Why You Must Appreciate the Intelligence of Your Body
Your body is your vehicle
Anatomy and physiology are some of my favorite topics, and I find the complexity of the human body absolutely amazing!
It is made up of several interrelated systems that work together to maintain a stable internal environment and just like your vehicle, it connects you with places and takes you around to experience life.
Your body is what makes you, you and it’s your responsibility to take care of it. Your body is the vessel that carries who you are, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
It’s your body that allows you to connect with the world around you. It allows you to touch, smell, see, hear, taste, think, and do. Without your body, these experiences wouldn’t be possible. Many of us don’t fully understand, in detail, how the body works and what it needs to stay healthy. We may be making health choices, not realizing the condition that our bodies are in, how it works, and what it needs.
You are a community of fifty trillion cells!
You are made up of approximately fifty trillion cells which are the building blocks of your body. They carry out specialized functions important for your health and wellbeing. Cells also contain your body’s hereditary material and can duplicate themselves.
Remember:
- There are about 200 different kinds of specialized cells in the human body
- Cells are organized into specialized tissues, such as muscle or connective tissue
- The tissues organize to become organs, such as the stomach or the heart
- The organs form organ systems that all work in concert together to sustain the body you live in today
Isn’t that fascinating? The body has systems that work together to serve a common purpose – growth, reproduction and survival. Each part of a system depends on the other parts to perform tasks that can’t be achieved by single parts acting alone, that is why my programs focus on the cell for overall health and aging. Healthy cells develop into healthy tissues, healthy tissues become healthy organs and healthy organs become healthy organ systems, healthy organ systems become a strong, healthy, functioning body!
Your health is your responsibility
The better you take care of your “vehicle” the farther you can go. Your vehicle will last longer, it will be more reliable, you won’t have to be afraid of it breaking down suddenly.
Treat it like your most prized possession. Honor it. Respect it. When you take care of your body, it will take care of you.
If you are experiencing symptoms, you must discover what triggers them by finding the causes and eliminating them as soon as possible.
Here’s an analogy:
Imagine driving your vehicle and the check-engine light comes on. Even though you notice the light, you continue to drive, because at that moment, nothing appears to be seriously wrong with your car.
You convince yourself that maybe it’s just a check-engine light malfunction, so you ignore it and continue to drive your vehicle. One day, on your way to work, you notice smoke coming from the hood, and the car breaks down, leaving you stranded on the side of a busy road.
Your car gets towed to the nearest mechanic, and you find out that it has serious engine problems. He explains the problem has been going on for quite a while and that you could have avoided it with routine maintenance. He can repair your vehicle, but it will be very costly!
Unfortunately, this is how many of us approach our health. We ignore or cover up the early signs and keep it moving until it’s too late.
What if the mechanic said to you, “Hey, just use this tape to cover the check engine light, your vehicle still drives, it will be ok…”
or what about this – “The smoke is normal. Your vehicle is old, just learn to live with it.”
Would you find that acceptable? I would hope not!
Understand that your body is intelligent
The more you understand the body and its complexity, the more you will honor and respect it. Our bodies are a gift and we need to value it as such. We only get one in our lifetime.
I’m about to barely scratch the surface with my explanation, because each system deserves its own e-book; but I wanted to give you a general overview so you can begin to appreciate the intelligence of your body.
Like I mentioned earlier, we are made up of approximately fifty trillion cells which are the building blocks of our body. They carry out specialized functions important for our health and wellbeing.
Cells of the body depend on each other to keep the body functioning as a unit. There are hundreds of types of cells, but here are the most common:
Stem cells –a cell with the potential to form many of the specialized cells found in the body.
Bone cells – develop the bone tissue
Blood cells – include the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
Muscle cells – form muscle tissue
Fat cells – Fat cells are the basic building blocks of fat tissue. Fat (or adipose) tissue is found throughout the human body and is concentrated beneath the skin, between the muscles, and around the internal organs. Fat is either stored or utilized for energy. Fat cells also produce hormones that influence insulin sensitivity, blood clotting, blood pressure regulation, and cell signaling.
Many people assume that fat in the body is an enemy, but that’s not true. Fat is essential for holding onto critical nutrients, it insulates the body, and enables the cell membranes to function properly. So, without fat we would freeze and our bodies wouldn’t be able to perform many of its vital functions.
Skin cells – makes up the skin
Nerve cells – are the basic unit of the nervous system
Endothelial cells – form the inner lining of the cardiovascular and lymphatic system
Sex cells – is the central part of human reproduction
Pancreatic cells – plays its role in regulating blood glucose levels, as well as the digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
Cancer cells – are abnormal cells that destroy the body
Remember, cells become tissues, tissues become organs, organs become organ systems, which are a group of organs that work together to perform one or more functions in the body.
So, we have the:
Musculoskeletal system– which provides mechanical support, posture and movement
Cardiovascular system – circulates blood around the body through the heart, arteries and veins, transporting oxygen, nutrients, and hormones throughout the body and carrying away cellular metabolic waste
Respiratory system – exchanges oxygen and carbon-dioxide between the body and air
Nervous system – the nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord and nerves
Digestive system – handles the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food with the purpose of absorbing nutrients into the body and removing waste through the gastrointestinal tract, which includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines
Urinary system – the urinary system contains the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. The purpose of the urinary system is to eliminate waste from the body, regulate blood pressure, and regulate blood pH
Endocrine system – is the hormone system
Immune system – defends the body against potentially dangerous pathogens
Reproductive system – involved in the reproductive process
Integumentary system – consists of the skin, hair, and nails
Takeaways
- Your body is what makes you, you
- When you take care of your body, it will take care of you
- Healthy cells are responsible for a healthy, functioning body
- Find the causes of symptoms and eliminate them as soon as possible
- Each part of our body system depends on the other parts to perform tasks
- We’re made up of approximately fifty trillion cells; they’re the building blocks of our body
Don’t forget to check out the heal deal podcast for more valuable insights into your journey to healing. Access here
Until next time, go out there and achieve more freedom in your health and your life!
Dr. Leona
