Cellular Support Protocol
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Integrative approaches are perfectly suited for addressing the unmet needs of patients looking for optimized wellness.
A healthy diet full of antioxidants, flavonoids and other phytonutrients support DNA and cellular health. Supplementation helps ensure that essential nutrients are present in ample supply to support the body’s ongoing efforts to balance oxidative stress, healthy inflammation and detoxification.
When the body takes in nutrients, it converts fatty acids, carbohydrates and proteins into Acetyl-CoA which then enters into the Citric Acid Cycle (aka the Krebs Cycle) eventually reducing NAD+ to NADH.
The energy production is completed when the NADH enters into the electron transport chain (oxidative phosphorylation) that produces ATP. Free radicals/ROS are produced through these processes, which need to be managed through the presence of antioxidants. These pathways are constantly active and require various nutrients to function optimally, such as B-vitamins, magnesium, iron and antioxidants like glutathione and coQ10.
Because the mitochondria is the location in the cell where these processes take place, and free radicals generated, it is often a focus of support for cellular health.
However, healthy cellular membranes are also crucial for overall cellular health. Made up primarily of lipids, they are present as the outer membrane and as membranes around organelles, such as the mitochondria.The cell membrane is an active organ providing vital functions in the maintenance of cell activities including:
- They protect from toxic substances entering the cell
- Allow specific molecules to enter and leave the cell such as ions, nutrients, waste via transmembrane proteins.
- Separate vital metabolic processes conducted within the organelles.
- Communication and signal generation
Cellular membranes require certain phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine, as well as omega 3 fatty acids and fat soluble antioxidants like forms of vitamin E, D and fat soluble carotenoids, for healthy structure and the functions that occur within that membrane. Zinc and vitamin C also support cellular membrane health in specific ways ie: vitamin C helps recycle the antioxidant function of vitamin E.
Supporting cellular health can address both the structural components and functional processes of the cell. Phospholipids, omega 3 and certain forms of vitamin E support structural components while plant flavonoids like green tea extract, curcumin, transresveratrol, and quercetin work synergistically to support key cellular enzyme functions and detoxification.
Dr Lise Alschuler is an expert in cellular support, and has shared her preferred Cellular Support Protocol in the Wellevate Protocol Library. Sign in to your Wellevate® account to access Dr. Alschuler’s protocols and over a hundred others from today’s leading integrative experts!
Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, has been practicing naturopathic medicine since 1994, with a focus on cancer care since 2003. Dr. Alschuler is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Arizona where she is the Assistant Director of the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Dr. Alschuler is past-President and Board member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and a founding board member and immediate Past-President of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians. She has been an invited speaker to more than 100 scientific/medical conferences, published 16 peer-reviewed articles, been a co-investigator on 5 research studies, written 6 chapters for medical textbooks, and has co-authored two books, Definitive Guide to Cancer, now in its 3rd edition, and Definitive Guide to Thriving After Cancer..She’s a co-host of the Five to Thrive Live! radio show on the Cancer Support Network and a co-developer of the iTHRIVE Plan, a mobile app that supports cancer survivors.
