Why resort to plastic surgery when you get a whole new body on a regular basis? Deborah Durbin looks at cellular renewal.
Why resort to plastic surgery when you get a whole new body on a regular basis? Deborah Durbin looks at cellular renewal.
Most of our bodies are in a state of constant change and that each tissue has its own renewal time
They say that age is just a number and there is more to this than just making us feel better about reaching another birthday. The fact is that, regardless of what age you are, much of your body is just 10 years old or less. Professor and biologist, Jonas Frisen from Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, who has studied cell longevity extensively, says that if we live to the age of 95, the only three main areas of cells in our bodies that last that length of time are in the brain, the heart muscles and the cells in our eyes. The majority of other cells in our bodies have the incredible ability to renew themselves. We even grow a new skeleton approximately every 10 years.
Frisen discovered that most of our bodies are in a state of constant change and that each tissue within the body has its own renewal time, depending on how much that particular tissue is used. Cells within the lining of the stomach, for example, are prone to extensive use as we constantly digest food and drink, and as such are replaced every five days. The surface layer of the skin that covers our bodies regenerates approximately every two weeks due to the daily damage it undertakes.
Why do we die?
You could be forgiven for wondering why, if most of our cells can renew themselves, do we still grow old, suffer illnesses and die? The answer, it seems, lies in a range of experiments carried out by American biologist Alexis Carrel of Rockefeller University, who explains: “We die because our bodies contain so many specialised cells that they can no longer undergo the rejuvenating influence of cell division. Death is the result of wear and tear within undividing cells that could not repair the damage.” Illnesses such as cancer result from cells becoming damaged to the point of being irreparable.
Cell-by date?
The following organs have cells which renew themselves on a regular basis
It was originally believed that the heart couldn’t renew itself, but researcher Piero Anversa found heart muscle cells can renew themselves in a process that takes about 20 years.
The frame that enables us to stand without falling over, supports our muscles and protects our internal organs completely replaces itself approximately every 10 years.
Most of the cells in our brain are with us for as long as we live and cannot renew themselves. This is why people who suffer brain damage do so for life. However, in 1999 Jonas Frisen announced that his studies had found stem cells (which can create new cells) within the brain.
The cells in our eyes cannot renew themselves apart from the cornea cells (the cells in the clear part of the eye).
Our intestine is covered in a substance called villi, which helps to absorb the nutrients into our bodies. Cells in the villi renew every three days.
Our livers have a lifespan of around 150 days before the cells begin to renew themselves. However, heavy drinking on a regular basis permanently damages the liver cells.
It was originally thought that, once damaged, the lungs could not repair themselves. However, recent research suggests that some cells do renew and this occurs every few days.
It takes between three and six years for us to have a completely new head of hair. The hair on our eyebrows and eyelashes is renewed a lot quicker at six to eight weeks.
Taste bud cells are replaced every 10 days or so, as they wear out very quickly due to the amount of food we take in to our bodies. Most of the cells in your mouth have a very fast renewal rate.
Red blood cells renew every three to four months and women’s bodies are capable of renewing their blood cells faster than men. Any remaining iron left over from a red blood cell is removed by the liver before it dies and renews.
Get with the programme
Try these cleansing techniques during a detox programme to help speed cellular detoxification:
1. Dry skin brushing The action of the stiff bristles brushed in sweeping upward movements to the heart stimulates the lymph and blood circulation to remove impurities.
2. Detoxification baths Using Epsom salts, bicarbonate of soda and ginger root baths eliminates toxins by activating toxin movement in the tissues and increasing perspiration.
3. Deep diaphragmatic breathing Delivers more oxygen to the cell to activate cellular metabolism. It also helps to rebalance the peristaltic rhythm created between the diaphragm and intestinal tract to makes sure toxins leave the body!
4. Dry saunas These therapeutically stimulate sweat which in turn helps to flush toxins and heavy metals, stimulate vasodilation of peripheral blood vessels and increase cardiovascular activity throughout the body.
Did you know?
When a stem cell divides, every new cell can either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialised function, for example, a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell. Stem cells have been found in most parts of our bodies and have successfully treated diseases such as leukaemia, blood and bone cancers and bone marrow transplants, to name a few.
THE CELL DETOX PLAN
To detoxify on a cellular level will take around three weeks
Revitalise your body with these simple cellular detox tips
“Cellular detoxification is proper detoxification; everything else is just hype and trendy speak,” says Alexsandra Rehlinger, clinical and naturopathic nutritionist at The Third Space in London. “Detoxification is an active process of changing the biochemistry to activate change in the cells, and incorporates the use of specific supplementation and natural procedures to proactively pull toxins out. It takes time and it takes energy.” Try Alexsandra’s tips below to gently rejuvenate your body:
To detoxify on a cellular level will take around three weeks. If your diet presently includes meat, dairy, coffee, tea, fizzy drinks, alcohol, processed grains and or sugar take a week and wean yourself off of these first. Increase your water intake, aiming for about two litres a day and increase your fruit and vegetable intake.
Begin some gentle exercise if you are not already doing so. Remember, this isn’t detoxing yet – the body is now just being supported to clear out toxins – without the challenge of more coming in! If after this first week you are still experiencing constipation, skin problems, headaches or very low energy or any other discomfort you must get advice from a practitioner before embarking on a more advanced cleansing or detoxification programme.
The cellular detoxification diet requires more food rather than less. Avoiding or limiting food will prevent adequate deep detoxification. The diet should include a sufficient amount of alkaline-forming foods balanced with enough full spectrum amino acid foods to support liver detoxification pathways, cellular repair and renewal.
Generally speaking, a diet which includes a minimum of 400 to 500g green-based vegetables per day and at least 200g of protein will support this. Adding fruit will expedite clearing but this is best done gradually. Freshly squeezed juices should be used with caution, and always choose vegetables over fruit.
Avoid processed foods, gluten grains, cured or processed meats. All dairy, alcohol, sugar and stimulants should be entirely excluded for the duration. Most importantly is the inclusion of clean, pure, room temperature water. Without adequate hydration toxins build up in the cells, burdening and interfering with core functions.
Supplementation should be tailored to the individual for cellular detoxification but should include support to the kidneys and antioxidants to counteract the active oxidative process that is being activated.
The liver is often a focus of cleansing programmes because of its function in clearing and building the blood. The diet will be key, but you also need to ensure that the second phase of the detox ‘pathway’ is strong as this cleanses toxins from the blood. To do this your body needs specific enzymes: foods which help this are the ones that contain sulphur such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, watercress, onions, garlic, leeks, radishes, as well as the herbs coriander, turmeric, schizandra, milk thistle and liquorice (although remember this is contraindicated for those with high blood pressure).
For more info go to theartofhealth.co.uk
Did you know?
Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oils may have a direct effect on extending the lifespan of cells, according to scientists at the University of California. They found that the effect on 608 outpatients with heart disease slowed down damage to DNA contained in telomeres – tiny ‘caps’ on the ends of chromosomes which help protect against inflammation and other ageing processes.
6 of the best cell boosters
Encourage healthy cell renewal with these detoxifying supplements, recommended by Lorna Davies, a nutritionist from The Nutri Centre
1. Natural Cellular Defense, £32.95 Works at a cellular level by trapping heavy metals and toxins and removing them from the body.
2. CELLFOOD, £19.47 This contains 78 minerals, 34 enzymes and 17 amino acids to allow for the rapid absorption and assimilation of nutrients.
3. Higher Nature NDF, £79.99 NDF stands for Nanocolloidal Detox Factors which bind to metallic elements and remove them from your body. (Can only be recommended by a practitioner.)
4. Sun Chlorella, £19.95 Contains the highest concentration of any natural plant to help cleanse and purify blood cells.
5. MSM – By Lamberts Healthcare, £8.95 Softens the cell walls allowing foreign proteins and free radicals to be washed out of your system.
6. Pukka Herbs Aloe Vera Juice, £19.95 Aloe has the unique ability to stimulate cell renewal.
Article by
Deborah Durbin
Article by
Deborah Durbin
By Deborah Durbin
By Deborah Durbin 
