 hour before bedtime. It is additionally recommended that immediate-release tablets be used to prevent delayed levels of melatonin in the body.

Melatonin plays an important role in our overall health. Sleep is vital for our well-being, and melatonin is essential in initiating that process.

Questions, comments, and concerns are welcomed below.

Good health!!

 

 

 

 

 

What is Diabetes About?

Diabetes, also known as Diabetes mellitus is a disease that is increasing at an alarming rate. In the United States alone, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), cases of diabetes have risen to an estimated 34.2 million. This was found on the National Diabetes Statistics Report for 2020. With numbers like these, one has to wonder, what is diabetes about? This article is all about diabetes.

 What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition is initiated by the body’s lack of ability to create or
effectively use its insulin, which is produced by islet (specialized) cells found in the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone that assists to regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels that provide energy to the body’s cells and tissues. Its function is to open cells to receive sugar from the blood. Without insulin, the cells cannot open allowing sugar to remain in the blood, elevating blood sugar levels. Additionally, without insulin the cells of the body would be starved, causing dehydration and destruction of body tissues.

Since the cells in the pancreas have been damaged in this instance, insufficient amounts or no insulin is produced causing sugar to build up in the blood.

The body needs sugar, but the sugar should not be in the blood but in cells to combine with oxygen to produce the energy that is required by the body.

Types of Diabetes

There are some different types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when the immune system strikes and destroys cells in the pancreas, which is where insulin is produced. It is uncertain as to what is the cause of this attack. About 10% of individuals with diabetes have this type.

Type 2 diabetes happens when the body becomes opposed to insulin. The body produces enough insulin but the body seems resistant to it. This leads to a sugar build-up in the blood. This is the most common type of diabetes.

Prediabetes is a condition that happens when the blood sugar is elevated or higher than normal, but it is not high enough for a full diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes occurs when there is high blood sugar during pregnancy. Insulin-blocking hormones formed by the placenta are the cause of this type of diabetes. In addition to the placenta hormone, the stress hormone cortisol can stop insulin from working.

What is the Cause of Diabetes

Several causes are linked with each type of diabetes.

Type 1  – Health care professionals do not know precisely what causes type 1 diabetes. For some basis, the immune system erroneously damages and eliminates insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.

Genes can contribute a role in some individuals. An individual is more likely to get type 1 diabetes if he or she is a child or teenager, they have a parent or sibling with the condition, or they carry certain genes that are linked to the disease.

It is additionally probable that a virus engages the immune system to attack.

Type 2 – Type 2 diabetes results from a combination of genetics and behavior factors. To be overweight or obese increases the risk also. Possessing extra weight, especially in the abdominal area, causes the cells to be more resistant to the effects of insulin on blood sugar.

This type can run in families. Family members share the genes that make them more prone to get type 2 diabetes and to be overweight (more on this to follow).

An individual’s risk for type 2 diabetes increases if he or she:

  • is age 45 or older
  • are overweight
  • are not physically active
  • have a parent or sibling with the diabetes
  • have  an African American, Hispanic or Latino American, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, American Indian, or Asian American ancestry
  • have had gestational diabetes in the past
  • have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides
  • have prediabetes

Gestational diabetes – Gestational diabetes is the consequence of hormonal changes throughout pregnancy. The placenta creates hormones that cause an expectant female’s cells to be less sensitive to the effects of insulin. This may cause high blood sugar during pregnancy.

Individuals risk for gestational diabetes increases if they:

  • are overweight
  • are over age 25
  • had gestational diabetes during a past pregnancy
  • have a family record of type 2 diabetes
  • have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Women who increase their weight too much during pregnancy are more likely to acquire gestational diabetes.What is Diabetes about - GestationalDiabetes

Women who acquire gestational diabetes during pregnancy are at higher risk for acquiring type 2 diabetes later on in life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women that give birth to a baby that weighs in excess of nine-pounds are additionally at greater risk.

Both genes and environmental components contribute a role in activating diabetes.

We often focus on sugar as the cause but sugar is not the only issue. When individuals consume carbohydrates such as potatoes, pasta, donuts, and bananas, they are broken down by enzymes into glucose (sugar). From there it enters the bloodstream and the pancreas produces insulin, which opens the cells that allow the glucose to enter the cells.

Genes and Family History – Genetics play a role in determining how likely an individual will develop some type of diabetes. Researchers do not completely understand the contribution of genetics regarding the development of diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, statistics show that if an individual has a parent or sibling with diabetes, the odds of he or she developing themselves increases.

Although research is not irrefutable, a number of ethnic groups seem to have a higher rate of diabetes. This is true for:

  • African-Americans
  • Asians
  • Hispanic Americans
  • Native Americans
  • Pacific Islanders

Genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis and hemochromatosis can both damage the pancreas paving the way to a higher probability of developing diabetes.

Monogenic forms of diabetes are the result of single-gene mutations. Monogenic forms of diabetes are rare as they account for only 1 to 5% of all cases of diabetes discovered in young individuals.

An individual’s family, preexisting medical conditions, and environment can all affect the odds of developing diabetes.

Complications of Diabetes

High blood sugar affects the entire human body as it damages organs and

What is Diabetes About - Diabetes Complications
Uncontrolled diabetes has devastating consequences. These are only a few.

tissues throughout. The higher the blood sugar is and the longer it exists, the greater the risk for complications.

Complications associated with diabetes include:

  • Heart disease, heart attack, and stroke
  • Neuropathy
  • Vision loss retinopathy and
  • Hearing loss
  • Damage to feet such as infections and sores that won’t heal
  • Skin conditions like bacterial and fungal infections
  • Depression
  • Dementia

Additionally, unrestrained gestational diabetes can lead to problems that affect both the mother and the fetus. Complications affecting the fetus can include:

  • Premature birth
  • Higher than normal birth weight
  • Low blood sugar
  • Jaundice
  • stillbirth

The mother can also develop complications such as high blood pressure (preeclampsia) or type 2 diabetes. The mother may also require a C-section also known as a cesarean delivery.

The mother’s risk of gestational diabetes in future pregnancies additionally increases.

Diabetes can progress to serious medical complications, but the condition can be managed with medications and lifestyle changes. The most common diabetes complications can be managed with the helpful tips that follow.

Symptoms of Diabetes

  • Increased thirst—due to the excess of sugar in the blood, the body releases water from the cells to dilute it. This causes dehydration of the cells causing the body to desire increased water.
  • Frequent urination—due to the excess sugar, the body attempts to rid itself What is Diabetes About - Diabetes Symptomsof the sugar through urination. This causes an individual to become more dehydrated resulting in even more thirst.
  • Hunger—since the cells are not receiving the sugar they need to make energy, they signal for food to obtain the energy they need.
  • Fatigue—the body does not have the energy it needs because of the malfunctioning cells.
  • Blurred vision—this is the result of damage to the arteries at the back of the eyes. It is not necessarily permanent.

In some cases, there may be no symptoms (especially pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes).

Treatments of Diabetes

What is Diabetes about - Diabetes Treatment
Diabetes Treatments

Physicians treat diabetes with a small number of various medications. Some are taken by mouth, others are available as injections.

Type 1 diabetes – Insulin is the central treatment for type 1 diabetes. It replaces the hormone that the body is not able to produce.

Four types of insulin are most commonly used. They are distinguished by how rapidly they begin to work, and how long their effects last:

  • – Rapid-acting insulin begins to work inside15 minutes and its results last for 3 to 4 hours.
  • – Short-acting insulin begins to work inside 30 minutes and lasts 6 to 8 hours.
  • – Intermediate-acting insulin starts to work inside 1 to 2 hours and lasts 12 to 18 hours.
  • – Long-acting insulin begins to work several hours after injection and lasts 24 hours or longer.

Type 2 Diabetes – Diet and exercise can assist some individuals to manage their type 2 diabetes. If lifestyle changes are not enough to lower their blood sugar, they will need to take medication.

Gestational diabetes – An individual with this condition will need to monitor their blood level several times a day during the pregnancy. If it is high, nutritional changes and exercise may or may not be sufficient enough to bring it down.

According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately 10 to 20% of females with gestational diabetes will require insulin to decrease their blood sugar levels. Additionally, insulin is safe for the growing fetus.

The drug or combination of drugs that a physician orders will depend greatly on the type of diabetes an individual has as well as its cause.

Controlling Diabetes

  • Lifestyle changes—obedience to the laws of health
  • Nutrition: High fiber diet, low glycaemic index carbs. [Baked potato instead of mashed, whole-wheat pasta instead of white, refined sugars] constant eating of highly glycaemic foods that dump large amounts of sugar into the blood will eventually lead to damage of the pancreas causing type 2 diabetes.
  •  Limit/avoid:
  • All animal products (milk, meat, including chicken & fish) because they do not contain any fiber. Animal milk contains sugar and causes diabetes in young people.
  • Junk, fatty, fried, and processed foods, caffeine, soft drinks, alcohol, tea, milk.
  • Mixing fruits and vegetables
  • Eating in between meals (snacking)
  • Overeating
  • Sodium Chloride (white table salt)
  • Eating and drinking at the same time (drink 30 min before & 2 hrs. after meals).
  • Eat plenty of:
    What is Diabetes about - Controlling Diabetes
    Controlling Diabetes
    • Raw fruits and vegetables
    • Add seeds to meals (whole or grounded)
    • Chia seeds, flaxseed, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
    • Use genuine sea salt or pink Himalayan salt
    • Use Tumeric, ginger, and garlic in food liberally
    • Blend/juice the green vegetables for the phytochemicals
    • Green smoothie blend—spinach, cucumber, green apple, water.
    • Ensure meals have something raw (>51%).
    • A great thing to do with high blood sugar is to have a big bowl of green salad with some seeds.
    • Whole grains
    • Quinoa
    • Oats
    • Sorghum

      What is Diabetes About - Medix Select Glucose Reduce Ingredients
      Medix Select’s Glucose Reduce Ingredients
    • Millet
    • Barley
    • Brown/Red Rice
    • Yellow Maize
    • Whole Wheat Pasta/Couscous
    • Herbs
    • Fenugreek
    • Psyllium husk (fiber)
    • Aloe Vera
    • Ginger
    • Turmeric
    • Ginseng
    • Okra (lady Fingers)
    • Ashwagandha (lowers the stress hormone—cortisol)
    • Milk thistle (supports liver function).
    • Exercise: makes cells more sensitive to insulin
    • Water: dilutes blood sugar levels and prevents dehydration
    • Sunlight: improves the function of beta cells of the pancreas—the cells that produce insulin.
    • Temperance: avoid food and drinks that are predisposing to a diabetic state—sodas, juices, donuts, white rice, and other refined sugars. Quinoa is the best grain
    • Air: reduced oxygen levels increase insulin resistance—use snake plants indoors.
    • Rest: lack of sleep results in unbalanced body hormones, causing high cortisol and low insulin. Shift work is a concern. Cortisol is supposed to be released 6 am-6 pm; 6 pm-6 am melatonin is to be released. However, during shift work, cortisol is needed to keep on alert and working. If there is stress at work, it is double jeopardy. It is best to be in bed by 10 pm.
    • Control stress: stress releases cortisol, which suppresses insulin secretion. We must let go instead of harboring bitterness. Forgiveness not only helps relationships but our health as well.
    • Supplements—supplements are for adding to our efforts and to support our bodies in what they are deficient in.
    • Supplements include:
    • Chromium
      What is Diabetes About - Medix Select-GlucoseReduce
      Medix Select’s Glucose Reduce – A premium supplement by a premium company! [click on the image for more info]
    • Alpha-lipoic acid
    • Vitamin b1
    • Cinnamon
    • Magnesium
    • Probiotics
    • Coenzyme Q10
    • Vitamin D
    • Zinc
    • Vitamin C
    • Other Therapies
    • Fasting once a week—raw vegetables twice a day
    • Walking daily or muscle-strengthening exercises
    • Sunbathing—20 min.
    • Hydrotherapy [2 cups of Epsom Salt in warm water—soak for 20 min.

Diabetes, if not controlled can be a terrible condition with devastating consequences. For prevention, it is best to follow the laws of health listed above.

The rule to follow: prevention is better than cure!

Please feel free to leave any questions, comments, or concerns below.

Good health!!

All about Human Cells

We hear so much about cells. Namely, red blood cells, white blood cells, healing on the cellular level, etc. However, what exactly are cells, and what do they do? This article is all about human cells.

What are Human Cells?

Cells are the essential building blocks of all breathing things. To use an example, cells are to the body as bricks are to a house—without the bricks, there will be no house.

Cells are the smallest structures with the ability to maintain life, reproduce, and create all living things, from single-celled plants to multibillion-celled animals. The human body, which is comprised of numerous cells, begins as a single (1), recently fertilized cell. We all began as just one single cell!

The human body contains trillions of cells. They provide formation for the body, perform specialized functions, absorb nutrients from food, and transfer those nutrients into energy. Cells also comprise the body’s hereditary matter and have the ability to make copies of themselves.

Practically all human cells can only be seen through a microscope. To give an example of how small a cell is, one average-sized adult body, according to one estimate, contains one hundred trillion cells!

Cells consist of many parts, each one with a different function. Some of these parts, known as organelles, are dedicated structures that perform selected tasks within the cell. An organelle in a cell is equivalent to an organ in the human body.

The Anatomy of Human Cells

Human cells contain the following major parts:

Cell membrane – All cells in the body are surrounded by a cell covering known as the cell membrane. The cell membrane divides the material outside the cell (extracellular), from the material inside the cell (intracellular). It sustains the stability of a cell and manages the flow of materials into and out of the cell. All materials inside a cell must have admission to the cell membrane (the cell’s boundary) for the required exchange of materials.

The cell membrane is made up of two (2) layers of phospholipid molecules. Proteins in the cell membrane supply structural support, form channels for the passage of materials, act as receptor locations, perform as carrier molecules, and supply identification indicators. Each organelle carries out different tasks to keep the cell alive and healthy.

Nucleus and Nucleolus – The nucleus compares to the brain of a cell. It controls all actions that the cell undertakes. The nucleus, formed by a nuclear membrane is the control center of the cell. It also contains DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), the genetic material of the cell. DNA is the genetic design for the cell that includes all of the necessary information for cells to live, grow, reproduce, and die. This is what contributes to the nucleus’s absolute control of a cell.

The nucleolus is a coagulated region in the nucleus that contains RNA (Ribonucleic acid) and is the location of protein formation. The nucleus establishes how the cell will perform, in addition to the basic structure of that cell.

Cytoplasm – Cytoplasm is contained within the contents of the cell membrane. It is made up of a jelly-like fluid and other formations that encase the nucleus. It completely fills the cell membrane and accommodates the cytosol with ions, proteins, filaments, and macromolecular structures, and as well as other organelles suspended in the cytosol.

Cytosol – The cytosol is a semi-fluid material that fills the interior of the cell and implants the other organelles and subcellular compartments not including the contents within the organelles. The cytosol itself is surrounded by the cell membrane and the membranes of different organelles, therefore making up a separate cellular compartment.

A sizeable part of cell metabolism takes place here. However, the cytosol does not have a single function but instead is the location of multiple cellular processes. Examples of these processes include signal transduction from the cell membrane to sites within the cell, such as the cell nucleus, or the organelles.

Cytoplasmic organelles – Cytoplasmic organelles are tiny organs that are floating in the cytoplasm of the cell. An organelle is a minute formation in a cell that is enclosed by a membrane and has a definite function. Examples of organelles are the nucleus (mentioned earlier), mitochondria (structures that make energy for the cell), and lysosomes (sac-like containers filled with enzymes that digest and help recycle molecules in the cell). The nucleus is the most important organelle.

Each kind of organelle has a specific structure and a definite task in the function of the cell.

Cytoskeleton – The cytoskeleton is a system of long fibers that make up the cell’s formation framework. The cytoskeleton has numerous crucial tasks, including formulating cell shape, taking part in cell division, and allowing cells to move about. It additionally supplies a pathway system that manages the movement of organelles and other substances within the cells.

All about Human Cells - Cell Organelles
Cell Organelles

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) – This organelle aids the process molecules created by the cell. The endoplasmic reticulum additionally transports these molecules to their precise targets either inside or outside the cell.

Golgi apparatus – The Golgi apparatus puts together molecules handled by the endoplasmic reticulum to be moved out of the cell.

Lysosomes and peroxisomes – These organelles are the recycling hub of the cell. They absorb foreign bacteria that attack the cell, clear the cell of contaminated substances, and recycle worn-out cell machinery.

Mitochondria – Mitochondria are intricate organelles that transfer energy from food into a form that the cell can use. They have their special genetic material, separate from the DNA in the nucleus, and can make duplicates of themselves.

Ribosomes – Ribosomes are organelles that administer the cell’s genetic commands to produce proteins. These organelles can drift freely in the cytoplasm or be linked to the endoplasmic reticulum (mentioned above).

How do Cells Function?

How do cells function? The cell has adequate genetic material to produce roughly one hundred thousand (100,000) different proteins, each with a different role. These are powerful little elements!

How does a cell know when to create a protein and what quantity of it to produce? This is determined by a process called gene expression. Certain genes are expressed (which means the code is read and used to make a protein) based on signals from the interior or exterior of the cell.

For instance, when a cell becomes too large, specific signals are created to instruct the nucleus to produce proteins required for cell division. Consequently, the nucleus then expresses those particular genes. In this way, cells manage themselves and each other, preserving balance and order in the body.

Cells normally receive signals in chemical form by the way of a variety of signaling molecules. When a signaling molecule connects with a proper receptor on a cell surface, this binding activates s a chain of events that not only carries the signal to the cell interior but also intensifies it additionally.

All about Human Cells - How do cells Function
Cells Functioning

These chemical signals, that are proteins or other molecules formed by a sending cell, are regularly secreted from the cell and discharged into the extracellular space. There, they can float sort of like messages in a bottle over to local neighboring cells.

Although cell-cell signaling involves the transmission of a signal from a sending cell to a receiving cell, not all sending and receiving cells are next-door neighbors, neither do all cell pairs exchange signals in the same way.

For this reason, there are four (4) fundamental groups of chemical signaling established in multicellular organisms: paracrine signaling, autocrine signaling, endocrine signaling, and signaling by direct contact. The major difference between the various groups of signaling is the distance that the signal travels through the organism to reach the target cell.

The Malfunctioning of Cells

All about Human Cells - Cells Malfunction
Cell Malfunction

Unfortunately, cells do malfunction on occasion. This occurs when one or more of the organelles of a cell are damaged causing injury to the cell.

Scientifically, cell injury can transpire because of the following factors:

  • Excessive or overly extended normal stimuli
  • The action of toxins and other adverse manipulates that could inhibit the vital cell functions
  • Insufficiency of oxygen and/or crucial nutrients and metabolites
  • Excessive free radicals

Some fundamental points regarding cell Injury:

  1. Cell injury may be reversible or irreversible.
  2. Hypoxia (insufficient oxygen) is the most central cause of cell injury
  3. Irreparable cell injury can be identified by changes in the shape of the nucleus and rupture of the cell membrane.

Cell injury leads to cell malfunction, which leads to disease. Death caused by disease is labeled death by natural causes.

There are four (4) major categories of disease: deficiency diseases, infectious diseases, physiological diseases (including both non-genetic hereditary diseases and genetic diseases), and hereditary diseases.

Deficiency Diseases – Deficiency diseases are diseases that are initiated by the lack of specific crucial nutrients, particularly vitamins and minerals, in an individual’s diet over an extended period.

Infectious diseases – Infectious diseases are diseases caused by organisms such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi. Numerous organisms live in as well as on our bodies. They are normally harmless or even helpful in some cases. However, under specific conditions, some organisms can cause disease. Various infectious diseases can be passed from individual to individual.

Infectious diseases may be caused by:

  • Bacteria. These one-cell life forms are to blame for illnesses such as strep throat, urinary tract infections, and tuberculosis.
  • Viruses. Even tinier than bacteria, viruses set off a large number of diseases varying from the common cold to AIDS.
  • Parasites. An organism that exists on or in a host organism and gets its food supply from or at the expense of its host. There are three (3) major classes of parasites that can cause disease in humans: helminths, protozoa, and ectoparasites.
  • Fungi. Any member of a group of spore-producing organisms that noshes on organic matter, together with molds, yeast, mushrooms, and toadstools.

Physiological diseases – physiological diseases are also known as a physiological disorder is an illness that intervenes with the way that the tasks of the body are carried out. Examples are Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Diabetes, leukemia, coronary heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, or any form of cancer.

Hereditary disease – A hereditary disease is frequently described as something that is “passed down through the family.” That is because it is passed down from one or both parents to a child, who may, in turn, pass it to his or her children. Since hereditary diseases are produced by genetic mutations, one may see the terms “hereditary” and “genetic” used interchangeably when communicating about an inherited disease. However, while a genetic disease is also the result of a gene mutation, it might or might not be hereditary. These mutations arise either arbitrarily or due to an environmental factor. They are not inherited from parent to child, as it is with a hereditary disease.

How to Maintain Healthy Human CellsAll about Human - Healthly Cells

For cells to function perfectly, they must have certain things in sufficient amounts and they need to make sure that there is not any toxic material that is building up.

Our bodies are constantly producing toxins: carbon dioxide, lactic acid but it has mechanisms to get rid of these toxic materials.

There must be an environment of sufficiency and non-toxicity. We achieve this through the windows of health:

  •  Nutrition
  •  Exercise
  •  Water
  •  Sunshine
  • Temperance—exercise doing the good things in moderation and avoiding that which is harmful.
  • Air
  • Rest

Since cells are the engines that build and keep the body operating efficiently, it behooves us to do what it takes to keep them in optimal condition.

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Good Health!!

 

 

 

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