Is it possible to support your health right down to the individual cell? Short answer, yes. Cellular health is everything. If your cells aren’t healthy, you aren’t healthy. Read on to find out why cellular health is so important and what you can do about it.
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Let’s take it back to Biology 101 and briefly talk about cells. Cells are the building blocks of life. We have trillions of cells in our body. Our vital genetic coding, or DNA, is kept in the cell’s nucleus.
Our cells have very basic needs to function properly. They need:
- Energy
- Protection
- Resilience
First, let’s talk about energy. Cells require essential nutrients to function properly. If we are not feeding our cells the nutrients they need, they can’t do their job.
Second, cells need to be able to protect themselves. They need to have a strong immune type response to withstand harmful microbes that we come into contact with on a daily basis.
Third, cells have to be resilient. They have to be tough enough to withstand the environmental threats all around us, from toxic chemicals often present in our food supply, air, and household products to radiation all around us.
All disease is fundamentally linked to cellular needs, or the lack of those needs being met. Our cells are constantly bombarded by our environment and starved for what they really need. This can result in our cells, and our DNA, being damaged.
Cells are typically damaged in three ways.
- Poor nutrition
- Inflammation
- Toxicity
We’ve already talked about poor nutrition, but I believe it is the number one factor that we have control over. What we put in our bodies and therefore fuel our cells is essential to our overall health.
Second, inflammation. Inflammation is our body’s natural immune response. And it is good in some regards, like when you scrape your knee or sprain your ankle. But, it is bad when your body is in a state of chronic inflammation. Inflammation is often called the root of all disease. When our bodies are in a constant state of inflammation, they can’t function properly. What causes inflammation? The biggest culprits are poor diet, stress, lack of sleep, and free radicals.
Last, toxicity. Toxins are found in many things including processed foods and even trace pesticides found in our modern diet. Household products from laundry detergent to counter spray, from air fresheners to beauty products can all contain hidden, dangerous chemical toxins that disrupt and damage our body’s cells.
Toxins can cause free radicals in the body. Free radicals can damage cells and DNA. If there are too many free radicals in the body, it is in a state of oxidative stress. A reduction of free radicals is crucial in the fight against chronic inflammation and disease.
So, all of this can lead to damaged cells and DNA. The body has a natural ability to respond when a cell and its DNA are damaged. It’s called the DNA-damage response. Once a cell is damaged, it can be catastrophic to the cells around it, especially organ cells. There are two options for a damaged cell – repair itself or self-destruct.
When a cell is in trouble, it will signal its neighbors for help. The cell is repaired if possible. If it’s not possible to repair, the cell will send a message to be destroyed. This cell death, or apoptosis, protects surrounding cells from being damaged. Unfortunately, some rogue cells ignore these signals and, under certain circumstances, eventually can spread around the whole body. Fighting this threat is possible, but prevention is the best route to take today.
What can you do to protect your cells in the first place? How can you repair and clean up what’s already been damaged?
Enter essential oils.
There are many clinical studies that highlight the benefits of essential oils, even in protecting existing DNA and supporting the body in reversing DNA damage. Let’s quickly talk about essential oils and how they relate to cell biology.
Essential Oils & Cell Biology
- Essential oils are biologically active.
- Essential oils are active at the surface of cells and demonstrate specific cell targets.
- Essential oils are cell selective.
Research has shown a handful of oils to be particularly beneficial in supporting our DNA and the DNA-damage response in a cell. These oils make up an incredible blend called DDR Prime Essential Oil Cellular Complex.
DDR Prime is a proprietary blend of essential oils that help protect the body against oxidative stress to cellular DNA. The blend includes Clove, Thyme, and Wild Orange essential oils that provide powerful antioxidant protection and help protect against oxidative stress. It also includes Frankincense, Lemongrass, Summer Savory, and Niaouli essential oils.
Each of these essential oils is key in supporting our DNA and cellular health.
Health is the ability to be resilient and withstand the dangerous threats in our environment. There are some we can control and some we can’t. Regardless, what we do on a daily basis truly matters. I strongly recommend incorporating a daily essential oil routine into your personal wellness plan.
If you are interested in learning more about DDR Prime or would like a personalized wellness plan, please email me at laura@buildmindbody.com.
