Stem cells are your body’s foundational cells. They are the raw material from which all other cells in your body are generated. Stem cells are self-renewing and divide into other cells when living in an optimal environment. They can differentiate themselves into any type of cell, which makes them very effective at healing various diseases.
Stem cell research is advancing rapidly, and stem cells are used to study replace or regenerate diseased tissue as well as provide insights into the development of disease.
The importance of stem cells
All cells in your body have specific functions, but stem cells can transform into almost any type of cell. Your body has stem cells throughout your life, and your body can use them whenever a need arises. Adult stem cells exist even when in a developing embryo. They exist in a non-specific state until your body needs them for a specific function like muscle or skin cells.
Scientists have found stem cells in
- Blood and blood vessels
- Bone marrow
- Brain
- Liver
- Skeletal muscles
- Skin
Current research shows that stem cells can be guided into transforming into specific cells that can repair and regenerate diseased tissue. And, studying stem cells is giving scientists insights into how serious health conditions like cancer or congenital disabilities occur.
In a 3-to-5-day old embryo, stems cells lead to cells throughout the entire body and organs such as heart, lungs, skin, bones, and other tissues. Adult stem cells replace cells lost from injury, disease, and normal depletion of bone marrow, muscle, and the brain.
The link between stem cells and mitochondria
Mitochondrial dysfunction occurs during aging and is linked to many human diseases. Because of the importance of mitochondrial functioning in every type of cell, healthy mitochondria are necessary for stem cells as well. Their energy level significantly impacts their viability, reproduction, and differentiation capacity. Mitochondrial metabolism and mitochondrial DNA mutations have a critical role in stem cell biology. New evidence indicates that mitochondrial activity influences the function and self-renewal of stem cells. This shows that mitochondrial dysfunction has a significant role in stem cell decline.
In addition, new evidence suggests that stem cells can replace malfunctioning mitochondria or compensate for that malfunction by transferring mitochondria between stem cells and aging cells. In fact, treatment with stem cells by mitochondrial transfer can restore normal functioning of cells, thereby helping patients recover from various diseases. Thus, supporting your mitochondria with appropriate supplements is encouraged.
How oxygen helps maintain stem cell health
We all know that oxygen is necessary for metabolism and many cellular functions. It is also necessary for regulating stem cells. Stem cells can fail or die without enough oxygen. According to a study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, hyperbaric oxygen increases by eight-fold the number of stem cells circulating in a patient’s body.
Stem cells are activated and leave the bone marrow to travel to specific areas. Then they transform into different cells to assist with healing and repair. Researchers believe this occurs because hyperbaric oxygen treatments result in the production of nitric oxide in bone marrow. The nitric oxide is believed to initiate enzymes that regulate the release of stem cells.
What damages stem cells?
Injuries to stem cells occur from events like heart attacks, trauma, chemotherapy, and radiation. Which trigger distress signals throughout the body. Stem cells go to the injured tissue to rebuild and repair the damage. However, if stem cells are dysfunctional, they cannot properly repair the damage.
Stem cells can become impaired several ways including:
Inflammation. The innate immune system is our first line of defense against invading pathogens. Not only does it initiate a vigorous and rapid inflammatory response to attack foreign pathogens, but it also plays a key role in activating the more-slowly developing adaptive immune response. The immune system is triggered by signals from tissue damage and invading pathogens to activate cells that remove the pathogens and repair damaged tissues. Chronic, systemic inflammation can damage the stem cells, as they may be called upon more often, exhausting their energy and impairing their overall function. To avoid stem cell damage, systemic inflammation needs to be addressed.
DNA damage. DNA damage in stem cells is partly responsible for stem cell dysfunction with aging. Adult stem cells fuel tissue homeostasis and regeneration by their ability to self-renew and differentiate into specialized cells. All cells, including stem cells, face challenges in protecting their DNA from damage. To improve or avoid DNA damage, get plenty of sleep, eat healthy food, perform gentle exercise, and minimize stress.
Oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can cause severe damage to stem cells, affecting cell proliferation and causing instability and cellular deterioration. Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant defense mechanisms. The regulation of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation is crucial for early development and tissue homeostasis.
Mitochondrial damage. The mitochondria’s main function is to produce energy. More mitochondria are needed to make more energy. When the number or function of mitochondria in the cell are disrupted, less energy is produced, and organ dysfunction results. Moreover, mitochondria regulate cell death pathways, which are crucial to allow stem cells to preserve their genome integrity and function. Pathogens, toxins, and chemicals can damage mitochondria, thereby affecting the integrity of stem cells.
You should avoid the following because the damage stem cells:
- Air pollution
- Heavy alcohol intake
- High-fat diets
- High glycemic foods
- High LDL
- High-salt diet
- Processed food
- Sugar
- Tobacco
By avoiding foods that damage stem cells, you can improve your body’s ability to regenerate your circulatory system, improve cognition, and stop stem cells from becoming damaged.
Stem cells and aging
Stem cell function declines with age. Damage to stem cells impairs your body’s ability to repair itself. Aging is closely related to the accumulation of dysfunctional stem cells, and is associated with reduced tissue regeneration, increased degenerative disease, and cancer.
Because stem cells regenerate many adult tissues and contribute to cancer development by accumulating mutations, age-related changes in stem cells may influence an organism’s longevity.
How to support aging stem cells
You can support aging stem cells naturally with certain supplements. Research shows that these nutrients can enhance the number and function of aging stem cells through:
- Assisting metabolic function
- Preventing inflammation
- Protecting against oxidative stress
- Repairing and protecting DNA
- Supporting the mitochondria.
Many common vitamins, botanicals, minerals, and nutraceuticals help support anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, organ- and tissue-protecting, and life-extending effects.
Fasting may boost stem cell regeneration
Intestinal stem cells maintain the lining of the intestine, which generally renews itself every five days. Stem cells are critical in repairing any damage when an injury or infection occurs. As you age, your intestinal stem cells begin to lose their regeneration abilities. However, studies have shown that this loss of stem cell function can be reversed by a 24-hour fast. Researchers have shown that fasting dramatically improves the cells’ ability to regenerate regardless of your age.
This study provided evidence that fasting induces a metabolic switch in the intestinal stem cells, from burning carbohydrates to burning fat.
Nutrients to naturally support stem cells
Supplements, nutrients, and botanicals may help with the rapid increase of healthy stem cells. They can help protect stems cells from damage. These include the following common supplements found in health food store:
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a gelatinous substance that comes from the fleshy leaves of the aloe plant. It has been recognized for its healing properties for thousands of years and has been used to help treat burns, wounds, digestive issues, hemorrhoids, and hair loss. Aloe vera contains many bioactive compounds that play a role in scavenging free radicals and performing an antimicrobial function. This botanical has also been shown to assist in mobilizing stem cells. This may have to do with aloe vera’s ability to regulate blood glucose. There is a linear relationship between the number of circulating stem cells and various phases of diabetes development. When diabetes develops, the number of circulating stem cells declines. Aloe appears to amend many of these issues.
Blueberry extract
Blueberries are rich in polyphenols. Polyphenols are highly protective molecules that provide a host of health benefits. A study showed that supplementing rats in early life with a blueberry-enriched diet prevented menopause-associated osteoporosis. Researchers found that the blueberry supplement stimulated bone-forming stem cells that matured into active bone-mineralizing cells.
Spirulina
Spirulina is a versatile blue-green algae that is well-known for its anti-inflammatory action. In a recent study, spirulina demonstrated the ability to prevent age-related, inflammation-induced decreases in brain stem cell proliferation. This led to an increase in the functioning of the stem cell mitochondria, improving energy use and reducing oxidative stress. Furthermore, according to a study supported by the National Institute of Health, spirulina promotes the creation of stem cells.
Chlorella
Like spirulina, chlorella is a blue-green algae that can assist with stem cell mobilization. In one study, researchers found that consuming a specific form of chlorella induced stem cell mobilization in the body in one study. They found that it improved stem cells’ ability to travel to the tissues where they are needed.
Dark chocolate
The cacao plant contains many potent polyphenols. Dark chocolate can help mobilize stem cells out of the bone marrow. In a study from the University of California, San Francisco, patients with existing heart disease and narrowing of the arteries were given high-flavanol dark chocolate twice a day for 30 days. This was the only intervention. At the end of 30 days, study participants who drank the high-flavanol hot cocoa had twice as many stem cells in their circulation as those who drank low-flavanol cocoa. A functional benefit to blood vessels and improved circulation were also observed in the high-flavanol group.
Other foods and drinks that help to mobilize or regenerate stem cells include:
- Black tea
- Green tea
- Polyphenol-rich foods
- Red wine in moderation
- Turmeric, which contains regenerative and anti-inflammatory curcumin