Monday, March 25, 2013

Molecular Defense System Overview


As our Planetary System has a defense system, called Human Beings, so do Biological Systems have defense systems. You can interchange between a 'defense system' to 'equilibrium system'. As we transition from observational perception of large objects to smaller ones, we perceive this mechanisms of complementary interactions on all plains of physical existence; namely the two biological and chemical ones, those are the Immune system and Molecular system. Biologically speaking, immune cells protect at the cellular level, while chemically speaking, molecular machines (i.e. enzymes) protect at the molecular level. Protection is assumed to be a function of these systems only when they are out of equilibrium, though when they are not assuming a protection role, they can be perceived as units of a system, which complement an evolved cascade of events that produce a meaningful expression or behavior.

Our cells are an evolved community of bacteria that formed symbiotic relationships and demarcated their city limits with a membrane. This membrane is alive, it holds signals and transporters and Epigenetic research has elucidated it's function as a sensory acceptor, which picks up environmental stimulus and a cascade of signalling events shift the expression of genes being read and transcribed. This leads ultimately to a cellular behavior or expression. Environmental stimulus is more then just emotions and thoughts, but also nutrient composition of the blood or stress of the environment.

A specialized bacteria in every cell called the Mitochondria, produces cellular energy, of which is required for many protein movements and processes. In the Mitochondria it has been observed that the mechanism of producing energy, via the Electron Transport Chain, produces also Reactive Oxygen Species or Free Radicals. These are atoms that are missing an electron at their outer shell, and since all elements aspire for an Octet, this atom will scavenge for one and in the process of fulfilling this drive, it harms an existing structure. This causes the structure to fall apart and propel a cascade of events leading up to gene expression of an Inflammatory Response.

To counteract these free radicals, we observe that nature has equipped all cellular organelles and the cell in large, with a Molecular Defense System. These are specialized proteins that take part in cellular mechanism of electrical transport, like Coenzyme Q10 that transports an electron in the process called Electron Transport chain. However, this specialized property of carrying and donating an electron is regarded as an antioxidant effect. Antioxidants have been observed to neutralize free radicals by donating an electron they carry to the free radical, fulfilling it's octet and stabilizing it in it's environment.

Could it be that antioxidants act in such a favorable way only when free radicals are created in excess?

It appears that there is a difference between waking up in the morning, standing up and eating to running, lifting weights and calculating figures strenuously. The powerhouse of the cell, the Mitochondria, creates ATP energy and free radical by-products based on the rhythm of life we set out to do. The more energy requirements in a shorter time, the more free radicals are formed. Apparently the antioxidants in the Mitochondria and in the cell cannot keep up and damage to structure results, propelling an inflammatory response. This response is favorable for building muscles, but in many cases the antioxidant system is malnourished due to the hosts diet, which causes structure damage to occur quicker.

An inflammatory state of a cell is expression of a 'protection' behavior by genes and the subsequent proteins that are synthesized as a result. Once the cell has completed it's inflammatory response, it switches off the genes to do with inflammation events and turns on genes that have to do with cellular 'growth'. Cell's become sensitive due to food choices, like too much Omega 3 and 6 in the diet, which are unsaturated fatty acids. A study on the Mitochondria in a heart cell, using Coconut oil (90% saturated fatty acids), Olive oil (70% mono-unsaturated fatty acids) and Fish oil (69% poly-unsaturated fatty acids), has demonstrated and concluded that saturated fatty acids were favorable for the Mitochondria's health[x]. The following is a quote:
"The cardiac mitochondria from rats fed with coconut oil showed the lowest concentration of oxidized proteins and peroxidized lipids. The fish oil diet leads to the highest oxidative stress in cardiac mitochondria, an effect that could be partly prevented by the antioxidant probucol."

Then diet has an important effect on Mitochondrial health during activity. The next image illustrates the concept that "Stability increases with Saturation". Notice how the fatty acids structure reveals the stability of the compound.


Then in the case of excessive muscle contraction and biological movement, we can expect a high demand of energy production and chemical exchange. Simply running a marathon requires the heart mitochondria (which occupies 1/3 of the heart cell) to create an incessant supply of electron transporting in order to propel the bulk of ATP required to maintain structural integrity. When the coenzymes (that operate as antioxidants as well; i.e CoQ10) don't match the requirements, we observe a depletion in mitochondria defenses against it's own by-products and the end result is a harm to the heart muscle.

Antioxidants have been observed to be capable of replenishing their electrical charge. When an antioxidant fulfills its function, it donates its electron it had carried in order to stimulate the next process or to neutralize a free radical by-product. At this state, an antioxidant is considered "oxidized", but it's unique properties render it harmless to the environment. Moreover, when an "oxidized" antioxidant replenishes it's electrical charge, it is considered "reduced".

This has been observed in scientific literature in different avenues, like Vitamin C replenishing Vitamin E. Both are capable of antioxidant activity, but the difference is that vitamin C is water soluble (flows freely in aqueous solutions, like the bloodstream or cytoplasm) and vitamin E is fat soluble (found in cell membranes, LDL particles etc.). Vitamin E is responsible for it's own domain and interacts with processes in its zone, and vitamin C can swarm by cell membranes and replenish their antioxidant capacity.

This is essentially an evolved web of complementary interactions. Nature defines a holistic approach to sustain life, and so all biological systems co-evolved with one another. The human kingdom won't be here without co-evolving with the plant kingdom, animal kingdom and fungi kingdom. But deep down, in the depths of the molecular plain, a co-evolution has been intelligently designed as to utilize all beneficial elements, so you on the multicellular plain can experience health and longevity in a physical sense.



Bite, chew, grind and swallow is all that your precious body requires you to do on a multicellular conscious level. Much ancient wisdom and Epigenetic research are pointing out that thoughts and emotions, that are definitely part of your experience, are also part of a meals activity. Eat what you know to be beneficial! Your choices benefit your cellular and microbial prosperity.


Free Electrons from the Ground

All life starts from the sun. Whether it's the sunlight converted into usable energy stored in plants, that then are consumed by herbivores and we, as humans, end up eating in our competition to live on that stored sunlight from both the plant and eating the herbivore, or the solar wind that charges up the ionosphere, that in turn charges up the surface via lightning, supplying charged particles of free electrons. Grounding is standing barefoot on moist soil or grass, allowing free electrons to travel through the conductivity of biological circuitry.

Scientists, like Dr. Sinatra and Dr. Oschman have observed and reported this interaction and connection we have to Earth. They report, that 30 minutes of exposure can replenish our electrical charge body-wide, essentially improving blood circulation by turning it from a ketchup consistency into a fine red wine. This phenomena has been observed to accelerate healing of tissues, as antioxidants are replenished and used up, replenished again by stored electrons in our tissues, and used once more to accelerate repair and healing mechanisms.

You can read more at my article: Free Electrons from the Ground

Replenishment through Nature

Detoxifying is becoming more popular, specifically since more and more people are suffering from the Military Industrial Complex's agenda of supplying processed food and obscuring our animal nature and connection of our soil to our health.

Everyone knows that if you eat a salad, or simply a vegetable, you feel better. There are 40% more antioxidants in organic produce, and 90% more antioxidants in organic milk, and that is all simple science: if you feed your food a good nutrition, you inherit it!

The plants and animals are connected to the free electron flow from the earth; plants with their roots and animals with their feet. We observe that plants create antioxidants for themselves and when we break open their cells, we have access to those rejuvenating compounds (via tea, fermentation and digestion). We disconnected ourselves from the earth when we walk with robber or plastic footwear. Instead of returning home after a long day and relying on Melatonin's antioxidant abilities during sleep, we can relieve a lot of mitochondrial and cellular stress by connecting to the earth.

However, you can't expect to simply stop replenishing your antioxidants just because free electrons can flow through your body. Proteins, like enzymes, fulfill their role and then are scrapped for pieces (amino acids) in order to rebuild new proteins and structures. There is a constant reuse of building blocks, and many of the complex antioxidant enzymes require co-factors (like vitamin B's) to create them. Hence whole food nutrition is required to tune up and replenish all beneficial processes.

Importance of Probiotics

What does bacteria have to do with our immune cells and molecular system? Simple.
When the beneficial population inhabits your gut, you have more bioavailable building blocks exchanged and flow into your bloodstream. Probiotic bacteria eat and then poop and pee minerals and vitamins, which are shared with you. This essentially raises nutrition in your body. But on the other hand, when opportunistic bacteria (pathogenic ones) thrive and dominate, they eat our food and secrete toxins, of which find their way into our blood, reach the brain and cause a plethora of problems.

If you control the food, you control the population. Simple, right?

Sugar and complex carbohydrates (like from grains, bread, pasta, potatoes etc.) feed the bad opportunistic bacteria. That's why many people suffer these days one a western type diet. It's filled with too much sugar! Too much of a breeding ground for toxin-creating bacteria that compete with our beneficial microbes.

You can learn more at my article: Extracellular Defense System Overview

In conclusion.

We have a system of molecular machines that aspire to balance the system and can accomplish this task as long as there is an adequate supply of nutrients and building blocks into your body. Probiotic bacteria enhance the availability of these nutrients, so quitting sugar all together while increasing probiotic proliferation will increase your energy and multicellular health. Fulfilling a daily habit of walking, standing or seating on the earth (as long as your feet make contact) will replenish your electrical charge and improve your blood flow as well as cognitive flow.

A lifestyle is your responsibility.
Usually you search for knowledge to improve that lifestyle.
You've got the knowledge now, take care!

Joel Jacobson



References:

[x] Mitochondrion. 2011 Jan;11(1):97-103. doi: 10.1016/j.mito.2010.07.014. Epub 2010 Aug 5. Dietary fatty acids and oxidative stress in the heart mitochondria. Lemieux H, Bulteau AL, Friguet B, Tardif JC, Blier PU. Source  Laboratoire de Biologie Intégrative, Université du Québec, Rimouski, Québec, Canada.