What Does A Healthy Cell Look Like?

 

The science of taking care of the whole person is what I refer to as “Inclusive Health.”

 

By living inclusively, you protect and promote the health of every cell in your body. But what exactly does a healthy cell look like?

 

A healthy cell is one that is full of water. And the water inside of the cell is called intracellular water. When we’re born our bodies are about 80% water. But by the time we’re 50, our bodies are only about 50% water. When you compare the skin of an average 50 year old to the skin of a baby, you can see how the baby’s skin is plump and moist, while the adult skin is thinner and more sensitive to damage. This is caused by gradual dehydration of the cells as we age. That’s the basis of the aging process - going from a fully hydrated state to a less hydrated state.

 

Let’s take a quick look at how our cells age.

 

When we were very young, our cells could holds lots of intracellular water because they had a protective membrane that is thick and resistant to damage. As we get older, our cells hold less intracellular water because their membrane is thinner and more damaged, so some of the water is more likely to leak out.

 

The good news is that the trillions of cells in your body are constantly being replaced with a new generation of healthy young cells through a process called apoptosis. For example, your skin cells turn over every month and your liver cells every six weeks.

 

When we take care of ourselves by reducing stress, hydrating with healthy water rich foods and getting plenty of exercise and sleep, the new cells that are generated are healthier, stronger and better able to hold water.

 

Just think about it – you actually have an opportunity to become a whole new, healthier, “younger” person in 12 weeks.