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Hi Greg, I read on the cigarette thread that you are a cell expert. Hey I am an art teacher so I will try to ask this as best I can.
What diet is best for our bodies? How does live food or organic food improve the cells.?
I heard that oxygen and deep breathing is so good for the body and the cells, is that true?
By knowing and understanding so much about cell level, what is your diet like?
In other words, we do have control over the good effect of certain foods on our bodies, even to the cell level right?
See I am trying to ask the right question. I have an older brother who is an engineer and I have never known what to ask him either to try to understand his world.
Thanks
In Reply to: For Greg D. A cell question posted by lovebird on June 12, 2002 at 02:39:18:
I just read your expanation about all of this at the cigarette thread. So you already answered all of these questions.Thanks
In Reply to: For Greg D. A cell question posted by lovebird on June 12, 2002 at 02:39:18:
>Hi Greg, I read on the cigarette thread that you are a cell expert. Hey I am an art teacher so I will try to ask this as best I can.
Hi there,
>What diet is best for our bodies? How does live food or organic food improve the cells.?
Well look at it from a purely biological perspective.
Homo Sapiens is omnivorous, this I why we have 1 stomach and a set of teeth that can be used to consume both meat and vegetables, fruits, nuts etc (this is in fact the best argument against vegetarianism…from a physiological/biological point of view, we were never meant to be vegetarians…vegetarians often lack specific nutrients, only found in meat). This also means that our nutrient requirements are in conformance with our physiology. We simply need nutrients from these sources in order to stay healthy and alive. In the last century, processing of food stuffs and intensive agriculture has lead to products that are deficient in nutrients and minerals…this resulted in the immergence of diseases related to our life-style, which never have been seen before.
From a biological point of view, the best diet would be:
Meat, but rather chicken, rabbit or other game (lean meat)
Fish, preferably fatty fish, such as tuna, salmon, mackerel etc
Bread from whole grains and whole grains in general
Unprocessed rice
Cooked potatoes or potatoes first cooked in its skin and subsequently slightly fried in virgin olive oil (to avoid the formation of the cancer promoting acryl amid, which is formed during deep-frying.
Avoid deep-fried products
Avoid instand..anything
Steaming vegetables, to avoid tossing away the minerals with the water.
Fresh vegetables, no canned food
Lots of virgin olive oil (contains amongst others tyrosol, a good antioxidant)
Fresh salad every day, without mayonnaise, but with olive oil
Lost of fruit, berries and nuts
Limit sugar, limit caffeine, limited amount of salt and include iodine-containing salt
Green tea and the occasional coffee
Mineral water, fruit juices freshly made, no soda
Glass of Red wine, but no “heavy” alcoholic beverages, although I enjoy a single malt whiskey occasionally
No aspartame
And use healthy snacks … nuts, fruits, raw veggies etc
Basically one should go back to the “hunter-gatherer” diet our ancestors had and we still have their physiology, so we should eat that way.
>I heard that oxygen and deep breathing is so good for the body and the cells, is that true?
Yes…cells need oxygen in order to fuel a process called “oxidative phosphorylation”. This is the process in which ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the “energy molecule” is made from glucose in the mitochondria (the energy plant of the cell). Classically, in high school, students are thought that glucose is combusted with oxygen to produce energy, water and carbon dioxide…from a chemical point of view, this over all reaction is correct. From a biochemical point of view this is incorrect. Glucose is transformed into an energy rich molecule, ATP or A3P, and as a side product electrons are produced. In order to remove these electrons from the body, oxygen is required. In a complex of proteins located in the mitochondria, electrons are transferred to oxygen, forming water and simultaneously A3P. The water is a neutral substance and easily removed from the body (and with it these electrons). Enzymes need energy in order to work…so when an enzyme converts one molecule into another, it uses the energy that is liberated from the breakdown of A3P to A2P + P. As the A3P looses one phosphate molecule, the energy stored in that chemical bond is released and used by the enzyme. So yes, oxygen is vital for energy production.
However, oxygen has a dangerous property. Oxygen itself is a radical (in fact a double radical = biradical), but a non reactive one (why this is, is a complicated quantum chemical story called the Pauli exclusion principle, I’ll spare you the details…it basically comes down to the fact that even though oxygen is a radical, the radical electron is in such a state that it cannot react with biomolecules). However, under certain circumstances, oxygen is converted into derivatives called ROS (reactive oxygen species). These are free radicals and CAN damage biomolecules, such as DNA, proteins, enzymes and lipids. Whilst breathing normal air (21% oxygen 78% nitrogen and 1% rest, including carbon dioxide) is ok, breathing pure oxygen is regarded as unhealthy. It gives rise to the excessive formation of ROS and is only used in certain medical treatments, where it is necessary to obtain a higher oxygen pressure in cells.
>By knowing and understanding so much about cell level, what is your diet like?
As healthy as possible and it is mostly Mediterranean and Asian based, with no fried foods and a lot of fish, vegetables and fruit, no refined sugars, only drink green thee, mineral water and the occasional glass of red wine. Only fresh products and organically cultured, no canned or processed food. When I have a craving for a snack, I eat nuts, raw veggies or fruit. I do allow myself the occasional treat, either by eating with friends or in a restaurant or having an ice cream or even a big Mac. You see, you don’t need to be that stringent, if it occurs a couple of times a year, so what. The bottom line is that most of us consume these products on a daily basis.
But..to be honest… It took a major health issue for me to start eating in this way.
>In other words, we do have control over the good effect of certain foods on our >bodies, even to the cell level right?
YES.
This is why, I personally do not see the benefits of using vitamin pills under normal circumstances for several reasons:
1. Taking vitamin pills and NOT changing ones diet and life style won’t work. These pills are no “magic bullet”
2. We simply do not know what the right amount of each component should be, so what you see is an enormous variety in composition between manufacturers.
3. The bioavailability of these pills is often poor. This means that most of the components in these pills are not taken up by the intestine and end up in the toilet anyway (expensive dump). Our own research has shown that we need other components (present in our food but not the pills) in order to facilitate uptake of antioxidants and minerals. As of yet, we have not identified these components fully, nor do we understand the action of antioxidants within cells completely. I therefore prefer to snack on veggies and fruits for my daily antioxidant intake.
4. Antioxidants in high concentrations are also pro-oxidants. This means that, beyond a certain concentration, they start promoting the formation of ROS, instead of neutralizing them.
Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not pro-CODEX and others on this board will argue against all this. The bottom line is that those of use in the oxidative stress/antioxidant/ageing field are now beginning to see the potential harmful effects of these vitamin pills. For instance, we recently discovered that quercetin (an antioxidant found in tomatoes) in high concentrations inhibits protein-kinases (enzymes that selectively activate other enzymes). So eating tomatoes is just fine, but taking quercetin pills is not...you don’t want to interfere with normal cellular metabolism. The only antioxidants I feel safe taking in pills are vitamin C and E. These have been researched thoroughly over the past 30 years.
>See I am trying to ask the right question. I have an older brother who is an engineer and I have never known what to ask him either to try to understand his world.
I understand ... I can explain something in one sentence to a fellow researcher…but it is equally difficult for me to explain “stuff” in a simple and comprehensible way to my relatives or other laymen. If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
>Thanks
U R Welcome
GregD
(Biochemist/Cell biologist)
In Reply to: Re: For Greg D. A cell question posted by lovebird on June 12, 2002 at 08:17:16:
.........
In Reply to: Long reply posted by GregD on June 12, 2002 at 10:52:35:
That is just an awesome letter.
On my very first physical being checked for everything under the sun. Everything was perfect. Then the doctor said I had the beginnings of RA.
My reply was "I can change my body by eating right."
And I got very interested in knowing how to do this and in time. Both doctors see with their eyes and facts that I have made a huge difference and it is now fun.
Another question? So are supplements a waste?
Cod liver oil works so good for me. It seems there are so many supplements and I take a lot and at times every body seems to have "the answer" .
Thank you very much for your time and concern. It is wonderful that we are all so gifted and talented in a wide variety of ways.
Keep writing here so we can all learn.
In Reply to: Long reply posted by GregD on June 12, 2002 at 10:52:35:
What about animals that have stomachs and teeth that are vegatarians only. :o)
In Reply to: to Greg D - Long reply posted by question on June 12, 2002 at 14:59:45:
Yes...there are vegetarian animals that have 1 stomach, but their teeth match their vegetarian diet....ours don't.
What specific animal were YOU thinking about???
I was talking about the structure of human teeth....a very short canine at each corner, incisors at the front and relatively flat molar at the back with a slight cutting profile = omnivorous.
Carnivorous = long canines at each corner, long incisors at the front and molars that have a cutting structure at the back, for slicing the flesh to smaller peaces.
Herbivorous, no canines at the corners, long slicing incisors or plates at the front and flat molars at the back, with a rippled structure for grinding the plants to peaces. In the case of ruminants, the plat material is initially swallowed; stored in one stomach and subsequently regurgitated for further grinding and processed in other stomachs. Other herbivores have large stones in their stomachs that grind the plan material to peaces, without the need to ruminate.
Furthermore, truly vegetarian animals have a jaw that allows a considerable sideway motion, rather than an up and down motion, common in carnivores. Omnivores have a jaw mobility that allows both movements.
And these principles apply both to Homo sapiens, mammals as well as dinosaurs.
In Reply to: Re: Long reply posted by lovebird on June 12, 2002 at 12:08:39:
You sure have stirred my curiosity:
Okay let's just say we are standing in Rite Aid in front of the pharmacy and we see rows or meds and then on another wall: rows of supplements. Lots of variety and all kinds of expensive products...well first how can a chemical pharmacy product alter or improve ever what our bodies need?
Then there are just truck loads of supplements that are supposed to improve our bodied too.
I have severe RA and am attempting to control arthritis. I just read a book that suggests MSM,
proteolytic enzymes, bromelain,gamma orzyamol,
curcumin,glucosamine sulfate, l-glutamine, arthred, chrondrotin sulfate, ginger, DHEA.Plus excercise etc.
Others believe that all of these supplements are in food and so we dont need them at all.
Another point is that we are all so different so how can one thing work well for all people?
My diet is almost exactly like yours.
We just wonder what things we can do without.
When you mentioned nuts and seeds..we are eating this fabulous granola and then this trail mix for snacks.
I guess the real reason behind wanting to know and learn so much is that I have witnessed people have serious surgeries etc and I believe this can be prevented.
Other than RA I am in perfect shape and the most fun of all is that the doctors see it and comment on it.
My favorite is juicing apples, carrots.
I also take Barley Green and that make me feel so good too and both of those things are said to effect cell-level.
Years ago my first pediatrician taught me about the dangers of processed foods because she saw so many autopsies and then I met The White House pediatrician, and she created a diet to help those people throughout the world whose bodies were in real bad shape. She was a neat lady. So I have children and siblings that have never been sick. Even my Mom is 83 and never been sick.
So now I need to control this challenge with RA and learn more.
It is interesting though how wide of a variety of solutions are on the market.
So Greg that is as good as I can word it all..ha
But the body really signals what it needs too right?
Thanks
In Reply to: Re: Long reply posted by lovebird on June 12, 2002 at 12:08:39:
Cod liver oils contains omega polyunsaturated fatty acids and they are good for you health, a good supplement (provided that it contains vitamin E to prevent it from oxidizing, check the bottle).
What I consider a waste are these multivitamin pills... our own research shows that some of these components in these pills are NOT absorbed by the intestine, because the manufacturer does not provide a good 'vehicle' to allow maximal bioavailability. Furthermore, often the concentration is too high and people still tend to think that antioxidants can do NO harm at all...they can, given that the concentration is high enough they become toxic, people just don't realize this because they make the connection with fruits and vegetables and these are considered healthy, so these antioxidants must also be healthy. I know that many people disagree and claim that "its their right" to use high concentrations of antioxidants .. well it's their prerogative, but I wouldn't use it, unless for medical reasons.
I personally use fish oil as well, I also have a selenium deficiency, so I use a selenium supplement, but I had to look long and hard before I found a manufacturer, which produced the right for of chelated selenium. So I am not against supplements, just against multivitamin pills and antioxidant supplements.
I don't claim to have the answer (yet)... just have literally and physically done the research in the lab for 7 years now (and will continue doing research on the subject)..and I guess few people on this board can claim this.
Be well
GregD
In Reply to: Re: Long reply posted by lovebird-more ???s on June 12, 2002 at 16:57:04:
>You sure have stirred my curiosity:
Okay let's just say we are standing in Rite Aid in front of the pharmacy and we see rows or meds and then on another wall: rows of supplements. Lots of variety and all kinds of expensive products...well first how can a chemical pharmacy product alter or improve ever what our bodies need?
Medications have their place in combating disease, however, they seldom lead to a true cure, just a reduction of symptoms. But again, we cannot do without them. A real fact is that we have been successfully combating disease in the last century. Sad truth is that we also have created new diseases, just by manipulating the world and our way of living.
>Then there are just truck loads of supplements that are supposed to improve our bodied too.
Supposed is the right word…just take a look at the magnesium supplement discussion…the best form is magnesium-glycinate, yet still most manufacturers us magnesium compounds that are not absorbed. So using it is just a waste of money.
>I have severe RA and am attempting to control arthritis. I just read a book that suggests MSM, proteolytic enzymes, bromelain,gamma orzyamol,
curcumin,glucosamine sulfate, l-glutamine, arthred, chrondrotin sulfate, ginger, DHEA.Plus excercise etc.
Ok, we have had an interest in MSM and researched this component. It seems that this is a really good antioxidant, with a good bioavailability and is also a goods source of sulfur. DHEA is supposed to be the natural hormone of youth (humans produce DHEA, in particular in response to exercise, it helps building and renewing cells=anabolism), but has a rather nasty side-effect when taken as a supplement…it causes liver damage through the promotion of free radical formation in the liver. Therefore, it is necessary to simultaneously take a high dose of an antioxidant mix when taking it orally (mostly tocopherol/tocotrienols and vit C). The others are mostly nutrients we can obtain from food, in the right vehicle so that they are absorbed and in the right combination and concentration (and this goes for “healthy persons”). Since you are combating RA and arthritis, a combination of these components could be beneficial, as long as you take the right precautions (such as with DHEA; the life extension foundation has a good protocol for DHEA replacement therapy, see http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-041.shtml)
>Others believe that all of these supplements are in food and so we don’t need them at all.
YEP … Mother Nature has developed these extremely complex and interlinked biological systems, with the aim to provide all the nutrients required. Our problem in the western world is that, through human intervention, agricultural and food producs have become deficient in nutrients. Therefore it is imperative to use biologically cultured products.
>Another point is that we are all so different so how can one thing work well for all people?
It cannot. There is a genetic component to this all…there is no such thing as a pill for all…you need to take into consideration a person's genetic predisposition, lifestyle, geographic location etc etc. We are working towards this, i.e. tailor made supplements and drugs. But we are still a long way off…will take a few decades.
>When you mentioned nuts and seeds..we are eating this fabulous granola and then this trail mix for snacks.
Yes, they are great…I used to have chocolate craving, but I substituted this with nuts and seeds…I really like almonds and walnuts.
>I guess the real reason behind wanting to know and learn so much is that I have witnessed people have serious surgeries etc and I believe this can be prevented.
Sure…after my own medical problem (I haven’t recovered fully yet, but am getting there without any drugs)…I am convinced of this and have changed my lifestyle and eating habits …I won’t work late anymore (normally I would be in the lab until 21:00 or 22:00 hrs, after starting at 9 AM), take my time to meditate and exercise, stopped smoking (can you believe it, a free radical researcher who smokes??), take regular vacations etc
>Other than RA I am in perfect shape and the most fun of all is that the doctors see it and comment on it.
Great … good for you :-).
>My favorite is juicing apples, carrots.
I enjoy it as well … I also like my freshly made orange juice in the morning.
>So now I need to control this challenge with RA and learn more.
Yes…do your research carefully.
>It is interesting though how wide of a variety of solutions are on the market.
And not all of them are good…ideally, your MD should be able to guide you. Unfortunately, MDs nowadays seldom have time for their patients, are set in their ways or simply cannot provide alternatives….unfortunately.
>So Greg that is as good as I can word it all..ha
>But the body really signals what it needs too right?
Certainly … it’s just the trick to listen to the signals and respond. I used to think that I was indestructible and simple ignored them and carried on … no longer.
Be well,
GregD
In Reply to: Re: Long reply posted by GregD on June 12, 2002 at 17:43:33:
Thank you so much for answering me and helping me understand.
And I hope you gain more control too for yourself and life.
It is all pretty simple really and sweet (life) and by helping others God will help you too.We live around a lot of farms and what we sow we reap--so
good health to you too and thanks.
In Reply to: Re: Long reply posted by lovebird-thanks Greg on June 12, 2002 at 19:36:54:
Hi Greg
We dont drink or smoke.
You mentioned that red wine contains some thing good.
Can we get it another way.
Through grape juice perhaps?
Dont you stop reading and writing here now..thanks
In Reply to: Re: Long reply posted by lovebird-one more?? on June 12, 2002 at 23:18:44:
Red wine contains reservatrol,
You cannot get it through grape juice, because it is a component found in the peel. I do know that red wine tablets, in which dried peel is used, are available in Europe through the pharmacy. I don't know if this is the case in the US.
Ok ... I just did a web search and found these sites:
Web companies that sell reservatrol:
http://store.yahoo.com/vitanet/res200mg120c.html
http://www.natural-living.com/natrol.html
http://www.valuenutritioncenter.com/valuenutritionstore/res200mg120c.html
http://www.healthcare21.com/PPF/pf_id/TWN071/dept_id/50/parent_id/46/Product.asp
Info about reservatrol and arthritis:
http://www.wineskinny.com/arthritis.htm
http://www.netwizards.net/~wap/keystone/reservatrol%20ab9646.htm
Hope this helps,
GregD
In Reply to: Re: Long reply posted by GregD on June 13, 2002 at 07:25:38:
Thanks again Greg,
I just looked up wineskinny and was reading there.
So interesting.
Thanks so much.
lovebird
In Reply to: For Greg D. A cell question posted by lovebird on June 12, 2002 at 02:39:18:
Hi, Lovebird.
Remember, we are not just what we eat (although that is where it starts) but we are what we absorb of what we eat.
Hope this helps.
Walt
In Reply to: For Greg D. A cell question posted by lovebird on June 12, 2002 at 02:39:18:
NMI
In Reply to: Re: For Greg D. A cell question posted by Walt Stoll on June 13, 2002 at 08:36:49:
That's a good insight
Thanks
You guys who hang out here are BRAINS--Ha
Wow this is cool learning
I am back in school
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