Maybe you feel like you are allergic or reactive to everything and can’t understand why? There can be lots of different reasons for this but before we go removing this and that and trying to identify multiple triggers I like to ask the question “are your cell membranes working right?”
Our cell membranes act as the border control for our body. They control what gets in and what gets out. They act as both the gatekeeper and the hostess.
I recently wrote a blog called ‘Do your cells need an oil change?”. It explains why this is so important for the body to function well and how you can check your status. Go here to read this https://helenmaxwellnutrition.co.uk/testing-for-omega-3-ratio-in-cell-membranes/.
What happens though if your cell membranes are not in great condition? How would you know if this was a problem for you?
I like to think about it this way. Consider each of your cells as a tiny tent and imagine the tent fabric is your cell membrane. If it’s too floppy it will start to cave in and stick to you, or even itself, and the canvas will then start to leak. It’s similar with cell membranes. If they are too flexible and soft they won’t have the necessary structure to keep out undesirable molecules and toxins.
A properly pitched tent will have the necessary structure to filter out what isn’t required (rain). If the material is too rigid though, or poor quality or not breathable it will prevent air circulation. This might mean the inhabitants overheat or don’t breathe properly. Similarly if the tent shape creates too much wind resistance, the poles might break and the tent (membrane) could collapse. Inside your cells this could mean vital nutrients aren’t absorbed or they don’t receive sufficient energy or oxygen to function well.
A change in your cell membrane composition can have a multitude of downstream effects. If your cells aren’t properly nourished this can cause irritability and sensitivity in your body. You might become intolerant to chemicals and foods that were previously fine. Your pain threshold might become much lower. Your eyes might become much more sensitive to light, your tolerance to temperature fluctuations might diminish or touch sensitivity can become problematic. This issue can also be a factor in cardiac dysrhythmias and, if the cells in the brain are affected, brain energy supply will suffer and we get so called ‘brain fog’.
If we want our cells to perform their roles then we must nourish our cell membranes. This means we need to digest our food properly, so we need good levels of stomach acid. We need to absorb our food well which requires good enzyme function and a healthy intestinal barrier. We also need to eat enough fat in our diet of the right type. Fat digestion involves many steps and processes and requires good pancreatic and bile function. This means there are multiple links in the chain which can be vulnerable to malfunction. The good news is all of this can be helped with protocols to improve digestive function, bile function and addressing any deficiencies in diet or micronutrients.
