There’s a high likelihood you did not wake up this morning asking yourself, “How Can I Repair My Cell Membranes Today?” YOU SHOULD! Your cell membranes are considered one of the most vital structures for not only the health but existence of your body on this planet. Cell membranes form the very core of who you are – after all you are close to 70 Trillion cells – so you need something to separate one from another.
Literally, the cell membrane is just that – a membrane which separates the outside world from the inner world of your cells. Simply put, the membrane allows for transportation of nutrients into the cell (from the outside environment) and also the extraction of waste/toxins from within the cells (to the outside environment). Most importantly (and only recently discovered) the cell membrane allows for communication between neighboring cells and between the environment and the cell itself.
Proteins are found within and traversing through the membrane to allow for chemical communication – through the use of a receptor. One of the most famous receptors is the Insulin receptor – a protein structure which sits in the membrane that is activated when it comes in contact with external Insulin. Once stimulated, this Insulin receptor activates other proteins which “open” a channel in the membrane to allow sugar to enter (sugar cannot pass though the cell membrane by itself) so that it can be converted into energy. This is one method of external hormone communication that can only happen because you have cell membranes. The health of your cell determines its ability to function (i.e. your ability to perform basic tasks (like getting sugar in, toxins out and making energy).
One challenge is the majority of humans have damaged cell membranes – ones that are not able to fully transfer nutrition, toxins or hormone communications properly. The result is nutrient deprived, overly toxic nonfunctioning cells (i.e. illness, sickness, disease and even death).
Bottom line: Healthy Cell Membrane = Healthy Receptors = Healthy Communication = Healthy Cell Function = Optimal Quality of Life
What causes our cell membranes to be damaged?
Everything we do. Let me use an analogy you might understand. Every time you wash an article of clothing – technically small bits and pieces of it are broken off, and either flushed with the draining water or captured by the dryer’s lint filter. Washing this same article over and over and over causes wear and tear. The quality and material of the initial clothing article will determine the number washes that it can endure before it begins to break down. Your cell membranes are the same!
You use them every day, in fact they never, ever, ever stop working! If they did, you would fall apart – literally! Cell membranes are made of a unique “fabric” known as phospholipids. As the name implies, it’s a fatty molecule (lipid) with a phosphorous group attached to it. These are the most unique molecules in the human body because they love both water and fat at the same time! Drop a bunch of phospholipids into a glass of water and you only need to wait a few nanoseconds before they automatically arrange themselves into a circular membrane creating an outer space (water) and an inner space (water) where the membrane is between the two liters of water. (I.e. a cell filled with just water). Because they are fat based, other fats can become incorporated into the membrane, which can either help or harm the membrane. Cholesterol is a good fat that your membranes need to ensure they are “sticky” – without cholesterol you would simply be a globulous water-based membrane able to change shape like a water molecule. Cholesterol adds rigidity but maintains flexibility. Glycolipids are also found in your membranes – acting like hairlike projections to allow for sensation and communication as well as stability of the membrane. Sterols are also found in the membrane – waxy-like molecules that again help with stability and communication within the cell membrane.
The standard American diet is essentially devoid of healthy phospholipids, cholesterol, glycolipids and sterols. Imagine the answer to this question: “What did you eat today that contained healthy phospholipids for your cell membranes?”
How to Repair Your Cell Membranes
Like anything else, the first step to change is simple awareness. Hopefully now you can see that you need to pay attention to your cells (sounds like yourselves doesn’t it). Now that you know, it’s time to do something.
Step 1. Stop consuming membrane damaging foods and chemical/toxins. The cell membrane is made of fat, so the types of fats you consume literally become your cell membranes. Too many Americans are walking around with Burger King/Bojangles membranes – your body was not designed to have your building blocks be these harmful fats. Toxins are also fat soluble – so even if you have the perfect fat diet, and not a trace of toxic fat molecules in your body, toxicity (chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, heavy metals etc.) are attracted to fatty tissues. Thus, a healthy cell membrane can be loaded with toxins that interfere with its normal day to day function (PS this is a MAJOR cause for almost all chronic health issues today – have you had your metal levels tested??)
Step 2. Repair/Replace the cell membrane. Since it’s made of phospholipids perhaps its time you actually ate some (remember, what you eat becomes you!). The best source of phospholipids are organic, pasture raised eggs cooked such that the yolk is runny. The second highest source is liver of grass fed/pasture raised animals.
There are three types of phospholipids to pay attention to:
- Phosphatidylcholine
2. Phosphatidylinositol
3. Phosphatidylethanolamine
As you might already be wondering, there is a supplemental form of Phospholipids – the best is NuMedica Phospholipid Complex which contains all three. One tablespoon twice per day mixed into water or vegetable juice is an exceptional way to ensure you are giving your cells some love!
Step 3: Re-Establish Nutrition and Detoxification A damaged membrane means food isn’t getting inside and toxins are not getting out. Once a membrane is repaired it is time to feed your cells and remove the accumulated trash (which is often lots of). This is where a cellular-based chelation detox or glutathione therapy along with a diet of whole foods, raw and or cellular healing foods come in handy. You can find out more about these by searching for the “Cellular Healing Diet” on this website!