In the previous article we briefly defined health and wellness. We also ended with my promise to discuss Homeostatic Mechanisms in this issue. In the 1870s, the physiologist Claude Bernard described how complex organisms must maintain balance of equilibrium in their internal environment, in order to lead a “free and independent life.” In the 1920s another physiologist, Walter Cannon, expanding on the work of Claude Bernard, coined the term “homeostasis. He introduced the concept to the world through a book entitled, “The Wisdom of the Body” [1].
In plain English, it is the body’s ability to maintain a constant internal environment despite changes in the external environment. The enzymes or chemicals that control all the chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life i.e. (metabolic activity),[2] are very sensitive to changes in the internal environment. Examples of factors that must be kept in balance include core body temperature, water balance, blood sugar, carbon dioxide concentration, oxygen concentration, acid-base balance (pH), and mineral salts.
Though it was a novel concept when it was first introduced, homeostasis is now a fundamental tenet of physiology. In fact, as we explore this topic and if you reflect on how nature itself in general restores balance, you will see the handiwork of an intelligent creator. As Romans 1: 20 so eloquently states, “°the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made°.”. Claude Bernard could have very well named his book, “The Wisdom of the Creator”. But I digress. The real issue is that just as mankind’s actions have in a lot of ways overwhelmed nature’s ability to maintain equilibrium in the external environment, sometimes the body’s homeostatic mechanisms fail. This failure is what leads to disease (a physical ailment) and dis-ease (mental ailment). Some classic examples include:
Hypoglycemia or Hyperglycemia where the body fails to maintain optimal glucose levels. Most of us are familiar with the condition of persistent hyperglycemia, Diabetes, where the body produces but does not respond well to insulin production (type 2) or where the body is incapable of producing insulin (type 1).
Hypothermia or Heat stroke where the body’s core temperature falls too low or goes too high because the body is unable to compensate to extremes in the external environment. Hypothermia can slow organ function, produce confusion, fatigue and even death. Death can also result from heatstroke, but it is usually preceded by muscle cramps, exhaustion, seizures and loss of consciousness.
A less obvious but relevant one is the failure of hunger regulation. The sensation of hunger is how our brain gets us to seek nutrition so that we can produce energy. The hormone ghrelin is released by the stomach, travels via the blood stream to our brain where it causes an increase in appetite. After we eat, fat cells produce another hormone called Leptin that typically counterbalances ghrelin by promoting the sensation of satiety, or fullness. Several things can go wrong. It typically takes twenty minutes for the brain to get the fullness signals from our stomach, so it is advisable to slow down while we eat by eating mindfully (acknowledging all the hands that touched our food before it got to us), chewing at least 30 times if you can between bites, and taking time to put the spoon or fork down and breathe between spoon or forkfuls. The brain may stop responding to ghrelin such that we feel perpetually hungry. Also, if leptin is not produced or produced insufficiently, we may never feel satisfied after a meal. The result of all three problems: eating too quickly or dysfunction in ghrelin or leptin signaling is overeating, which may result in obesity and, if uncorrected, diabetes or metabolic syndrome [3].
Cancer is a condition where there is unregulated growth of undifferentiated cells in or on the body. An undifferentiated cell is one that has no defined purpose. Cancers typically occur when there is alteration in the DNA of a progenitor or initial cancer cell. We are constantly being bombarded by substances in the environment that induce DNA damage. These are called oncogenic factors and include electromagnetic waves, pesticides, food additives, non-biodegradable industrial waste products, chemicals in plastics, etc. There are homeostatic mechanisms which typically repair the damage, but they can be overwhelmed based on genetic dispositions, environmental (mental and physical) exposures and diets lacking the necessary anti-oxidants to neutralize the DNA -damaging free radicals that are both produced by the body during normal processes and those we are overly exposed to from our polluted environment and food.
I would invite you to look at the “What is Homeostasis YouTube video” for more information on this interesting topic. I also want to remind you that God desires that there be no feeble one among you. There are steps that you can and must take to ensure that the homeostatic mechanisms that your wise creator placed within you continue to thrive all the days of your lives. To that end, the next article will address the subject of Being Intentionally Healthy.
References
- ^ What is Homeostasis?, Sunday March 29th 2020
- ^ Metabolism, Dictionary, Sunday March 29th 2020
- ^ What if Homeostasis fails, Sunday March 29th 2020
- ^ What is Homeostasis you-tube video, Sunday March 29th 2020
Disclaimer
The contents of article are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This article does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.