Nutrition & Our Metabolic Pathways Part 1

Inflammation, Detoxification, Methylation and Oxidative Stress, what they are and why we need them.

Foods contain nutrients and chemicals that aid our cells' every function. Cells group together to make up tissues, tissues create organs and organs connect to become systems. Therefore, beneficial nutrients, from healthy whole foods, have the ability to help/maintain/boost/repair entire systems in our body.

“In this day and age however, it is all too easy for our body to get overwhelmed by toxic chemicals and DNA damaging substances. It therefore needs all the help it can get by consuming antioxidant-rich foods that contain the vital phytochemicals, phytonutrients and vitamins needed to offset this assault.”

Inflammation is a necessary process our body utilises to promote healing in acute traumas like injuries, allergies, insect bites and infections. The area becomes red, swollen and hot. This sends vital immune responses and cells to the area by increasing blood flow. But inflammation can also be more chronic, low grade and underlying. Chronic low-grade inflammation can lead to degeneration and DNA damage. It often doesn't even have symptoms.

Examples of chronic inflammatory diseases are Metabolic syndrome, Diabetes Type 2, cardiovascular disease, Arthritis, Autoimmune diseases, obesity, NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), asthma, Crohn's, Ulcerative colitis and COPD (chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder).

Detoxification has many pathways in our body. Our body gets rid of toxins, waste products, by-products, pathogens and other unwanted substances via our skin, kidneys, liver, lungs and digestive system. Our body is designed to be very effective in ridding our cells of these substances but sometimes toxic environments, diets or lifestyle choices can overwhelm these processes. We need to help support these systems to prevent our cells from becoming clogged and creating all sorts of imbalances within the body.

Inadequate or faulty detoxification can cause, among many other issues, hormone imbalances, a compromised immune system and an array of symptoms like brain fog, bloating, PMS, poor concentration, aches and pains, inflammation, hair loss, weight gain etc.

Methylation is an example of one of the many mechanisms of epigenetics and is the process within a cell whereby a methyl group/substrate is added to one of the bases of your DNA, thereby essentially 'turning a gene off'. In other words, methylation inhibits the expression of certain genes. Some genes need to always remain switched off e.g Tumour Supressor gene. The process is reversible too.

Methylation slows down as we age and this allows some genes to be activated and that can result in disease. This process of methylation relies on some very specific nutrients.

Oxidative Stress can occur when there is an imbalance of DNA-damaging free radicals and the antioxidants that combat them within the body. Oxidation of cells and their molecular components happens when free radicals are left unchecked and proliferate. Free radicals are molecular compounds (usually from waste products from our own internal processes OR from external sources such as pollution, smoking, junk foods and heavy metals etc.) that steal electrons from a neighboring molecule, rendering it a free radical itself and thereby begin a chain reaction of creating more free radicals.

Our body has an innate system to deal with this issue by deploying antioxidants like Glutathione (made by the liver), SOD (superoxide dismutase) and Alpha Lipoic Acid. These substances neutralise the free radicals by offering up one of their own electrons, thereby halting the chain reaction of damage.

In this day and age however, it is all too easy for our body to get overwhelmed by toxic chemicals and DNA damaging substances. It therefore needs all the help it can get by consuming antioxidants rich foods that contain the vital phytochemicals, phytonutrients and vitamins needed to offset this assault.

More on how to support these pathways in upcoming Blog posts part 2 through to 5.