Nutrition, Cell Communicators and Longevity

"Nutrients have two key functions. They feed the body, and they also engage energies that flow through cells and keep those cells in a state of aliveness and optimism. Body cells want that positive outlook, that forward-looking anticipation. Without it, they go into a slow decline." Quote ~ Dr. Laura Thompson

But what happens when your cells can't absorb nutrients effectively?

About Malabsorption & Aging: Some of the physiological changes that occur with aging affect the way the body absorbs and uses nutrients. In many older adults, the production of certain digestive enzymes and acids diminishes, interfering with protein breakdown and with the absorption of vitamin B12, folate, and possibly calcium and iron. Lack of vitamin B12 can have a devastating effect on the nervous system, leading to an unsteady gait, muscle weakness, slurred speech and psychosis — signs and symptoms similar to those of such age-related diseases as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Other illnesses — cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, inflammatory bowel disease and even diarrhea — can interfere with absorption. (Source: MayoClinic)

Perhaps this is one of the biggest reasons why some experts are so excited about the discovery of four completely unique polysaccharides found and produced naturally in a certain family of goji berry from Himalayan decent -- the botanical family known as Solanaceae, of the genus Lycium Barbarum.

The active polysaccharides to which I refer were named after the berry -- Lycium Barbarum Polysacharides 1, 2, 3 and 4. (LBP1, LBP2, LBP3 and LBP4)

You may have heard the term "cell communicators" used when describing these unique molecules found ONLY in the goji berry. (That's right. You won't find them in any other food on the planet!)

To understand what is meant by the term, you need to learn more about bioactive polysaccharides, also called proteoglycans -- complex carbohydrates that are bound to proteins.

"They [proteoglycans] are produced by some plants as an extremely effective defense mechanism against attack by viruses, bacteria, fungi, soil-borne parasites, cell mutations, toxic pollutants and environmental f-ree redacals. Fortunately for humans, many of these protective effects are conferred upon us when we eat plants that are rich in polysaccharides." (Source: Himalayan Health Secret)

LBP polysaccharides have proven to be glycoconjugates, meaning that they are exceptional sources of the essential cell sugars -- rhamnose, xylose, glucose, mannose, arabinose and glactose -- which are necessary for proper immune function and intercellular communication. (In fact, goji may be the richest source of glyconutrients yet found by scientists!)

So, how does intercellular communication work?

Let's take a look at electricity, which is basically a continuing handoff of electrons from one atom to a neighboring one that doesn't have enough. In essence, electric current moving through a copper wire is very much like a bucket brigade, or, better still, a game of hot potato. Each copper atom receives an electron from its neighbor, and just can't wait to dump it off onto the next atom down the line -- until someone turns off the switch and the circuit goes dead.

Nobel laureate Dr. Albert Szent-Gyorgyi asserts that energy exchange, life's most important form of cellular communication, can only occur when there is a natural flow of electrons, a biological form of electricity, coursing throughout the body. All of the body's functions are directed, controlled and regulated by this flow of electricity.

"Health exists when there is smooth flow of electrons, illness encroaches when the flow is significantly restricted, and death occurs when the energy transfer from this electron flow stops."

Now, picture glycoconjugates as cell enablers that attach to your cells allowing them to receive/absorb the nutrients your system is constantly using up in the "biological electricity flow" -- and you just begin to see how important cellular communication is for health and longevity.