You may remember from your High School biology class a little about those special things found in your cells called mitochondria. You may also remember them being referred to as the powerhouses of our body. [1] It’s within them that energy for our bodies is produced from the food we eat but, that would not be all. It is important, no, it’s critical to understand what they do and what would happen when they don’t work well.
Mitochondria produce ATP and ADP which is used by our bodies as energy for a variety of processes. Mitochondria are also involved in the process of aerobic respiration (use of oxygen) by the body. Without mitochondria we simply could not exist. Beyond energy, the mitochondria work to regulate many processes in the body. They are little factories that produce import products our bodies use. However, just like other factories, they also produce waste that can damage the body if there isn’t something to clean up that waste. The making of energy causes oxidants and free radicals which can lead to damage in the body. Think of your mitochondria as a campfire. Many of us have sat beside a well burning fire that produced light, heat and energy in abundance with little smoke. We have also experienced a poorly burning fire trying to burn wet, green or non-combustible materials which produce noxious fumes and smoke. Your mitochondria work similar to a campfire. If they are working poorly then they will function poorly. In the case of your health, that means disease and other health problems. [2] How can you jumpstart your mitochondria if they are functioning poorly and keep them healthy? Scientist are finding that a healthy diet and supplementing with the right things can have lasting impact on mitochondrial health. When we age, eat poorly and are sick, mitochondria start to perform poorly. This effect can be offset by exercising, eating right and supplementing with key amino acids used by the body to create Glutathione, improve Citric Acid cycle (Kreb’s cycle) and offset free radical damage. [3] [1] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320875.php [2] https://www.bcm.edu/news/geriatrics/glutathione-deficiency-fat-insulin-aging [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684129/
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“Space, the final frontier
These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise Its five-year mission To explore strange new worlds To seek out new life And new civilizations To boldly go where no man has gone before” Star Trek Intro Quote The Building Blocks of Life Few people fail to recognize the introductory words that proceed movies and TV shows featuring the crew of the famous Star Trek series. We romantically think of space as the great frontier. The Universe is indeed wonderous and vast in its complexity and we can be grateful to it for our origins. This earth is made of star dust and more importantly, we too are made of that dust. Scientist are discovering and uncovering at an increasing speed, more knowledge about how we came to be and how we continue to exist. The building blocks of life on earth began with 20 amino acids. [1] [2] Sounds incredible right? All life as we know it has a deep and personal connection to amino acids and the interactions that support their functions. It’s not surprising to find then that life today is as dependent on those amino acids as it was in the initial creation. [3] Scientist and health professionals are realizing that negative disruptors of amino acids and their essential supporting functions can have major impact on human health and wellbeing. In this article, we are presenting information about degenerative disease and the recent breakthroughs that basic elements (mainly amino acids) have on positively impacting human health and wellbeing. We Are Under Constant Attack A person’s health is on constant defense in today’s world. Our bodies are under attack from unnecessary chemicals, pollutants, radiation, free radicals, poor dietary habits and the lack of correct and proper amounts of the right nutrients and essential elements needed to maintain our bodies functioning at optimal levels. Most of us already know that we need to supplement our health with vitamins, minerals and a variety of other natural ingredients that we are lacking or losing due to our limited availability to the proper diet and lifestyle. What more can we do? Are you tired of being sick all the time? Are you the type of person that only needs to walk by a sick coworker or child to immediately begin to feel the on comings of that illness? Your body is supposed to have a defense for that called Glutathione. When your body is producing Glutathione at proper levels, you are experiencing one of the best defenses against an assortment of potentially negative health consequences. However, when Glutathione production is low, you likely are noticing some, if not many different health issues. [4] The Body and Glutathione Let’s talk about Glutathione. You need it and it is a limited resource in the body unless more is produced. What is the process necessary to increase Glutathione in the body? Well, it’s complicated. Not to worry, hopefully we can make this simpler without losing too much accuracy. With that said, here we go. Your body gets most of the nutrients it needs through the foods you eat. Those foods break down into three basic categories; carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Carbs, fats and proteins are broken down by the body first in the digestive track and then through the liver where things start to get a little more complicated. The body does some really cool stuff with the nutrients you provide it by chemically breaking down molecules to create energy and the other important molecules necessary for the proper function of your body. That process in part, happens in what is called the Krebs cycle or the Citric Acid cycle.[5] Once your food is broken down into the right molecular components, it is ready to be used by the cell. Some of those molecules, in conjunction with amino acids like Glycine and N-Acetyl-Cystine, are used in the mitochondria to produce Glutathione. [6] Glutathione Levels—High Is Good There are lots of factors that affect Glutathione levels in your body. When you are sick, suffering from toxicity and/or aging; you have less Glutathione in your system. When you are healthy, eating the right foods and supplementing with the right nutrients, your levels are higher. But, did you know as you age you still may have lower Glutathione levels regardless of a healthy lifestyle? One study showed a marked improvement in synthesis of Glutathione for older persons through supplementation who otherwise where lacking in production of this key antioxidant. “Glutathione deficiency in elderly humans occurs because of a marked reduction in synthesis. Dietary supplementation with the glutathione precursors cysteine and glycine fully restores glutathione synthesis and concentrations and lowers levels of oxidative stress and oxidant damages. These findings suggest a practical and effective approach to decreasing oxidative stress in aging.” [7] Glutathione deficiency has been related to the following diseases making the need to keep Glutathione levels optimal in the body of highest concern.
So, if you want to do your best to keep your health at optimal levels, one of the best ways would be to keep your Glutathione points at the maximum levels. If you are young, then all you need to do is eat healthy, live a lifestyle free of negative environmental influences and not get sick. If you are over 35 and getting older, you are not able to separate yourself from the negative environmental influences and/or you are sick with chronic or reoccurring illnesses; then supplementing with a product that helps production of Glutathione should be a consideration. Your Liver Is Unique and Important Can we talk about your liver? Your body is incredible. Generally speaking, the body can regenerate when it is damaged or injured. Many parts of the body have the ability to do without for a short time when necessary and the body even has backup organs in case you lose the use of something important. However, the liver is unique. Yes, you can live with less than about 50% of the liver you were born with but you cannot live without your liver. With that said, your liver is a powerhouse of production for your body and critical to your health. If your liver isn’t well, then it’s probably evident to you that something is wrong whether you know what that is or not. Destroying Your Liver Unknowingly The liver’s main job is to filter blood coming from the digestive tract before it heads out to fill the needs of the body. The liver is known as the great filter of the body and readily gets rid of toxins (including many pollutants) and heavy metals that are harmful to our bodies. Although these functions are important, the liver does so much more. Our liver is key to the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins necessary within the Krebs cycle, producing the energy that runs our bodies as well as the base ingredients used in so many other necessary bodily functions. When your liver isn’t healthy, the consequences can be great. Did you know that, other than a general lack of wellbeing, a lower feeling of energy and a few other seemingly non-related health issues, you probably won’t know your liver is unhealthy. There is a condition called NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) which is at epidemic levels within the United States and rising in countries around the world. Most people are aware of the damage alcohol can do to the liver and that too much alcohol over time can create a condition call cirrhosis of the liver. This scaring and damage of the liver not only causes the liver not to function properly but can also be permanent while ushering in a host of health issues. There is another condition that harms the liver other than the use of alcohol. NAFLD caused by fatty deposits in the liver can have the same effects as alcohol poisoning on the liver. The problem is that you likely will never know it is happening until it’s too late. [9] [10] [11] Mitochondria Are Little Engines NAFLD can affect up to 1 in 3 persons and is associated with those who have obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. Your liver is like a campfire. Your liver is full of mitochondria which are like little factories that produce the fires that run your body’s engine. The body benefits from an increased metabolism through healthy mitochondrial function. Just like a fire that burns poorly, your cells cannot function properly if they are not burning fuel efficiently. Getting back to something we said earlier, Glutathione is key to helping the mitochondria burn fat efficiently like a fire. Nobody wants to sit around a campfire that puts off a ton of smoke and neither does your body want your mitochondria functioning in a similar fashion. It’s understandable that you might not feel well when things aren’t right in your liver and your liver is burdened with fat and not functioning properly. However, it doesn’t need to stay that way. [12] Amino Acids Are Building Blocks of Health The great thing about the liver and the condition of NAFLD is that positive decisions to eat/supplement wisely, lose weight and exercise can reverse negative trends. Remember those amino acids we spoke about in the beginning that are the building blocks of life? Getting the right amino acids along with other supportive nutrients have been found to be the “building blocks” for processes that produce Glutathione and proper functions in the liver and the rest of the body that help reduce negative consequences that come from poor dietary and lifestyle choices. [13] Your immune health and liver health live large in importance to your overall wellbeing but something may be even more important at effecting the long-term quality of life you are seeking. That important thing involves the brain. The Brain Is the Command Center The brain is your body’s command center. As with any command center, if the command center isn’t functioning, communicating and leading then chaos ensues. When your brain is not healthy then a host of issues follow. Surprisingly, new science is discovering how sleep is key to the health of the brain. Who doesn’t like to sleep or at least take an occasional nap to regenerate? It seems so simple if this is really true, but is it? There seems to be more and more feedback from people who are having sleep problems. The reasons for their sleep issues are varied and the consequences for not sleeping are causing severe health issues for the brain. So, can sleep help? Sleep Restores Brain Function Recent studies are showing that during certain types of sleep, not only does the brain store information and long-term memories by removing them and cleaning them from hippocampus (the short-term memory area of the brain) but, it also cleans waste out of the brain. Isn’t the liver doing that? Well yes, the liver has some part in all this. However, the big part of the cleaning process involves the CSF (Cerebral Spinal Fluid). How does this work? Well, when you enter a special kind of sleep, your brain shrinks allowing CSF to flow between the cells of the brain and exchange with fluid in your spinal column. The key to this exchange is that it only happens when a person is in REM sleep or a state of REM sleep. [14] Sounds neat but why is this important? Those who are experience restless nights of sleep may be resting their bodies but not getting enough REM sleep to cleanse and restore the brain. The lack of REM sleep does not allow the body (the brain) to flush the day’s waste away and to allow the hippocampus to clear. Studies have shown that if a person is not allowed to sleep, they will die. Most of us get rest when we need to but, are we getting the rest necessary to prevent health issues that are harming not only our brains but our bodies? Amyloid-beta Proteins Are Killing Us Because our brains are one of the largest organs in our bodies, it produces a lot of energy and thus a lot of waste. Some of that waste is identified as amyloid-beta proteins. These proteins have a very detrimental effect on brain cells. When these proteins are present in large numbers they can begin to combine and cluster into tangles. It can be said that our brain cells look a lot like a hand with the fingers protruding or a ball with lots of tentacles. When a brain cell runs into a tangle of amyloid-beta proteins, the protein can attach to the cell and eventually kill it. Scientist are finding that poor sleep is leading to the buildup of waste, including amyloid-beta proteins in the brain and thus causing damage to brain cells. The need for sleep and more importantly, deep REM sleep, is becoming more and more evident for overall brain health. [15] The need for sleep aids and products that help people sleep is rising but are these products all equal and effective? Studies are showing that some sleep aids actually are causing worse issues for people and only acting as calming agents not achieving the REM sleep necessary for the true health benefits scientists are identifying in the labs. Amino Acids Effectively Calm the Brain As more and more information is revealed, it will be no surprise that amino acids and the supporting nutrients to functions around those amino acids are helpful in supporting the body. The body, and subsequentially the brain’s ability to enter deep sleep, is necessary for the cleansing and clearing of the brain of dangerous toxins and wastes. Exciting breakthroughs are being publicized every day showing how N-Acetyl-Cystine [16] and Glycine [17] have a calming effect on the brain even perhaps allowing it the opportunity to enter REM sleep. People are coming forward sharing their success stories of how certain natural supplements are doing more for their sleep than any other products on the markets. Luckily for these people, an all-natural amino acid supplement that helps with sleep as well as a host of other benefits can be a game changer in their overall health. When something works, it doesn’t take long for someone to tell someone else about it. Amino Acid Supplements Key to Health In summary, this earth and all life on it was created through the building blocks of life starting with 20 amino acids. Suffice to say these amino acids and the nutrients and functions supporting them are pretty important to our lives and thus our overall health. Scientist are confirming every day more evidence showing the importance of having the right balance in our diets and supplements. The key here is the right balance. Most of us don’t know what supplements we need. Most of us don’t know what the scientist have discovered and why certain things are necessary and others are not. It is imperative then that you find a reputable company that has done the research and who has based their products off that research so you get the best quality and performance from the product that you are putting into your body. You want to make sure that whatever you take is safe and effective. The building blocks of life are powerful. We see the immensity of creation around us and the wonder of our own bodies. It should come as no surprise to us that if we care for our health wisely, we should be able to counter the unnatural negative environmental influences around us. We should be able to offset sickness for faster recoveries. We should be able to find ways to regenerate our bodies and organs such as the brain through natural, fulfilling and potent supplements that keep us not only healthy but, happy and functioning for a lifetime. [1] https://www.space.com/24460-alien-life-building-blocks-amino-acids.html [2] https://www.universetoday.com/143056/all-life-on-earth-is-made-up-of-the-same-20-amino-acids-scientist-now-think-they-know-why/ [3] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002222.htm [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684116/ [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citric_acid_cycle [6] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323936.php [7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=21795440 [8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684116/ [9] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease [10] https://liverfoundation.org/for-patients/about-the-liver/diseases-of-the-liver/non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/ [11] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354567 [12] https://www.bcm.edu/news/geriatrics/glutathione-deficiency-fat-insulin-aging [13] https://www.bcm.edu/news/geriatrics/glutathione-deficiency-fat-insulin-aging [14] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96aZtk4hVJM [15] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJK-dMlATmM [16] https://aminoacidstudies.org/n-acetylcysteine-nac/ [17] https://aminoacidstudies.org/glycine/ |
AuthorThe following articles are written by a variety of authors for the Better Health Supplements website. We hope to provide you with articles on various health topics as well as subjects pertaining directly to ingredients found in our products. ArchivesCategories |