You’re either alive or dead.

The environment that we are in will form us into what we become. Our interactions and experiences will shape the way we interpret and act in this world. It does not mean that the matter that we start with doesn’t have its saying, but the environment most definitely has to be the main force that shapes the outcome.

How does nature work? Looking at the logic of life, not only ours but everything around us, it gets born, it blooms, and dies. Three stages. Or you could say two stages; you’re either alive or dead. Everything in between those sides is what you can call life. I’ve come to experience that life can be lived in many ways. The environment that we are in will form us into what we become. Our interactions and experiences will shape the way we interpret and act in this world. It does not mean that the matter that we start with doesn’t have its saying, but the environment most definitely has to be the main force that shapes the outcome. Take the human eye. Both you and I probably have the same idea about the eye; it’s made to see and take in all the information that is outside of our bodies. But what happens when you cover one eye with an eye-patch and keep it on for a long time? If we change the environment the body will eventually adapt. The body is an organism smart enough to realize if we can’t use it we rearrange and concentrate the energy that the eye initially possessed elsewhere. We lose something and we gain something else. I can’t say what we gain instead but the most reasonable thing would be that our hearing will improve. Conclusion. If we change the environment, the body will too.

from a evolutionary perspective, the human eye must be seen as a long-gone evolutionary adaptation; therefore, it has a slower adaptation capacity than let’s say one human cell? The closer something is to being an atom, the faster it will be able to adapt? At least that’s my own loose conclusion. If we were to compare the adaptation between a single-celled organism vs. a multicellular one like a human cell, the former would be much greater at adapting itself to a new environment. What clues can that give us?

According to known facts, the human cell can convert food into energy in two ways. Either by aerobic cellular respiration (oxidative respiration) or anaerobic cellular respiration (fermentation). From what I know, anaerobic is more prevalent in those who are sick. So, this must be a gradual thing that has to do with the balance of oxygen that is being distributed throughout the body. The question we should ask ourselves: What circumstances will increase the fermentation process in the body? Things that come into my mind are poor breathing, eating high amounts of carbohydrates, exercise, intense activities, and alcohol.

Context

High Carbohydrate Intake: Foods rich in carbohydrates provide glucose, which is the primary fuel for cellular metabolism. When carbohydrates are consumed in excess or when there is an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, the body may prioritize glycolysis, the initial step of both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. This can lead to increased production of pyruvate and subsequent entry into anaerobic fermentation pathways if oxygen availability is limited. Fast-Releasing Carbohydrates: Foods with a high glycemic index, such as sugary snacks and refined carbohydrates, can cause rapid spikes in blood glucose levels. This sudden increase in glucose availability may prompt cells to undergo glycolysis more quickly, potentially leading to increased anaerobic metabolism.

Exercise and High-Intensity Activities

During intense physical activity, muscles may require energy at a rate that exceeds the oxygen supply. In such situations, anaerobic metabolism becomes more prominent as glycolysis is favored over aerobic respiration. Foods consumed before or during exercise can influence the availability of glucose for energy production and therefore affect the extent of anaerobic metabolism.

Alcohol consumption can interfere with cellular metabolism and lead to increased reliance on anaerobic fermentation in certain tissues, particularly the liver. Ethanol metabolism generates NADH, which can alter the cellular redox balance and promote anaerobic metabolism.

The two sides of life, Alive or Dead.

If you have a prevalent health condition, the body’s ability to provide oxygen to all parts of the body’s function must be deficient and in turn promote anaerobic respiration because there is no other option for the body to make energy. If I were to say that it takes energy to die, would you be surprised? The idea is that the body is in a constant fight between the two sides of being alive and being dead. If the body has a major health condition, let’s say cancer, in order for the cancer to develop, the environment has to allow it to do so. Since there are only two sides, we are either more on the alive side of life or the death side of life; in my head, that is being translated into you’re either have a body that runs mostly by the work of aerobic cells rather than anaerobic cells.

We get born, we live, and we die. It’s a natural transaction for the body to go from aerobic respiration to anaerobic respiration the older we get. The problems arise when this transition happens at a much greater speed than normal. As of today, cancer is most common in people who are 50 years or older. The trend does not look very good; diseases like cancer and other diffuse health conditions are on the rise among the younger population. Most of us know or knew someone who’s been faced with some kind of life-changing disease. The fact that anaerobic cell respiration is more present in people with any disease should tell us something about health and death. A famous person once said, “If you want to understand the world better, look deep into nature.” The little things make up the bigger things, just like the big anthill was built by the small ants; the cells in our body are the builders of the things that we can see, observe and touch.

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Factbox:

NADH – (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide + Hydrogen) is a coenzyme that plays a crucial role in cellular metabolism, particularly in energy production. It is the reduced form of NAD⁺ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide), meaning it carries high-energy electrons that are important for biochemical reactions. NADH is crucial for energy production.

It carries high-energy electrons used in cellular respiration to produce ATP.
It shuttles electrons from metabolic pathways (glycolysis and the Krebs cycle) to the electron transport chain in mitochondria.

Glycolysis

Glycolysis breaks down glucose into two molecules of pyruvate.
It generates a small amount of ATP and NADH, which can be used to produce more energy in the presence of oxygen.
Glycolysis is a universal metabolic pathway found in nearly all organisms, emphasizing its evolutionary importance.

Redox balance refers to the maintenance of a stable equilibrium between oxidation and reduction reactions within a biological system. It is crucial for cellular homeostasis and the proper functioning of metabolic pathways, particularly those involved in energy production, detoxification, and biosynthesis.

Redox balance ensures a stable balance between oxidation and reduction reactions in the cell, which is essential for metabolic efficiency, energy production, and protection against oxidative damage.

The balance is maintained by the regulation of electron carriers like NAD⁺/NADH, antioxidant defenses, and pathways like the electron transport chain. Disruption of redox balance leads to oxidative stress and can contribute to various diseases.

Pyruvate’s Roles

Energy Production: Pyruvate is a key link between glycolysis and the citric acid cycle in aerobic respiration, leading to ATP production.
Fermentation: Under anaerobic conditions, pyruvate undergoes fermentation to regenerate NAD⁺, allowing glycolysis to continue producing ATP without oxygen.
Gluconeogenesis: Pyruvate is a starting point for gluconeogenesis, where it is converted back into glucose.
Biosynthesis: It can be a precursor for amino acids and other biosynthetic pathways.
Citric Acid Cycle: Pyruvate can enter the citric acid cycle after being converted into acetyl-CoA, where it plays a central role in generating high-energy molecules like NADH and FADH₂.

Exercise and High-Intensity Activities

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