|
Metabolic
Typing, Oxygen and Anti-Oxidants
Source
Metabolic Typing, Oxygen and Anti-Oxidants
The body has 2 kinds of metabolism when it comes to oxygen: aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen). While it is true that certain infections, cancers and other adversities thrive in an anaerobic environment, it is not true that anaerobic is “bad” and that aerobic is “good” or that everyone should do whatever possible to increase oxygen and aerobic metabolism in the body.
In actuality, real good health is a dynamic state of
homeostatic balance, metabolic efficiency and full adaptive capacity.
Efficient regulation of all of our life-sustaining processes of metabolism
is dependent on our ability to adapt to the innumerable stressors of daily
life. Most of our homeostatic, adaptive mechanisms are dualistic and
diphasic. This means that for every aspect or function, two opposite
imbalances or abnormalities can exist and that regulation of a given aspect
is handled through two opposite sets of forces or processes.
For example, muscles can be “normal” or too constricted
or too relaxed. Intestinal peristalsis can be “normal” or too strong or too
weak. The heart rate can be “normal” or too fast or too slow. Temperature
can be “normal” or too high or too low. pH of a given level can be “normal”
or too acid or too alkaline. Blood sugar can be “normal” or too high or too
low, etc.
In every case, whenever one side of a dualistic, diphasic,
homeostatic, regulatory process goes beyond the optimal balance range, the
other side kicks in to restore the normal function. When the heart rate goes
too high, mechanisms to slow the heart rate are called upon. When the blood
sugar elevates beyond a certain point, mechanisms to lower the blood sugar
turn on, etc.
Degenerative or pathological processes develop when the
body's homeostatic, regulatory mechanisms fail to restore balance. In
effect, one side or the other gets “stuck” in its imbalanced state due to
the failure of the opposite mechanisms to restore homeostasis. Thus, if the
body fails to lower the heart rate, the condition known as tachycardia may
result; when the body fails to raise the heart rate, the condition known as
bradycardia develops. When the body can't restore normal blood sugar levels
when elevated, the condition known as diabetes develops; when the body can't
restore normal blood sugar levels when depressed, the condition known as
hypoglycemia develops.
Wondrously, even though there are many thousands of
biochemical reactions that take place in the body on a daily basis, they all
are regulated by just a handful of “fundamental homeostatic control
mechanisms.” One of these mechanisms is referred to as the
Anabolic/Catabolic balance. Anabolic processes involve “building up” and
Catabolic processes involve “breaking down.” Anabolic processes are
characterized by anaerobic metabolism, tissue acidity, and decreased
membrane permeability. Catabolic processes involve aerobic metabolism,
tissue alkalinity, and increased membrane permeability.
In a normal, healthy body, there exists a natural
circadian shift between anabolic cycles and catabolic cycles over a 24 hour
period. Furthermore, the body needs to be able to readily “on demand” shift
to aerobic OR anaerobic metabolism as the situation demands. Different
conditions or activities require different types of metabolism. For example,
running a marathon requires aerobic metabolism and sprinting demands
anaerobic metabolism.
To be stuck in either a Catabolic or an Anabolic
imbalance is undesirable and can lead to pathological, degenerative
processes.
For example, an Anabolic imbalance
produces uncontrolled anaerobic metabolism, acidosis, and decreased membrane
permeability. A prolonged anaerobic metabolism is undesirable since many
pathogens including bacteria, viruses, cancer, yeast, fungus and molds can
thrive in that biochemical environment. An acidosis can disallow normal
function of many critical enzymes. And overly closed membranes can
discourage cellular detoxification (toxins can't get out of cells) as well
as nutrient delivery (vital nutrients, oxygen and immune factors) can't get
into cells.
A Catabolic imbalance produces uncontrolled aerobic
metabolism, alkalosis, and increased membrane permeability. A prolonged,
out-of-control aerobic metabolism is undesirable since the result is
unregulated free radical production, tissue destruction and accelerated
tissue aging. An alkalosis can disallow normal function of many critical
enzymes. And overly open membranes can't selectively ward off toxins or hold
on to vital nutrients.
Certain foods and nutrients are anti-Anabolic and
directly support Catabolic, aerobic metabolism while others foods and
nutrients are anti-catabolic and support Anabolic, anaerobic metabolism.
Someone suffering the degenerative effects of a Catabolic imbalance can
derive tremendous benefit from the judicious use of anti-oxidants. But if
you happened to be suffering from an Anabolic imbalance such as a type of
cancer that was thriving in an anaerobic environment, the last thing you
would want to do would be to load up on anti-oxidants whose effects are
anti-Catabolic, anti-aerobic.
The same need for caution applies to those whose health
problems stem from a Catabolic, aerobic-metabolism-out-of-control imbalance.
For example, oxygen therapies are extremely beneficial, but only for someone
who has an Anabolic, anaerobic imbalance. Since oxygen is classified through
metabolic typing as a Catabolic, aerobic nutrient, oxygen therapies only add
fuel to the fire in someone with a catabolic imbalance and can thus worsen
rather than improve such conditions.
Complicating matters further, many pathogens can switch
their metabolisms as a defense mechanism to a hostile biochemical
environment. Bacteria, viruses and even cancers can change from aerobic to
anaerobic or vice versa.
Nutrition is a dual-edged sword. The right nutrition can
do wonders, but the wrong nutrition applied in a given situation can produce
results opposite from what was intended. Before anyone makes use of
nutrition in therapeutic doses, it would be wise to first determine your
metabolic type. Then and only then can you be assured that nutrition will be
your “medicine” and not your “poison.” |
This
web site is a breath
of fresh air in a world of pollution.
|
