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Your Amazing Body Series 4 – Stem Cells

October 16th, 2010

stemcell Healing, regenerate, replace, renew is the work of the Stem Cell. They are perhaps the most amazing cell in the body for what they can do. At a very early age of development they can morph into just about any other kind of cell in the body thus bringing back to life, or healing the organ in need.

There are “embryonic” stem cells and “Somatic” (adult) stem cells that have the incredible ability to differentiate themselves.

Stem cells are unique in two significant ways from other cells in the human body. First, they are overspecialized cells and have the ability to renew themselves through cell division if inactive for long periods of time. Second, stem cells can change into most other cells of the body specific to a particular tissue or organ with specific functions. Imagine that!

Knowing this, the statement that “your body can heal itself” is not mumbo jumbo but a fact. The fact that Stem Cells can repair worn out or damaged cells in various organs is inspirational. I would think motivational too in an enlightening way – to take better care of ourselves because when doing so we enable the communities within our bodies to work batter and more harmoniously, which = better, optimal health.

But I always ask the question, where does all the energy come from? All the activities of our cells use up energy to travel, to cell divide, to morph, to carry nutrients or rid them, to make up who we are … it’s fascinating. Dr. Bruce Lipton has a theory about energy and cellular communication that will really get you scratching your head.

Watch this video which explains how Stem Cells work and why they are so, so very special and important in healing and saving the lives of others …

If you liked this post or have thoughts about it, leave a comment. Would love to read it. Thank you in advance for your visit.

ltfsigsmile

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Posted in Green RN News, Your Amazing Body Series

Tags: stem cell

Your Amazing Body Series 3 – Neurons

October 9th, 2010

nerve cell Ah, the neuron is one of my absolute favorite cells of the body, aside from the stem cell which I’ll be writing about soon.

The neuron is mysterious, magical, powerful, and its function and strength in ability grows when it is in communication, or in a community of other neurons. By itself it loses it’s ability to function but is inspired to “create”, generate those mental activities we call “thoughts”, “ideas”, “feelings”, and “brainstorming”.

Neurons are fascinating. They are the cells that help us to understand our physical world through sensation, touch, the other senses, stimuli that is transmitted to the brain to decode and translate into understanding. Absolutely amazing.

As you watch the below video, you may wonder as I did – where does all that energy come from? And how would our bodies act without these important cells?

Here are a few VERY interesting facts about neurons – complements of Serendip . Did you know:

Average number of neurons in the human brain= 100 billion

Average number of neurons in an octopus brain= 300 billion

Rate of neuron growth during development of a fetus (in the womb)= 250,000 neurons/minute

Diameter of a neuron= 4 to 100 microns

Longest axon of a neuron= around 15 feet (Giraffe primary afferent axon from toe to neck)

Velocity of a signal transmitted through a neuron= 1.2 to 250 miles/hour

These numbers can change.

Here is a really interesting article on neurons from the Society for Neuroscience if you want to explore more …

Enjoy this amazing video on the Neuron – we are wired to network …

If you liked this post, let me know what you think by leaving a comment below. Thanks you in advance!

ltfsigsmile

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Posted in Green RN News, Your Amazing Body Series

Tags: neurons

Your Amazing Body Series 2 – What is Blood

October 3rd, 2010

bloodcells What is that amazing red substance that travels through our body ? What does it do and why is it so vital to life?

Each red blood cell is responsible for transporting oxygen throughout our body – from head to toe – nourishing tissues and organs. They also carry away waste products from the tissues such as carbon dioxide. In my last posts I wrote about “respiration” the act of gas exchange (O2 and CO2) taking place in the Alveloi located in the lungs.

Red blood cells are made in our bones and have a life span of only four months! Imagine that – it’s amazing to me to know that every four months a red blood cell dies while the human body regularly generates more!

Inside the red blood cell is a protein called “hemoglobin” this protein attracts oxygen into the red blood cell and carries it to tissues. It is bright red. After the oxygen is “dropped” off to other cells in the body, it collects carbon dioxide saturating the red blood cell causing it now to look purple in color. It then travels back to the lungs where CO2 is “disposed” of – through exhalation.

My thoughts are pure wonder about the red blood cell as it is the only means that our bodies thrive. For example if the brain is denied oxygen for longer than 3 minutes or so, brain damage can occur. Anyone who takes CPR knows this and actually it’s a good class to take to know for yourself if you ever have to help someone else.

The reason why I am writing about the amazing human body is to inspire and stimulate an interest in you for good health and illness prevention. So many illnesses are preventable. These posts are also for myself to remind me of my own potential health frailty and my inner smarts – physically and mentally – to avoid illness. In other words, take better care of myself.

Watch this video and see ….