Metabolic disorders

When it comes to understanding metabolic disorders, first you must understand the definition of metabolism itself. The simplest, yet entirely accurate definition for metabolism is "all chemical reactions that occur within the cells which enable cells to maintain their proper form and function." It is also important to recognize that each cell in the body acts independently to do its own specific job and that as long as the genetic coding that provides operational instructions to the cells is not damaged or mutated, the cell knows exactly what to do to maintain its proper form and function.

This fact has been demonstrated most effectively in human tissue studies. Human tissues have been harvested from terminally ill people, who died over 50 years ago. Prior to their passing harvested tissues were taken from their bodies and placed into solutions within laboratories where the tissues have since had continual access to the raw materials required by metabolism. Amazingly, the tissue cultures continue to survive and thrive within these solutions after five decades. It appears they can survive indefinitely.

This science demonstrates a potential that exists for the cells within the human body. When the cell is functioning correctly and when it has access to the basic materials needed to carry on the many and complex chemical reactions that make up metabolism, then it can survive and thrive indefinitely. By comparison, when we unwittingly or knowingly eat in a manner that causes undue burdens to the cells, we disrupt metabolism and the cell's ability to maintain its proper form and function. When our diet becomes unduly corrupt, we even force metabolic adaptation that can lead to genetic mutations of varying consequences to both ourselves and to our future and present offspring.

There are over thirty trillion cells in the body and each is independent in its ability to function, but is dependent upon us nourishing ourselves in a manner that does not disrupt the flow of required nutrients for metabolism and that does not cause the mutation of genes. Within the nucleus of each cell is a pattern or complete instructions for operation. The perfect pattern of metabolic operation was first designed and created by God, who is an omniscient chemist who makes know mistakes. He is not the author of genetic mutations that lead to metabolic disorders. Nor are such disorders random and without cause. We've brought Genetic mutations as well as metabolic disorders upon ourselves.

With this backdrop, let's discuss metabolic disorders, what causes them, and what may arrest and reverse them. The successful pattern or instructions for the metabolic operations of the cell is contained within the DNA found in the nucleus of each cell. The successful operation of the cell depends upon the preservation of sound genetics from one generation to the next. As the embryo develops into a fetus and then into a fully formed baby in the womb, cells initially are all the same. Each cell contains the entire blueprint for a perfect human body.

During the formation of a baby in the womb, cellular division begins with a fertilized embryo that begins to divide and multiply into many cells to form the fetus. During this division, cells begin to differentiate from identical stem cells into cells that have specific purposes and that become a part of one of the twelve different systems of the body. For example some cells become a part of the brain and nervous system; others become a part of muscle tissue or bone tissue or reproductive tissue and so forth. Still, within each cell is the genetic blueprint for a perfect human body and are the instructions for metabolic operation for each and every one of the thirty trillion cells. In other words, each cell knows exactly what its function is within the body and knows exactly what to do with the nutrients you provide it in order that the cell can maintain its proper form and function during your lifetime.

Materials used in metabolism include fats, proteins, sugars and a host of other nutrients. Under normal conditions, the cells use these nutrients to perform their many complex metabolic reactions. However, metabolic disorders occur as genetic mutations occur which change or alter the original instructions of operation for the cell. Such mutations can and do lead to the inability of the cell to properly utilize required nutrients, even when the right nutrients are present within the cell.

For example, when a genetic mutation leads to a missing or dysfunctional enzyme that is required in specific chemical reactions, this causes an inability of the cell to carry out required chemical reactions.

There are several recognized genetic disorders that cause metabolic disorders. For example Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is caused by a genetic mutation that disallows the production of an enzyme that is responsible for breaking down saturated very long-chained fatty acids (VLCFA) within the cell. When this genetic mutation is present in brain cells and cells in the adrenal cortex, it leads to the build up of high levels of VLCFA in the brain and adrenal cortex. This condition leads to the steady breakdown of the myelin sheath, which is a fatty membrane that protects the brain and spinal cord. From the time a person first exhibits the symptoms of this disorder, they usually die within 10 years.

There are many known genetic mutations that lead to a variety of metabolic disorders. Depending upon the metabolic disorder that is caused by mutated genes symptoms may be treated in ways to slowdown and deter some metabolic disorders, but not always. And such treatments amount to no more than band aides. They slow disease down but do not address the underlying cause of the genetic mutation, nor do they reverse the mutation.

Some cellular biologists have discovered evidence that demonstrates that genetic disorders are not random accidents that are merely the result of unfortunate accidents of nature. Rather, certain causes acted upon the genes that led to mutated effects. Since 1909 the intake of whole plant-based foods has declined from nearly 70 percent of American's caloric intake to less than seven percent. The intake of animal-based foods has risen from less than 20 percent to 42 percent. Processed and refined food intake has risen from less than 10 percent caloric intake to 51 percent.

These changes have occurred slowly and have forced the body to adapt in unnatural ways to a diet that cannot meet metabolic nutritional needs in a healthful manner. The perfect genetic coding that originally existed in man deteriorates with each successive generation that eats poorly, resulting in the many metabolic disorders that are known today. Cellular biologist have written that the cell is actually capable of improving its genes within a person's lifetime and that this science is the most promising and exciting science that exists today.

In populations where metabolic disorders are rare, the common diet includes 75 to 90 percent caloric intake from seasonal whole fruits and vegetables, and starchy foods such as grains, legumes, and a variety of starchy vegetables. These populations use little to no processed and refined foods and limit their animal-based food caloric intake to less than 10 percent.

As any population becomes increasingly exposed to the Western diet, metabolic disorders significantly increase. -For example, the once legendary strength of the Inuits who lived off of primarily whale blubber, whale meat, caribou, and other wild game is no more. Since the ready access from airports in Seattle, that now fly-in popular processed and refined foods to these populations, diseases rates have skyrocketed and legendary strength has dwindled.