A Pop Toe What?
In my efforts to educate and inform, a question was asked last week about how we age. I mentioned the term apoptosis and was greeted with a blank stare. In the science of health there are many strange words. This is one of them.
Apoptosis
is programmed cell death.
Yes, your cells are programmed to die. That shouldn’t be too shocking to you because that is our ultimate end. While I am in no way trying to be morbid, I want you to understand this process that happens inside your body each day millions of times.
Red blood cells have a life span of 120 days. Skin cells last about 3 weeks. A poor gut cell lasts as long as a fruit fly; about 2-3 days.
Other cells are long lasting and even considered quiescent. That means they are “quiet” or in a state of inactivity or dormant. Examples of those cells are cardiac and brain cells. As recently as 20 years-ago, these cells were believed to not replicate once they were formed. In other words, what you got, you have until that cell dies or you die. Today, we realize that they do divide, but ever so slowly.
Is there something we can do for ourselves to help us keep normal cell replication and stave off apoptosis as long as possible?
I have put together this very short video for you to answer this question. Please share it with anyone you like.