Health and Wellbeing
Why Health Is All About Homeostasis
Understanding dynamic equilibrium for survival and wellbeing
Our body is a brilliant biological construct that regulates all bodily activities with the help of the brain as the control system. As a result, our health depends on a delicate balance using homeostasis, an intelligent bio-physiological process.
Homeostasis is a critical self-regulating process to maintain internal stability by adjusting to external conditions.
Homeostatic regulation involves a complex interaction of multiple feedback systems to keep our cells and organs well-functioning.
We have many disrupting activities in the body.
For example, excessive temperature, harmful bacteria, viruses, toxins, carbon dioxide, and even accumulated water are a few to mention.
The body closely monitors disruptors via a detecting and controlling system to keep equilibrium. We call this balancing physiological process homeostasis.
Every cell in the human body is closely regulated. A stimulus in the cell sends signals to the brain via receptors. The brain, as a control system, evaluates the message of signs, makes a decision, and responds with a message via enzymes, hormones, or neurotransmitters.
This process is called negative feedback. They also cause epigenetic responses, such as turning on and off specific genes.
As our bodies need to be homeostatically regulated at all times, it never rests. These activities happen beyond our conscious awareness. Most of them occur at the subconscious level via the control of the autonomous nervous system.
Activities of all cells and organs are part of the process of homeostasis. Our body closely monitors breathing, heart rate, blood flow, energy metabolism, body temperature, blood acidity, blood pressure, and many more physiological processes to keep homeostasis.
Understanding this fundamental biological and physiological process can give us insights into our health, choosing our lifestyle choices, and developing our fitness regime.
The body does not enjoy extremes. For example, it considers too cold and too hot a threat. It keeps the core body temperature around 37 Celcius degree. The blood requires glucose to give energy to the brain and some organs.
But it does not like too much or too little blood sugar; therefore, it regulates it using insulin and other hormones. Sensing too much glucose triggers insulin to distribute it to the liver glycogen, muscles, or fat tissues.
The body activates ketosis as an alternative energy system and starts using gluconeogenesis to create glucose from amino acids if it is too low.
Ancient wisdom talks about moderation a lot. Moderation is a relative term and might not apply to all life situations. For example, smoking in moderation is not a good idea nowadays.
However, the moderation principle applies to the needs of our physiology within the homeostasis context. Too much or too little of any substance and activity is a threat to the body. Nevertheless, we do not determine those ranges. Instead, the intelligence of the body determines them.
We might like hot or cold weather, but the body temperature is a narrow range. If it is above or below the range, it shows reactions.
For example, we might love drinking lots of water, but if the water around cells is too much body regulates it to keep cells healthy.
Humans developed many theories using science or cultural norms to nourish the body. However, this knowledge might not align with the intelligence of the body.
Therefore, rather than dictate the body with our superficial understanding, it is wiser to allow the body to make its work based on its internally built-in intelligence.
Without an awareness of the importance of homeostatic regulation, we cannot understand the function of our body; hence taking control of our health can be challenging.
Our health entirely depends on this self-regulating system. Imbalances in this regulation can cause disturbances and diseases.
My point in highlighting the importance of homeostasis is to listen to our bodies. It knows what its cells and organs need to keep homeostasis.
We don’t have to interfere. All we need is to naturally provide the required nutrition, mobility, and rest.
The body talks to us via emotions. Our feelings tell us what we need and don’t need if we listen carefully. Going against those authentic feelings disturbs the body’s homeostasis.
A disturbed body creates stress hormones to cope with the situation. However, too much of the stress hormone cortisol is also toxic to the body in the long term.
Of course, we need intervention from medical professionals when the body experiences abnormal situations. Medical science has invested in this concept for a long time and developed the necessary processes, procedures, and tools to restore homeostasis when it is disrupted.
However, healthy individuals must understand the body is designed and operates under strict regulations. Going against them can be very problematic.
For example, in the 60s, some bodybuilders injected hormones to grow muscles. As a result, they had massive muscles, but as the body did not like too much of any hormone, it had to regulate it somehow.
As a consequence, those aspiring bodybuilders faced severe health conditions.
Our health and well-being depend on homeostasis. If we lose this delicate balance, we face serious health issues.
Homeostasis of the body and mind requires setting boundaries.
Mindfully listening to our body’s messages can be the best investment in our health goals. Thus, trusting the body’s wisdom is a wise choice. I implemented this principle in my dietary lifestyle covered in the following stories.
Here’s What Happened on One-Meal-a-Day After 15 Years.
When I Skipped Breakfasts for Two Decades, I Gained Copious Benefits.
Eating 200g Fats Daily for Decades Helps Me Thrive
Here are my perspectives on the balance of hormones that I have been studying for many years.
Here are the paradoxes affecting our physical and mental health.
Sugar Paradox: Key to Solve Metabolic and Mental Health Disorders
Cholesterol Paradox and How It Impacted My Health Positively
If you enjoyed this story and have time, you might also check my experience on other topics in the original stories that impacted my readers.
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Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
As a new reader, please check my holistic health and well-being stories reflecting my reviews, observations, and decades of experiments optimizing my hormones and neurotransmitters. I write about health as it matters. I believe health is all about homeostasis.
ALS, Metabolic Syndrome, Type II Diabetes, Fatty Liver Disease, Heart Disease, Strokes, Obesity, Liver Cancer, Autoimmune Disorders, Homocysteine, Lungs Health, Pancreas Health, Kidneys Health, NCDs, Infectious Diseases, Brain Health, Dementia, Depression, Brain Atrophy, Neonatal Disorders, Skin Health, Dental Health, Bone Health, Leaky Gut, Leaky Brain, Brain Fog, Chronic Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, Elevated Cortisol, Leptin Resistance, Anabolic Resistance, Cholesterol, High Triglycerides, Metabolic Disorders, Gastrointestinal Disorders, Thyroid Disorders, Anemia, Dysautonomia, cardiac output, and urinary track disorders.
I also wrote about valuable nutrients. Here are the links for easy access:
Lutein/Zeaxanthin, Phosphatidylserine, Boron, Urolithin, taurine, citrulline malate, biotin, lithium orotate, alpha-lipoic acid, n-acetyl-cysteine, acetyl-l-carnitine, CoQ10, PQQ, NADH, TMG, creatine, choline, digestive enzymes, magnesium, zinc, hydrolyzed collagen, nootropics, pure nicotine, activated charcoal, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B1, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, and other nutrients.
Disclaimer: My posts do not include professional or health advice. I only document my reviews, observations, experience, and perspectives to provide information and create awareness.
As part of my creative non-fiction writing goals, I’d like to share a few stories that might warm our hearts with a bit of humor into weighty topics.
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Based on my writing experience and observations, I documented findings and strategies that might help you amplify your voice, engage your audience, and achieve your desired outcomes in your writing journey.
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