Our cells are, of course, the foundation of our health, and their metabolism – the process by which they convert nutrients into energy – plays a crucial role in determining our overall well-being and future health outcomes.
Dr. Casey Means, a Stanford-trained physician and expert on metabolic health, explains in her book “Good Energy” (the best book I’ve read so far on this subject, please read it, I cannot recommend it enough if you’re interested in natural vitalty) that nearly every health problem we face can be traced back to how well our cells create and use energy. Ditto according to another one of my intellectual heroes, Dr. Bruce Lipton, whose book “The Biology of Belief” revolutionised the world’s understanding of cellular biology and its connection to consciousness (do also please read this book, at least twice).
The Holistic Approach to Cellular Health
Optimizing cell metabolism isn’t just about isolated, physical biological occurrences, but Dr. Lipton’s research on epigenetics demonstrates that our thoughts and environment directly influence our cellular health too, challenging the traditional view that genes alone determine our biological destiny. Similarly, Dr. Means emphasizes the importance of environmental factors (conditions both within the body, outside of the body and mentally/emotionally) in shaping metabolic health.
Physical Nourishment
No surprise here that the food we consume directly impacts our cellular function and study after study finds that a diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods significantly improves markers of metabolic health, including insulin sensitivity and inflammation levels. (NB Inflammation has now been labelled by the World Health Organisation as the number greatest current threat to human health in the world today. Yes you read that correctly. Go and research further please.) Dr. Means advocates for a diet that supports mitochondrial health – needed for everything from protection against disease to general biological activity to aging and more – emphasising the importance of nutrient-dense, whole foods in optimising cellular energy production and vibrant longevity.
Mental Stimulation
Our mental state also profoundly affects our cellular health. Again, no surprise here. But, Dr. Lipton’s work shows that when we change our perception of the environment, we change our biological responses. His stunning experiments evidenced how cell cultures in different environments developed differently e.g. when stem cells were placed in an environment that mimicked bone tissue, they developed into bone cells, however, when the same stem cells were placed in an environment simulating muscle tissue, they became muscle cells. This showed that the environment, not just the genes, played a crucial role in determining cell behaviour and development.
Similarly, Dr. Means expands this view by highlighting the impact of chronic stress on mitochondrial function and overall metabolic health. A body functioning with a stressed mind is thus a compromised one. In reverse, numerous studies attest to the positive power regular mindfulness practice has on improving cellular aging markers and metabolic health.
So, what can we do? Here are 7 Practical Steps to Optimise your Cell Metabolism:-
- Prioritise Quality Sleep: Sleep is crucial for cellular repair and regeneration and consistent, quality sleep is unequivocally essential for maintaining healthy mitochondrial function and energy metabolism.
- Move More, Sit Less: We move 25% less than 100 years ago and our sedentary lifestyles are drastically diminishing our cellular health. Breaking up prolonged sitting with short bouts of light activity improves mitochondrial function and glucose metabolism significantly and taking at least 7,000 steps a day provides a 50-65% lower chance of mortality.
- Embrace Temperature Variation: Interestingly, weather extremems and exposing our bodies to temperature variations can stimulate cellular adaptation and resilience. So, it’s good to get freezing cold or ridiculously hot. Regular cold exposure increases brown fat activity and improves glucose metabolism.
- Optimize Light Exposure: Maintain a natural light-dark cycle for optimal cellular function. Light plays a crucial role in regulating our cellular rhythms, and proper exposure can significantly impact our metabolic health so pay attention to the blue light warnings and don’t mess with your body’s natural circadian rhythm and melatonin production.
- Practice Mindful Eating: Embrace mindful eating practices, focusing on whole, unprocessed foods to enhance cellular nourishment and feed the gut microbiome well. This not only improves digestion and nutrient absorption but also supports overall metabolic health. Beware the ultra-processed everythings everywhere. Eat fresh, real, organic. Eat the rainbow. Eat from the earth. Trust Nature. Stop consuming poison.
- Cultivate Positive Relationships: Both Dr. Lipton and Dr. Means recognize the profound impact of social connections on our cellular health. Surrounding yourself with supportive, positive relationships can nourish your emotional well-being and, by extension, your cellular health.
- Engage in Mitochondrial-Boosting Activities: Promote mitochondrial health, by investing in endurance exercise, high-intensity interval training, and resistance training. These activities can improve mitochondrial efficiency, promote mitophagy (the recycling of old mitochondria), and stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis (the creation of new mitochondria).
As we navigate the complexities of modern life, flailing around seeking solutions for more energy, to feel better, get our zing back, and have ‘big impact without burning out’, remember that our cellular health is the very foundation of our vitality.
Dr. Means’ depressingly clear research shows that metabolic dysfunction is a leading cause of chronic disease, obesity, and reduced lifespan around the world. And conversely, that improving our mitochondrial and metabolic health can positively affect our health span and longevity.
So, if good metabolic function is key to preventing chronic disease and we can create and nurture this simply by making conscious choices to support our cell metabolism (healthy lifestyle and healthy thoughts), we’re gifting ourselves with the energy and resilience to thrive. As Dr. Means puts it, we
have the power to build a “fast” metabolism through choices that increase mitochondrial processing power in the body.
By embracing these principles and practices, we can unlock our optimal metabolic health and transform our lives from the cellular level up. I love this. Worth a try?
