The Metabolic Push of Food

and the cellular response

Macronutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) are the driving "force" of our biochemistry and the backbone of the cell’s requirements for energy, structure and function. Unfortunately, there are high and low quality sources of macronutrients. As a general rule, quality is determined by the micronutrient to macronutrient ratio. Micronutrients being vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other co-factors. The foods with the highest micronutrient to macronutrient ratio are obviously the healthiest. If the body is faced with an excess of low quality macronutrients, the cells have two primary options, (which many times are happening simultaneously): 1.) producing an excess of long-chain saturated fats and cholesterol in an attempt to “store" the excesses; 2.) relying on, and ultimately over-loading other biochemical or metabolic pathways in an attempt to maintain homeostasis. This creates a relationship or cyclic response between the macronutrient push and the cell’s compensated response. Note: the compensation is a normal biochemical pathway that is prioritized at the detriment of cellular flexibility. The cell is having to choose its best option to maintain energy, structure or function to the best of its abilities. If allowed to continue, this cyclic response will create an environment in which the body cannot maintain homeostasis, ultimately resulting in disease if it goes unchecked. It is the same as pushing ourselves mentally, emotionally or physically can result in stress, tension or injury, so too can pushing our metabolism or physiology. Thus, diseases and conditions (the prelude to disease) can be categorized according to the macronutrient(s) that is pushing or stressing the system and more specifically, the substrates that are pushing the compensation. Additionally there is undue stress placed on detoxification pathways as well as the requirement for increased micronutrient support. Following is just one example of numerous compromised metabolic relationships. This example is pertaining to the carbohydrate:fat relationship and some of the issues that may develope.

Carbohydrate's Push on Liver and Gallbladder Function

The liver is the primary organ for lipid metabolism, anti-inflammatory responses, detoxification of fat-soluble substances, and more. But every organ and every metabolic process has an Achilles’ heel. For lipid metabolism, it is related to possibly the most important chemical we have, ATP...cellular energy. Carbohydrates are our preferred source for ATP.

Carbohydrates (both simple and complex) are digested and enter the cell as glucose. Glucose is further metabolized to pyruvate, which is converted to acetyl-CoA in the mitochondria. Acetyl-CoA is oxidized to produce ATP (cellular energy). With excess carbohydrates, the cells must divert acetyl-CoA from energy production to storage by way of cholesterol and long-chain saturated fatty-acid synthesis to avoid toxicity from the accumulation of pyruvate. If this continues, the cellular environment becomes primed for one or more of the following metabolic dysfunctions:

Prolonged Inflammatory Responses: the colon being most susceptible to inflammation due to the gallbladder dysfunction directly affecting the colon downstream (due to inadequate gallbladder support as this is the first step in the digestion of fats and pH alkalinity). Inflammation can occur with any tissue. With the colon, it results in an inflamed and comprised epithelial barrier, which makes it more susceptible to dysbiosis and autoimmune reactions. The inflammation can involve the entire digestive tract, but the dysbiosis exacerbates the colon tissue.

Increased Cholesterol Synthesis: this results in increased bile concentration that leads to gallbladder congestion and compromised fat digestion, and decreased alkalinity with digestion downstream (colon); mal-absorption in the small and large intestine (fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K deficiency); cellular membrane permeability and signaling dysfunction; hampers Vitamin D synthesis, which is extremely important for the developing brain: and, can initiate a premature preference toward steroid hormone production (early onset of puberty).

Hyperglycemia, compromised fatty-acid metabolism, and Vitamin D and K deficiency can lead to insulin resistance: type 2 (systemic blood sugar) and type 3 diabetes (CNS growth hormone deficiency).

By addressing the specific relationships between metabolic processes, diseases and their symptoms are no longer considered a singular entity, but as an expression of a relationship that is out of balance. The symptoms are a product of the metabolic relationship, while the "disease" relates to the tissues or cell types that are displaying the symptoms.

Cascading issues: all inflammatory disease (conditions ending in “itis" – colitis, gastritis, dermatitis, arthritis, fasciitis, etc.), arteriosclerosis, abdominal distention, dry skin, candidiasis, citrus intolerance, right neck or shoulder pain

To truly correct the problem, you must change the environment of the cell instead of supporting the cell’s response to a stressful environment. This allows the cell to release its metabolic push or cycle as it "re-establishes" its biochemical flexibility.