The Hidden Cause Of Aging + Chronic Disease

THEHIDDEN CAUSEOFAGING+

CHRONICDISEASE

Stopshort-circuitingyour body'sabilitytohealitself

Isaac Eliaz, MD

INTEGRATIVE PHYSICIAN | BEST-SELLING AUTHOR

Isaac Eliaz, MD, MS, LAc is a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine with more than 30 years of experience as a physician and researcher. He has partnered with some of the nation’s leading research institutes, including Harvard and Columbia Universities. As an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of cancer and other complex diseases, Dr. Eliaz embraces a whole-person approach to healing. He is the author of The Survival Paradox, as well as the owner and formulator of EcoNugenics, a line of science-backed supplements. He is also the founder and medical director of Amitabha Medical Clinic & Healing Center in Santa Rosa, Calif.

“I’ve learned to let go of our current medical system’s dogmatic paradigms, both conventional and alternative. People often say I think ‘outside the box,’ to which I reply, there was never a box to begin with.”

— Isaac Eliaz, MD, MS, LAc Thise-bookisChapters1-4 fromDr.Eliaz'

PART ONE HOW THE SURVIVAL RESPONSE AFFECTS OUR HEALTH

CHAPTER

ONE

WHAT IS THE SURVIVAL PARADOX?

RebeccafirstcametoseemeatAmitabhaMedicalClinicin2011.Shewas seventy,withstage4lungcancerthathadmetastasizedtoherbones.Shehadno familyandlivedalone;hercompanionthatdaywasastone-facedchauffeur waitinginacaroutsidetheclinic.Withtearsinhereyes,shetoldmeshehad justbeendiagnosed.Handsshaking,sheshowedmethePETscanreport highlightingthemultipletumorsthroughoutherbody.Basedonwhatthe oncologistsaid,sheunderstoodthatherlifecouldcometoanendverysoon.

“Idon’twanttodie,”shesaid.“I’mnotreadytogo.”Everycellinherbody wasreelingwithanxietyandfear.Herrestlessnesswaspalpableintheair.

Asanintegrativephysicianwhotreatscancer,I’dhadthisconversationmany times.Ihandedheratissueandshewipedhertears.“IwilldoanythingIcanto overcomethiscancer,”shesaidfirmly.Iacknowledgedherfiercedetermination, herresolve.Afterall,determinationiswhat’sneededfirstandforemostto overcomeadeadlydisease,right?

Withheranxietysopalpable,Iwonderedhowthisfearmustbeaffectingher. Notjustonthelevelofheremotionsorqualityoflife;Iwonderedhowitwas affectingthecancercells.Willthisfear-baseddeterminationnottodiehelpher overcomeherdisease?Orwillitcausehertobecomesickerandshortenherlife? Heranxietywassoprominentthatitinfusedhersurroundings,affectingher abilitytotakeadeepbreath.Itwasconstantsuffering,anditwasclearshewas in“survivalmode.”

Beinginsurvivalmodemeantthathersympatheticnervoussystem hormones,thedriversofherinnatebiochemicalresponsepatterns,weredialed allthewayup.Heradrenaline,noradrenaline,andcortisolwereelevated,and herinsulinwasspiking.Herimmuneresponsewasbeingsuppressed,andher metabolic function was altered. Ultimately, it meant that many of the compoundssheexcretedinanefforttosurvivewouldverylikelynourishher cancerandallowittogrowandsurviveaswell.

Survivalmodeisoftenastateofstressandpanic.Thebodyfeelsrushedand doesn’tslowdown,andallcells,whethernormalorcancerous,fightharderto survive.Thus,Rebecca’sanxietyandfearofdyingcould“feed”thecancerous cells.Herbestchanceatbeatingthecancerandlivingalongerlifewastoshift awayfromsurvivalmodeandmoveintoastateofgreaterrelaxation,withless reactivityonthecellular,emotional,andpsychologicallevels.

Basedonresearchandmyyearsofworkwithpatients,onethinghasbecome clear: when facing a life-threatening or debilitating illness, the natural biochemicalstressresponse,ourinnatefight-or-flightmechanismsthatare drivenbyourinstincttosurvivearefundamentallyatoddswithourabilityto healandthrive.Thissurvivaldrive,rootedinoursympatheticnervoussystem andexpressedbyourbiochemicalalertsystem,isnotgoingtosaveus.Infact,it canharmus.

Howdoesthisphysiologicalresponsesystemturnagainstussodramatically, fuelingdiseaseprocessesandprematureaging?Andmoreimportantly,whatcan wedoaboutit?

Thegoodnewsis,wecandoalot.Andwecandoitinawaythatisactually simplerthananyonefacingacomplexhealthcondition—patientorprovider— mighthaveimagined.

We’llcontinuetodiscussthedetailsofRebecca’streatmentandoutcomesin thenextchapter.Iwitnessedsomethingincredibleinhercase,aswellasin manyothers.SomethingthatBruceLipton,DeepakChopra,andmanyothers havewrittenabout,andwhattheyogisandmysticshavebeensayingfor millennia: the mind can influence the body to heal spontaneously and completely.Themindcandeliverthebodyfromthebrinkofdeathanddisease tovitalityandlongevity.

THE CATCH-22 OF “POSITIVE THINKING”

Publishedevidenceonthemind-bodyconnectionissignificantandgrowing rapidly,andbasedonmypersonalandclinicalexperience,theresultscanbe exponential.Itspoweriswithinusallthetime,andit’sabsolutelyavailablefor ustouse.

So,

whydoesn’titalwayswork?

Ifmind-bodymedicineistheclinicallystudiedgoldstandard“alternative” deemedthesafestandmostbeneficialtreatmentandincreasinglyadoptedand appliedinclinicalsettingsaroundtheworld,itstandstoreasonthatmanymore peoplewouldbeabletomeditateor“positivelythink”theirdiseaseinto remission.

It’stheultimatecatch-22:whensomeoneisfacingalife-threateningdisease, askingthemtorelax,changetheirthoughtpatterns,andfocusonhappy, healingenergyismucheasiersaidthandone.It’slikeaskingsomeonewhose houseisonfiretostaycalm,thinkpositively,anddeeplyinhalethesmokefrom theirburninghome.

We’rebuiltforsurvival.Wedon’tjustwantbutintrinsicallyneedto overcomediseaseandtoheal.I’vecometofind,basedonextensivepublished researchandyearsofclinicalobservation,thatthissurvivaldriveistheone majorblockagestandinginthewayofwould-besuccesses.

Inanerawhenwetendtolookforquickfixesandsymptomsuppressors, we’rereallyjustsuppressingourhealingcapacity.Wedon’ttakethetimeto stop,slowdown,andlookwithin.Theideathatwedon’thavetime—thatwe must rush, and must compete with everyone, including ourselves—is detrimentaltoourhealthandwell-being.

WhatRebeccaneededaboveallelsewastoslowthissympatheticnervous systemresponse,butshecouldn’t.Herhousewasburningdown,and shecouldn’ttakeadeepbreathinthemidstofwhatappearedtobealifethreateningsituation.

Whenweexperienceasenseofrestlessness,notfeelingsafe,ornottrusting ourenvironmentandcommunity,itcantranslateallthewaydowntothe cellularlevel.Whenwefeelunsafeandbelieveweneedtosurviveonourown, itchangesthemetabolismandfunctionofourcells—theyreceivesignalsfrom theirenvironmentthatthereisalackofoxygen.Theformaltermforlackof oxygenishypoxia,andthehypoxiccellcan’tbreatheornaturallyrelax.(In cancerhowever,thecellsbehavethiswayeveninthepresenceofoxygen, whichwe’lldiscussindetaillaterinthebook.)

Tobeginthehealingprocess,weneedtomoveahypoxiccelltoaplace whereitfeelsitcanbreathe,createanormalmetabolism,andreturntonormal mitochondrialfunction.Todothis,thecellandthepersonmustshiftawayfrom astateofsurvivaltowardastateofrelaxation.Toachievesuchachange,the personasawholemustexperiencesafetyandbalanceallthewaytothecellular level.Thesurvivalalarmhastobeturnedoff!

So,howdidRebeccaandIbeginaddressinghercancer?Howwassheableto takeadeepbreath?Weworkeddirectlyonherbiochemistry.Wedidn’tjust circumventherfearandanxiety—wetransformedit.Weusedcertainnatural compoundstoquietthealarmsystem,normalizethecell,andfightthecancer.

Wecombinedthosecompoundswithmeditation,breathingexercises,regular acupuncture,andhealingsessionswithdifferentmodalities,includinghands-on osteopathic,craniosacral,sound,andvisualizationtherapies.Mostimportantly, we surrounded her with unconditional love and affection, a sense of community,andanenvironmentthatheldherwithoutjudgment—wecreateda worldwhereshefeltsafeandloved.

A DEEPER HEART-BODY CONNECTION

Themind-bodyconnectionisamazing,andit’snotaone-waystreet.Emotions, thoughts, and subconscious responses clearly affect our biochemistry, our physiology,andoursubjectiveandobjectiveexperiencesofhealthanddisease. Atthesametime,ourbiochemistrysharplyaffectsouremotionsandour thoughts.Itaffectswhoweareatthecore.

Meditationandothermind-bodypracticescanundoubtedlygiveusthe quantumedgeinhealing.Theyworknotonlybecausetheycancalmour anxiety,reduceinflammation,andreverseourbiochemicaldiseaseprocesses— theyalsoworkbecausetheymeltourrigidityandrelaxourfixations.They dissolvetheliteralboundariesbetweenthepersonandthedisease,allowingthe person to reach and engage the tumor, the atherosclerotic plaque, the burrowingLymespirochete,oranyotheropportunisticinfection.

However,mind-bodymethodslikemeditationcanonlyunleashourinnate healingpotentialwhenwefigureouthowtotrulyengageourhearts.Inthis regard,amoreaccuratetermforthistypeofhealingis“heart-bodymedicine” ratherthan“mind-bodymedicine.”Itisheartfulnessratherthanmindfulness.I callthis“openheartmedicine.”

Thebasicphysiologyofourheartandthefundamentalmechanicsofthisvital organfunctioninawaythatactuallyallowsandsupports“miracle”healing—an unexpectedpositiveoutcomethatdefiesprobability.

Ultimately,wehavetogetthroughthethinveneerof“positivethinking”and penetratethedeeperlayersofourdefenses.Ourinstinctualfearsandanxieties, whilepartofourinnatesurvivaldrive,obstructourhealingcapacityby triggeringbiochemicalchangesinourbodythatcreateliteralphysicalbarriers. Thesebarriersaremadeofdifferentcomponentsthatneedtobetreated.For example,therecanbehyperviscosity,whichisthicknessofthebloodthat hamperscirculationandtheabilitytodeliveroxygentothetissue;fibrosis, whichisthescarringorhardeningoftissuesandorgans;biofilmstructures, whichformprotectiveshieldsaroundtumorsandpathogens;andmore.Andall ofthiswilltranslateintochangesincommunicationsbetweenthecellandits environment.Thiscauseschangesinsidethecellsandaffectstheirfunction.

So,whatisthekeytoshiftingusfromsurvivaltoharmony?Fromdiseaseto longevity?Whatisthismetabolicsurvivalalarmthatmustbeturnedoff?

Researchershaveidentifiedonemasterproteinproducedbythebody,which isattheheadwatersofourbiochemicalalarmsystem.Thisproteindictatesour biochemicalandphysiologicalresponsetostress,illness,andinjury.

Themorestresswe’reunder,themoreourbodieswillviewlifeasabattle, leadingtoongoingconflictandfrictionwithin.Productionofthissurvival proteinwillrampupinanefforttoresolvetheconflictingdialoguebetweenthe bodyandtheoutsideworldandbetweendifferentsystemsandcellswithinthe body.Hereiswherewecanseetheparadoxofthissurvivalproteininaction.

Themolecularendresultofthisreactivedefensestrategyiscontraction, isolation,andoftendisease.Thesearesurvivalresponses,whicharedrivenby self-preservationbutunfortunatelyleadtoinflammationandfibrosis.These responsesalsoleadtodegenerationatthecellularlevel,organsystemlevel,and atthelevelofourwell-beingandlongevity.Theyhaltthecooperationbetween ourtrillionsofcellsthatwouldotherwiseseamlesslycommunicatewitheach otherinthemiracleoflife.Thebodyhasaninnatecapacitytohealitself—when thesurvivalresponsedoesn’tstandinitsway.

CHAPTER TWO THE ARCHITECT OF THE SURVIVAL RESPONSE: GALECTIN-3

Nowthatyouknowwhatthesurvivalparadoxis,let’smeetitsmolecular architect.

Ifyou’veneverheardofgalectin-3,youaren’talone.Despitethefactthat therearethousandsofpaperspublishedaboutitsroleindrivingeverythingfrom cancertoheartandkidneyfailureandmuchmore,thevastmajorityofpeople— includingmosthealthcarepractitioners—haveneverheardofiteither!But you’reabouttohearalotaboutit.

Therearedifferenttypesofgalectins,butthemoststudied(yetlittle-known) one is galectin-3, a fascinating carbohydrate-binding protein. On close examination,itplaysanimportantroleinthebalancebetweenhealthand disease. It is the core component and initiator of our self-preservation mechanism.Icallit“thesurvivalprotein.”Let’sdefineexactlywhatitisand whatitdoesinsidethehumanbody.

THE OPERATION OF GALECTIN-3

Wheninjury,illness,orotherstressorsoccur,ourinnatesurvivalresponse triggerstheproductionandactivityofgalectin-3.Intheseinstances,galectin-3 initiatesacascadeofprocessesthatarenecessaryforinjuryrepair.Howeverif thealarmfailstoturnoffafterthethreatsubsides,galectin-3getsoutofcontrol and can seriously harm us.

Whengalectin-3activitycontinuesuncontrollably,iteffectively“goes rogue,”drivinginflammationandfibrosisratherthanhealing.This,inturn,can leadtonumerousdiseaseprocesses.What’smore,pathogenssuchasdifferent infectiousagentsandtumorscanhijackgalectin-3anduseitfortheirown survival.Thisisakeyissuethatcanbetreatedstrategically,andwe’llfurther explorethisconceptthroughoutthenextchapters.

Galectin-3isproducedor expressed indifferenttypesofcells.Inparticular, galectin-3isexpressedinimmunecells,inepithelialcells(theonesthatcoat certaintissuessuchasthoseoftheintestinesandlungs),inendothelialcells(the inner-liningcellsofthebloodvessels),andinsensoryneurons,amongothers.

Weunderstandthatgalectin-3canbebeneficialorharmful,buthowcanone proteinharmandbenefitusatthesametime?Togainabetterinsightintothis paradox—oursurvivalparadox—let’stakeajourneytogetherintothestructure ofthisprotein.

Galectin-3hasachimerastructure,meaningthat different structures from various sources come togethertocreateit(achimericcharacteryoumight befamiliarwithisFrankenstein:hewascreatedfrom manydifferentparts).Whengalectin-3isactivated, itcanbindtoothergalectin-3proteinsandother carbohydratestoformcomplexstructures.Uptofive individual galectin-3 proteins can stick together, creatingfive-sidedstructurescalled pentamers.

Whengalectin-3formspentamers,thesecanattachtoothergalectin-3 pentamers,toothercarbohydrates(sugars),andtocell-surfacereceptors,where thesestructurescanthenmediatecellreactionsandcontroltheinteraction betweenthecellandtheenvironment.Soundscomplicated?Itisabit.Butdon’t worry,we’llbreakitdown.

Oursurvivalprotein,galectin-3,isactivatedwhenweexperienceasudden threat,beitphysical,emotional,mental,orpsychological.It’salsoactivatedin casesofinjury,infection,cancer,orotherillnesses.Whengalectin-3isactivated, itturnsonmultiplepathwaysthatinitiateinflammationandtheprocessof fibrosis,andsuchscartissuebuild-upcanleadtohardeninganddysfunctionof tissuesandorgansystems.Furthermore,itcanalsooverexpressitselfinspecific areasofthebody,forexample,inthejoints,cardiovascularsystem,orthebrain. Andwhatistrulyamazingisthatitcanexertverydifferenteffectsatdifferent sitesbasedonwhatit’sboundto.

GALECTIN-3 EXPRESSION

IN MODERN LIFE

Tobetterunderstandthecomplexityofgalectin-3,let’srelateittothebigger picture:ourmodern-dayexistence.Weliveinaworldwherepeoplecontinue tobecomemoreisolated.Whenpeoplearelessconnectedtoeachotherandto theearth,allbecomeweaker.Weexploitandabuseournaturalresources,and weseetheeffectsofrapidclimatechange.Globalwarmingisaninflammatory processontheplanetarylevel.

Atthehumanlevel,ourinternalandexternalsenseofpeaceisdwindling,and ourattentionspansareridiculouslyshort.Wecannolongerwaitforweeks, days,orevenhourstogiveorreceivearesponse—wecanonlytoleratewaiting formilliseconds,andwefeeltheneedtoreactimmediatelytoeverystimulus.

Mostofuslivehigh-stresslifestylesinundatedwithelectronicandotherforms ofstimulation.Idon’tthinkit’sanexaggerationtosaythatourmodernsociety isinastateofoverwhelm.

Thecontinualbarrageofstimulifromeverydirection,theonslaughtof environmentaltoxins,theongoingmental,physical,andemotionalstresswe’ve grownaccustomedto—thesedisturbancesthrowusintosurvivalmodewhere oursystemsareonconstanthighalert,likeanalarmthatneverturnsoff.

Theresult?Unhealthygalectin-3expression,andwithit,progressivedamage tovitalorgansandsystemsoverthelong-term.This,inturn,fuelsmore galectin-3production,formingaperpetuallyclosedloopsystemthatisproving tobeperhapsthesinglegreatestthreattoourhealthandlongevity.

Theconditionofouralarmsystemanditsresponsetostressorsofdifferent originsdependsupontheconditionofmultipleothersystems.It’sinfluencedby theneurological,circulatory,andmetabolicsystems,aswellasmitochondrial function(ourenergyproductionsystem).Ourdietandlifestyleaffectittoo. Regardlessofthenature,origin,orlocationofthestressor,theresponse— galectin-3—hasanextraordinaryinfluenceonourbody’salertsystemand, subsequently,ourentirespectrumofhealthandlongevity.

Forouralarmsystemtoworkcorrectly,ourinflammatory,immune,and otherbiochemicalresponsesmustbecarefullyregulated.Whenthealarmsystem isworkingwell,itcanresolveslow-comingissueslikecancer,aging,orjoint pain.Itcanalsorampupquicklyandaddressimmediatethreatslikecuts, infections,bruises,emotionalstress,andotherdangers.Thenitcanwinddown

justasrapidlyaftertheproblemhaspassed.

Let’scompareahealthyinflammatoryresponsetoanunhealthyoneby thinkingaboutwhathappenswhenweturnonlights.Turningonasingle switchdoesn’ttakemuchenergy.Inthiscase,“turningononelight”alertsthe bodyofanissue,illuminatingtheneedforrepair.Whenthishappenswithinthe body,it’sanentirelynormal,acuteinflammatoryresponse,andwhenthe problemisgone,thelightturnsoff.

However,thetroublebeginswhenaswitchisturnedonandcan’tbeturned off.It’sasthoughacircuithasmalfunctioned.Whentheswitchstayson,it triggersacascade,causingmultiplelightstoswitchon.Thisisthestartof chronicinflammation,andthebodygoesintocrisismode.Atthatpoint,the bodyhasachoice:resolvetheproblemorkeepturningonmorelights.Ifthe bodychoosestokeepswitchingonlights,thiswilleventuallyleadtoamuch biggercrisis.

Anotherproblemwiththeselightsisthattheycanbeturnedoninisolation, awayfromthebody’sradar,meaningthebodywillbeunawarethattheselights areevenon.Justliketheselights,galectin-3canbeactivatedinanisolated microenvironmentwhereitgraduallycausesdamage.Insomecases,bythetime thedamageisdetected,itmaybetoolatetohealorreverseit.Apersonmay wakeuponedaytodiscover“sudden”kidneyfailure,wheninfact,thedamage occurredslowlyovertime—theywerejustunawareofit.

The Risks of Isolation Formations

Isolationisafundamentalsurvivalstrategy.Itisinitiatedanddrivenbygalectin3.Aswediscussedearlier,galectin-3usesmultiplepentamersboundtoeach otherindifferentwaystocreatelatticeformations(orcoatingsorbiofilms). Theseformationscreatepocketsofisolationaroundareasofdamage,infection, andtoxicbuild-up,amongothers.Withinthesemicroenvironmentscreatedby galectin-3,diseasescandevelopundetectedandremainprotectedfromdrug treatmentsandothertherapeuticagents.

Frequentharmfulvisitorswithinthebody—likebacteria,viruses,fungi, parasites,otherinfectiousagents,andcancercells—haveasimilarisolation strategy.Theycanhijackgalectin-3tocreateashieldaroundthemselves(a latticeformation)sotheyareundetectedbytheimmunesystemandcaneven evadetherapeuticagents.Galectin-3canalsoisolatevariousthreatsthataretoo difficultforthebodytodealwith,suchastoxinsandheavymetals.

Youcanimaginethatonapsychologicallevel,wegothroughasimilar process,buryingemotionsandtraumasthataretoodifficultforustodealwith. Evenifthesetraumasarenotatthesurfaceofourawarenessorconsciousness, theycanstillhaveapsychologicalandphysiologicaleffectonus.Youmight havehadanexperiencewhilegoingthroughadetoxprocesswhereanemotion ormemorysurfacesallofasudden.Wherewasthisemotionallthistime?Itwas likelyburiedinamicroenvironmentthatwasnotaccessibletous.Asweopen orrevealourphysiologicalmicroenvironmentsandreleasetoxins,wecanalso openpsychologicalmicroenvironmentsreleasingburiedemotions.

Evenifanisolatedareaisnotspecificallycreatedinordertohidean infectiousagentorcancercell,themicroenvironmentscreatedbythegalectin-3 latticeformationsarestillwalledofffromourcirculation,andthesealtered environmentscanoftenbecomeveryinflamedandhypoxicduetoalackof oxygen.

Hypoxia also shifts our cellular energy production pathway fromnormal mitochondrialfunctionto anaerobic glycolysis,whichisahighlyinefficientway toproduceenergy;itresultsinthebuildupoflacticacidandotherinflammatory metabolicby-products.Thiscanleadtofurtherhypoxia,whichproduces additionalinflammationandgalectin-3expression,causingthehardeningor dysfunctionoftissues,organs,andbloodvessels.

THE PROS AND CONS OF GALECTIN-3

Despitethepotentialharmitcando,galectin-3servesafewimportantpurposes withinthebody.Ithelpsintranuclearcelldevelopmentandextracellularinjury repairandsurvival.However,whenthebodyisincrisisandthereisan upregulationofgalectin-3production,itcanhavedetrimentalconsequences.

Duetocomplexbiochemicalstructuresandgenetictendencieswithineach person,thereisnostandard,predictableresponsewhenitcomestogalectin-3. Thisproteincanbeatdifferentlevelsindifferentpeopleandtriggerdifferent responses,eveniftheyhavethesamecondition.Forexample,somepeople’s bodiesare“hypervigilant,”alwaysonthealert,andtheyrespondtoastimulusor triggerwithoverinflammation.Otherpeoplemaynothaveagood“survival sense,”andtheylacktheabilitytofightandcreatetheproperinflammation. Instead,theyhaveatendencytoshutdownandendupwithsuppressed immunityoranincreaseinfibrosis.

Furthermore,thereisanadaptiveresponsewithgalectin-3,meaningthe reactionisamplifiedduetopreviousphysical,emotional,orpsychological trauma.Inanadaptiveresponse,oursystemhasbeenconditionedtorespondto specifictriggersinaparticularway.Inotherwords,itrepeatsthepatternsitis accustomedto,allthewaytothelevelofourcellularmemory.

Healing without Consequence

Forourbodiestohealproperly,weoftenneedtoremovethestimulantsthat causetheinflammatoryprocesstoperpetuallycontinue.It’snosecretthataswe getolder,ittakesmoreandmoreefforttodothingsthatoncetooknoeffortat all.Whenweareyoungandagile,ourbodiesaremoreefficientandlesstoxic; theyareflexibleandhaveahighcapacityforchange,growth,andrepair.We canmountarobustinflammatoryresponsetoshutaproblemdownwithout consequence.Likethemetaphorofabirdflyingintheskywithoutleavingany trace,orlikewritingonwater,wecanoftensolveaproblemwithoutleavinga trace.

However,asweage,ourbodieslosethatagility,andwearemoreapttocarry ourissueswithus.Forexample,ifaninjuryoccurstotheskininutero,the woundcanhealwithoutatrace,butasweage,thewoundhealingprocessslows andcausesincreasedscarring.Aswetraveltheroadoflife,ourbodiesdisplay theevidenceofourphysical,emotional,psychological,andspiritualtraumas— theynolongerhealwithease.

Themetaphorsforabirdflyingwithoutleavingatraceandwritingonwater comefromBuddhistphilosophy.Theyservetoillustratethenatureofthoughts andexperiencesasarisingandvanishing—anexampleofimpermanence.Thisis whatinflammationshouldbe:itshouldbeanacuteresponsethatoccursand thendisappears.Itshouldturnoffwithoutatraceandwithoutlingering consequences.Thisiswhathappenswhenwehavearobustimmunesystemand whengalectin-3worksappropriately.Andwhenitdoesn’t,thedamagebegins.

The Solution: Blocking Unhealthy Expression of Galectin-3

I’dliketotakeamomenttoemphasizeacriticalpointandtheprimaryreasonI wrotethisbook:wecanabsolutelyinterruptthiscycleofdestructionandhalt— orevenreverse—thesefundamentaldiseaseprocesses.How?Bydeactivating unhealthygalectin-3.

Whenweblockgalectin-3frombinding,wecanbreakuplatticeformations and reach the isolated pockets and areas of the body, including tumor microenvironments.Abnormaltissuesandcells,eventumorouscancercells,can becomenormalonceagain,which,needlesstosay,hastremendousimplications for our health and longevity. By blocking unhealthy galectin-3, we can dismantle its harmful effects and render it inactive, decreasing unhealthy inflammationintheprocess.Thismakesblockinggalectin-3oneofthemost importanttherapeuticstrategiesfortreatingavastarrayofconditions.

REBECCA’S STORY (CONTINUED)

Let’srevisitRebecca’sstorysinceithelpsillustratehowgalectin-3candirectly influencesurvival,health,anddisease.

WhenRebeccacametoseemein2011,itwasthefirstyearwewereableto testgalectin-3levelsintheblood.Thankstoasimplenewserumassaythatwas recentlyapprovedbytheFDAandisnowreadilyavailable,shewasoneofthe veryfirstpatientsinmypracticetohavegalectin-3levelstested.

Rebecca’sinitiallevelswereskyhigh,andtheby-productsofhersympathetic nervous system response to her crisis were elevated, as well as other proinflammatory,procancerousmarkers.Akeystrategyinhertreatmentplan wastotargetgalectin-3usingvariousprovenmethods.Weusedherlevelsasa markertogaugeherprogressthroughout.

Theresultswereunmistakable:whenRebeccawasdoingwell,hergalectin-3 levelswerelower,andwhenshewasinacrisis,herlevelswerehigher.For Rebecca,thismarkerservedasanimportantindicatorastowhenthecancerwas aggressiveandwhenitwas“quiet.”

Thishelpedusfine-tunehertreatmentsandstayonestepaheadofthecancer. (Note,however,thatduetoitscomplexbiochemistry,galectin-3cancause damageevenatlowlevels.Itisthereforeimportanttoaddressgalectin-3 regardlessofitslevels.MoreinformationcanbefoundinAppendixA.)

Rebeccataughtussomethingveryimportant:sheexemplifiedtheintimate connectionbetweenouremotionsandourhealth.WhenRebecca’sanxiety increased,hercancergotworse.Herpresentationwassopronouncedand immediatethatitwaseasytoseewhenheranxietywasworsening.Butwhen shewasabletorelax,quiettheanxiety,andbemorespacious,hersymptomsgot better. The way Rebecca responded as a person was the way her body responded as well. When her survival crisis decreased, and she became comfortablethinkingaboutlife,death,andimpermanence,itaffectedtheway thecancerfunctioned.Thecancerfeltlessthreatenedanddecreaseditsown survivalresponse.

Doesitsoundnew-ageyandfluffywhenItalkaboutchangesinthebehavior ofcancer?Really,it’snot.I’mreferringtochangesinthelevelsofgrowth factorsthatdrivetheaggressivenessofcancer,factorslikedownstreamproteins thatareregulatedbyoursurvivalprotein,galectin-3.Suchdownstreamproteins areimpactedbysignalingmolecules—whichthemselvesareimpactedbyour emotionalstate.

Rebeccawasabletocalmhersystemthroughregularmeditation,deep breathing,acupuncture,participationinmymeditationandhealingretreatsand workshops,andthroughtheuseofgalectin-3blockers.Thesehelpedtomitigate the initial survival process and significantly reduce the growth and aggressivenessofhercancer.

Rebecca’scancerdidnotcompletelyrespondtochemoandradiation,butit subsidedthroughthesehealingmethods.Herscansbecamenormal,indicating thathercancerhadgoneintoremission.ButRebeccadidmorethanjust incorporatethesehealingmethodsintohertreatment—she alsodeveloped communityandfriendshipswithotherpatientsinourcenter.

Thesefriendscheeredheronthroughoutherjourney,andthestoicdriverwho broughthertoherfirstappointmentwasnolongerneeded,asshebegan participatinginlivelycarpoolstotheclinic.Shewentfrombeinghighlycritical ofnonconventionalapproachesandbitteraboutherdiagnosisandfateto embracingherprocessandwelcominghertreatments.

Rebecca’stransformationsprofoundlyaffectedherphysiologyandallowed hertooutliveherprognosisconsiderably.Oneday,herlaughrangthroughthe clinicfromtheIVroom,remindingmeofthehealingpowerofjoy.Hercancer eventuallyreturned,butevenwithresiduallungcancer,shelivedsevenmore yearswithabetterqualityoflifethanshehadexperiencedindecades.Shesaid, “Isaac,Ifeelalivelikeneverbefore.”Shediedpeacefullyinherhome,ina meditativestate,surroundedbyfriends.Herlifewascelebratedbythemany peoplewhoweredeeplytouchedandinspiredbyherjourney.

CHAPTER THREE EFFECTS OF THE SURVIVAL RESPONSE

Nowthatyouunderstandhowgalectin-3works,let’sinvestigatethehavocit wreaks.

Imagineyouareoutside,sittingpeacefullyinnature.Perhapsthereisasmall creekrunningnearyou,itswatertumblingovertherockbed.Thesunbreaks throughthetrees,warmingyourback.Youfeelyourselflettinggoofallyour worries,untilyouarecompletelyrelaxedandatease.

Nowcomebacktoyourpresentcircumstancesandthinkaboutallthethings youneedtodo,allthecommitmentsandappointmentsfortheweek:the unansweredemails,texts,andphonecalls.Canyoufeeltheanxietyriseorashift inyourstateofmind?Ifso,youhavejusttriggeredyourinternalalarm.

Whatcausesustoshiftintoahypervigilantmode,allthewaydowntothe levelofourbiochemistry? Our need to survive.

Therearemanystrategiesforsurvival.Wecansurvivebyhiding,whichisa containmentstrategy.

Wecansurvivebyfighting,runningaway,orshuttingdownthedefense mechanismsofourenemies.Wecansurvivebyeatinglessorbyeatingfoods thatbreakdownslowly.Butnomatterthestrategy,thesurvivaldriveisan individualinstinct,andit’softeneverypersonforthemselves.

Thesurvivalinstincthasbeenenhancedthroughoutourevolution.Froman evolutionarypointofview,ourmostimportantmissionistocreatethenext generation.Thismeansthatweneedtheabilitytodevelophealthycellsand healthytissuesandorgans—ahealthyindividualneedstosurvivelongenoughto fulfilltheirevolutionaryobligations.

Today,thebasisforevolutionstillhasn’tbeencompletelysettledamong scientists.Somestillbelieveinnaturalselectionasthedrivingforceofevolution, whileotherssupporttheideaofrandommutationsastheprimarydrivingforce. Ibelieveit’slimitingforustothinkthatevolutionisrandomatitscore,but whateverthetheory,itistruethatwearedrivenbytheneedtosurvive.

Oursurvivalmechanisms,however,seldomworkinthelongrun.Withthe unprecedentedspeedofrapidculturalchangeandnewtechnologicaladvances, ourevolutionaryadaptationcannotpossiblykeepup!Weareevolutionarily primedtohaveanalertresponsemorefittingforthedangersourancestorsfaced inthewilderness,althoughsuchdangersarelonggone.Oursurvivaldrive respondsaccordingly—evenifitisatthecostofourhealthandhappiness.Inthe wordsofAaronBeck,fatherofbothcognitivetherapyandcognitivebehavioral therapy,“Thecostofsurvivalofthelineagemaybealifetimeofdiscomfort.”

Forexample,thoughmodernculturethrivesoncompetitionandselfdistinction,ourcompetitivedriveandself-orientedbehaviorcanleaveusfeeling isolatedandalone.Lonelinesscausesanaturalwithdrawalthatisincreasingly self-oriented,andlonelyindividualstendtofocusmoreontheirownneeds. Thisispositedtobeanevolutionaryself-preservationinstinct,whichmayhave servedusinourhunter-and-gathererdays—forinstance,ifwewereseparated fromourgroupandhadtosurviveonourown.Undersuchcircumstances, beingalonewouldrequireadegreeofself-focus.Whoelsecouldfendforusif notourselves?Itwouldalsorequireustobehypervigilant.

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Certainly,suchadaptivetraitsoncehelpedussurvive.Butinourmodern-day existence—where booming cities and concrete highways have replaced predator-filled plains—these traits can function in maladaptive ways. An interestingstudypublishedin2017evaluated229participantsoveraperiodof tenyears.Thestudyfoundthatfeelingsoflonelinesspredictedself-centeredness, whileself-centerednesswasassociatedwithsubsequentloneliness,creatinga vicious cycle. Notably, numerous studies have shown that loneliness and isolationhavebeenassociatedwithserioushealthconditions,includingstroke, coronaryheartdisease,increasedbloodpressure,diabetes,Alzheimer’sdisease, stress,anddepression. Whatmayhaveoncebeenamechanismthathelpedus surviveisactuallymakingussick!

Whenwemove away fromourindividualsurvivalfocusandcultivategreater socialconnection,community,andcompassion,wecanlivehealthierand happier lives. Compassion encourages us to expand beyond the microenvironmentofourownpersonalnarrative,activatingagreatersenseof connectednesstoothers.Thispromotesgreaterphysicalandmentalwell-being, reducinganxietyandinflammationwhilepositivelyimpactingourimmune system.

Lookingmorecloselyatoursurvivalmechanisms,weknowthebodycreates asurvivalresponsetodifferentstimuliandtriggers.Theycanbephysical, emotional,mental,psychological,spiritual,environmental,oreven epigenetic (heritablechangesingeneexpressionswithoutanalterationintheDNA sequence).Butregardlessoftheorigin,thebodyelicitsthesamebiochemical responsetoeachone:itsoundsthealarm,whichstartstheinflammatory responsecascade.

THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE

We’ve all heard about chronic inflammation and its detrimental effects. Inflammationisoftensynonymouswithtrouble,andforgoodreason,but inflammationisanecessaryprotectiveresponsemechanism.

It’sourwayofrespondingtoandfightingdifferentthreats.Whenitcomesto survival as a protective mechanism, we must be equipped to initiate an immediateresponse,ashort-termresponse,andsustainabalancedlong-term response.

Youalsomayhaveheardthatinflammationisthecauseofdifferenthealth conditionsanddiseases.Butifinflammationisaresponse, how can it be the cause? Inflammationistheresponsemechanismofthebodytodifferentinsultssuchas tissueinjury,infection,physicalandemotionaltrauma,orexposuretopoisons andchemicals.So,whydoesthisvitalfunctionleadtosomanyproblemsdown theline?

Ifyou’veeversustainedaninjury,thenyouarefamiliarwiththefourclassic signsofacuteinflammation:

Redness(duetoincreasedbloodflowtotheinjuredarea)

Swelling(duetotheaccumulationoffluid)

Pain(duetotheswelling)

Decreasedrangeofmotion

Whilethesesymptomsareunpleasant,acontrolled,acuteinflammatory responsehasaclearbeginning,middle,andend—itstartsandstops,anditserves severalprotectiveroles.Forinstance,swellingoccursbecausethespacebetween cellsinthevesselwallexpands,allowingfluidsandimmunecellstopenetrate thearea.Thispreventsthespreadofinfectiousagents,removesdamagedtissues andpathogens,andassistsinthebody’srepairprocesses.Youcanthinkofacute inflammationasacontrolledbrushfire,meanttoclearthebrushandprevent larger,uncontrolledfireslateron.

Oncehealingiscomplete,theinflammationclearsoutofthesystem,andno wasteproductsshouldremain.So,whyaretheretimeswhentheinflammatory processwon’tstop?Theanswerissimple:ifthebodyisstuckinsurvivalmode, itsensesthattheproblemhasn’tbeenresolved,andtheprocesscontinues. Galectin-3causesthesurvivalalarmtostayon,andasaresult,itdoesn’tallow theinflammatoryprocesstocometoasmoothandswiftend.

Tomakemattersabitmorecomplicated,diseaseprocessescanalsocreate theirownsurvivalmodes,especiallywhentheyareindependententitieslike infections,ortheyhavetheirownregulatorymechanisms,likecancer.

Forexample,aninfectioncancreateanisolatedenvironmentbyutilizing galectin-3—itbuildsabiofilmtoavoidimmunerecognition.Thisallowsthe infectiontogointoadormantstateand“hide,”creatinglocal,low-leveldamage butwithoutactivatingthegeneralizedimmunesystem.However,whenthe bodyencountersstressandshiftsintosurvivalmode,theinfectionrespondsto thechangeinenvironment.Likesmolderingembersfannedbystrongwindon ahotday,theinfectionleapstolife,becomingaroaringwildfire.Onecommon infectionwherethiscanoccurisincandida(ayeastnaturallyfoundinthe body):theinfectionisdormant,butoncethereisenoughstressinthebody,or theimmunesystemisweakened,itwillemerge.Thiscanalsohappenwith differenttypesoffungi,parasites,viruses,and Borrelia,thespirochete(spiralshapedbacteria)thatcausesLymedisease.

The Role of Cellular Stress

Tounderstandwhatmakesanacuteconditionshifttochronicillness,wemust firstexploretheconceptofcellularstressanditsroleinlow-levelinflammation. Cellularstressbeginsintheextracellularspace(thespacebetweencells)within theconnectivetissue.Thisiswherecommunicationtakesplacebetweencells, andthisiswheregalectin-3doesitsdamage:itdrawsinflammatorycompounds intotheextracellularspace,andonceitbindstothem,itcreatesthelattice formation.Thisallowstheslow-developinginflammatoryresponsetooccurin isolation,awayfromthebody’s“radar.”

Thechangesintheextracellularspacewillthenaffectthecellmembrane. Galectin-3willattachtoreceptorsonthecellmembrane(thecellsurface). Thinkofthesecellsurfacereceptorsasa“dockingstation”forspecificmolecules andproteins.

Thecellsurfacereceptorswillaffectandregulatehowthemembranefunctions and,asaresult,willaffecttheprocessesinsidethecell.Galectin-3blocksor altersthesereceptors,thusshiftingcellmetabolismandfunctionintoastressed survivalmode.Oncethecellislockedintothisstate,allhellbreaksloose.The mitochondriastopfunctioningproperly,anaerobicglycolysisswitcheson,the intracellularpHchanges,inflammatoryby-productsareproducedandexcreted, andcellulardamageensues.Thekeythatignitesallofthisisgalectin-3!

RADIATION AS INFLAMMATION

Our bodies are constantly exposed to different kinds of radiation, both ionizing and nonionizing. The radiation can originate from cell phones, TVs, computers, electromagnetic fields, medical imaging, cosmic radiation, and other sources. If we compare the amount of radiation we are exposed to today versus our exposure one hundred years ago, it’s exponentially greater. Some experts estimate that it’s even a trillion billion times greater! Really, we can’t even comprehend the number. And guess what? Radiation is a type of chronic, low-level inflammation. (See Appendix F for more information.)

MINIMIZING INFLAMMATION

Multiplediseasesaredrivenbychronicinflammation,andifwecanregulate galectin-3,wecaninfluencethematthesource.Anythingthatproducesheatin thebodywillhaveaninflammatoryeffect,andanythingthat“cools”thesystem, turnsdowntheheat,andcreatesspacewillhelpreduceinflammation.

WhenIsay“space,”I’minitiallyreferringtophysicalspace,suchasahealthy, better-oxygenatedextracellularspacewithinajoint,withminimalinflammatory by-products.ButI’malsoreferringtospaceinthecontextandperceptionof time;wemusthavemoretimebetweenactionsandallowmoretimefor“letting go”inourlives.Thismeanswemustcreatespaceinouremotionalandmental responses.Wealsoneedtocreatespaceinourphysiology,allthewaydownto thebiochemicalprocessesinourbody.

It’seasiertomakeasharpturnwhiledrivingtwentymilesperhourrather thanonehundred.Slowingdownisthekeytocreatingspaceandcooling inflammation.It’samatterofshiftingfromareactivesurvivalmodeintoa harmonious,relaxedone—amovementtoaplacewherekindness,love,and compassionreplaceangerandresentment.Adjustingouractivitiesandlifestyle willallowustodojustthat.

Wecancoolthebodyandcreatespacebygettingsufficientsleep,reducing stress,stayinghydrated,eatingananti-inflammatorydiet,andengagingin regularexerciseandmovement.Meditationcreatesspacebetweenthoughts,and asaresult,canreduceinflammation.Iknowfrommyownexperiencethatthe reductionofinflammationasaby-productofmeditationisanever-evolving process.EventhoughI’vepracticedmeditationformanyyears,Istillfallinto thehabitoftestingmycapacityandoverloadingmysystem.Mypersonal methodforcreatingspaceistakinglongerperiodsoftimeforcoolingandfor repair,buteachofushastofindourownformula.(We’lldiscussspecific strategiestoreduceinflammationasitappliestospecificconditionslaterinthe book.)

We often take anti-inflammatory herbs or medications to reduce inflammation,buttherealpathtohealingcomeswhenwechangethesurvival processatthesource—whenwechangeourfixationandallowforchangeand flow.

Fixationandflowarethecatalystsofimportantrelationshipsinourlifeand ourhealth.Fixationcanaffectusonthemental,emotional,andphysicallevels. It’spossibletobestuckinmentalfixations,likeobsessive-compulsivebehavior andoverthinking.Orwecanbeemotionallyfixated,unwillingtoletgoof certainfeelings.

Ifwe’refixatedonharmfulornegativeemotionssuchasangerandresentment, itcanaffectourphysiologyandcauseourhealthtodeteriorate.Itwilldegrade ourimmune,cardiovascular,andmetabolicsystems,andcanmanifestasfibrosis.

Ontheotherhand,whenthingsmovetoofastandweloseourhealthyflow, itcanleadtoinflammation.Thiscanresultinreducingthe“innerspace,”the placeandtimewherethebodycandetoxifyandgetridoftheby-productsof enhancedmetabolism.Inflammatoryheatwillalsodamageandreduceourinner lubrication—itaffectsthewatercontentinourbodiesandourabilitytodetoxify andneutralizefreeradicalsandtheireffects.

FIXATION: A FORM OF MENTAL FIBROSIS

Fixation is a form of mental fibrosis it’s a lack of movement in our thinking processes that can affect our perception and experience of the present, past, and future For example, obsession and compulsion are emotional fixations in the present, guilt is a fixation on the past, and worry and fear are fixations on the future.

THE INTERPLAY OF INFLAMMATION AND FIBROSIS

Inflammation andfibrosis arecloselyrelatedandinterdependent, andthe survivalresponsethebodychoosescanemphasizetheinflammatoryorthe fibrotic pathway. The response is influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and acquiredtendencies,aswellastheconditionitself.Thesefactorsdetermine whichpathwaythebodywilltake,andsometimesonewillcompensateforthe other.

Forexample,certainpeoplefollowmoreofaninflammatorypathwaybecause theyhaveastrongsurvivalresponse.Inotherwords,theirbodiesreacttoa survivalchallengemoreaggressivelywithgreaterforceandreactivity,creating greaterfriction.Otherpeoplewhoareunabletomountaproperresponsewill moveinthedirectionofcontractionandisolation,andthesetendencieswill expressthemselvesinfibrotic-dominantprocesses.It’simportanttorecognize thatboththefibroticandinflammatoryprocesswillendupcausingtissue damageandorgandysfunctionwhentheyrunrampant—bothpathwaysresult infibrosis.

Ourroleinthehealingjourneyistorecognizethatthesetwofundamental processesdriveeverychronicdisease—andtorealizethat both ofthemstemfrom thesurvivalresponse.

Theyarereflectedintheverybasicsurvival-drivenfunctionofthesympathetic nervoussystem:weeitherfight,whichisaninflammatoryprocess,orwe engageinfear,whichresultsincontraction,stagnation,andfibrosis.Bothare recognizedbythebodyasresponsestodanger.

Inordertocreatehealthyresponsesthatdonotresultindamaging consequences,weneedtorecognizethecausesofinflammationandfibrosisand addressthesurvivaldrivethatprecedesthem.Ifnotaddressed,animbalanced survivaldrivecancreateimmunedysfunction,hypoxia,andinflammatory, fibrotic,andcancerousprocesses.Ourfixations,ortheinabilityto“letgo,”can leadtorigidbehavioralandphysiologicalpatterns.Itwillaffectusmentally, emotionally,andyes, physically.

CHAPTER FOUR

HOW THE SURVIVAL RESPONSE OPERATES

Nowthatyouhaveanideaofthedamagedone,let’sinvestigateexactlyhowit happens.

Thesurvivalresponseisinnateineachofus.Itisbuiltintoourself-identity; itallowsustodistinguishbetween self and other.Forexample,ourimmune systemrecognizesourbody’scellsas“self”whileidentifyingforeignmaterialas “other,”whichitwillthenworktoeliminate.Assuch,weneedtobeableto initiateasurvivalresponseinstantly,instinctively,andwithoutthinkingabout it.Thisisdonebythesympatheticnervoussystem,whichelicitstheimmediate autonomicresponse:fightorflight.

Allexpressionsofthesurvivalresponsearebuiltinandinnate,andcan happeninafractionofasecond.Buttheresponsecanalsobeturnedoff relativelyeasilybythe parasympathetic system.Theparasympatheticsystem balancesthesympatheticsystemandisinchargeofshiftingthebodytoastate ofbalance,harmony,peace,andsafety.

Thinkaboutitthisway:ifthesympatheticsystemisyourworkweek,the parasympatheticsystemistheweekend.Withoutthelatter’sproperfunction, oursurvivalresponsewouldveryquicklygooutofcontrol.

Basedondifferentperceivedthreats,thebodyadjustsitsfunctionsinorderto support and sustain both short-term and long-term survival responses. It accomplishesthisthroughthemetabolicsystem(thewayourcellsusenutrients to produce energy). Basically, the metabolic system shifts into crisismanagementmodeinordertosupportthesympatheticsystemasitlaunchesa survivalresponse.

Let’szoominevenfartherandfindoutwhat’shappeningatthecellularlevel.

WHEN CELLS WORK UNDER DURESS

Duringtimesofnormalcywhenwearenotundersurvivalthreat,thecell producesenergycalledadenosinetriphosphate(ATP)byutilizingoxygento processglucose.Thisprocess,knownasaerobicmetabolism,takesplaceinside themitochondria,theintracellularorganelleresponsibleforenergyproduction. Healthymitochondrialfunctionisakeycomponentofhealthandlongevity. However,whenthebodyand,asaresult,thecell(orviceversa)isunder survivalthreat,itneedstoproduceenergymuchfaster.Thecelldoesn’thave timetoproduceenergythroughaerobicmetabolism,soitinsteadproduces energythroughglycolysis—a.k.a.anaerobicmetabolism(sinceitdoesn’tuse oxygen).

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Whenanaerobicglycolysiskicksin,thecellcanproduceenergyonehundred timesfasterthanthroughaerobicmetabolism,butata huge cost.

Whenthecelldoesnotutilizeoxygen,itismuchlessefficient(itproducesonly twomoleculesofATPforeveryoneofglucose,comparedtothirty-six moleculesofATPduringaerobicmetabolism).Anaerobicglycolysisalsoends upproducinglacticacid,aproblematicby-productthatchangesthecell’sacidbasebalance,whichcanproduceacidosis.Thiscausesexcessiveaciditynotonly inthecellanditsenvironmentbuteventuallyalsointhebody’scirculation.

Asanaerobicglycolysisrequiresalargeamountofsugars,orglucose,the short-termmetabolicsurvivalresponseisglucosedependent.Glycolysisis rampedupintimesofdanger,whenenergyneedstobesuppliedveryquickly. It’susedasashort-termsurvivalmechanismwhentheperson,theorgan,the tissues,andthecellareinastateofstress.Asaresult,themitochondriaarenot abletofunctionproperly,andthiscanleadto mitochondrial dysfunction—the inabilityofthecelltoproduceenergyefficiently—whichisattherootofmany chronicdiseases.Thisiswhat’sbehindthephrase“stresskills.”Theshiftfrom aerobicmetabolismtoanaerobicglycolysiscanliterallyleadtochronicdisease.

Whenthebodyisengagedinasurvivalresponse,itwillcontinuetodoso evenafterrunningoutofglucose.Aclassicexampleofthisisduringstarvation —thebodyisnotgettingsufficientglucoseandneedstofindanalternatewayto survive.Wedothisbyconvertingtheproductionofenergyfromglucoseto fat-derivedketones(whichisthebasisofthepopularketogenicdiet). Ketosis,or theuseofketonesforenergyproduction,isan alternate long-termsurvival mechanismthatallowsustosurviveforweeksatatime,butit’sstillnothowa cellfunctionsintimesofnormalcy,peace,andharmony.

Whileindividualcellsneedtosurvive,theyareinherentlyimpermanent. Cellsarecreatedthroughmitosis,wheretheyduplicateanddivide.Onceacell reproduces,ithasserveditsexistentialpurposeforsurvival,andwhenitendsits lifecycle,anothercellwiththesamefunctionwilltakeitsplace.Atsomepoint, thecellwilldiethroughtheprocessof apoptosis,orprogrammedcelldeath.

WHEN CELLS ARE HIJACKED

Cellsareinnately“aware”oftheirfunctionaspartofabiggerpicture,muchlike theawarenessofasinglebeeinabeehive.Asinglebeeknowsthatsheisapart ofalargercommunity,andworksforthegoodofthecolony.Whenacellis normal and healthy, it doesn’t feel threatened, and it engages in proper communicationwithitsenvironment.Ithasthetimeandabilitytocreate normalmetabolicprocessesthatareessentialforefficientenergyproductionand overallfunction.

Butasamazingasourcellsare,galectin-3candramaticallydisrupt communicationwithintheintricatecommunityofthebody.Itinterfereswith cellreceptorsbyattachingtothesurfaceofnormalcellsandhijackingtheir communicationsignals.Asaresult,galectin-3interruptstheimmunesystem andrampsupthefight-or-flightsurvivalresponse.

Recallfromourpreviousdiscussionthatwhenacellgoesintosurvivalmode, itswitchesitsenergyproductionsystemtoanaerobicglycolysis,whichproduces energymuchfasterbutcreateslacticacidintheprocess.Thiscaninduce hypoxia,produceinflammation,createdamagingfreeradicals,andresultin oxidativestress,aconditioninwhichthebodyisunabletoriditselfofthesefree radicals.Thisfight-or-flightresponseanditsproinflammatoryby-products eventuallydamagethecellanditsenvironment.Adamagedcellcanstartto behaveasthoughit’sbeingthreatened,anditwillrefusetodieandallowanew celltotakeitsplace.Itwillstarttoduplicateuncontrollablyaspartofitssurvival response.Thisiswhereconditionslikecancercanbegin.

Howisgalectin-3abletoelicitsomanydifferentcellularresponses?Itcan bindtoawidevarietyofmolecules,includingthoseonthecellsurfaceandin theextracellularspace,aswellasaspecifickindcalled ligands (biologicallyactive moleculesthatcanbindtoproteins).Andofcourse,galectin-3canalsobindto itself,suchaswhenitcreatespentamers.

Thespecificligandsthatbindtogalectin-3dosoviatheircarbohydrateor sugar components, which attach to galectin-3’s carbohydrate recognition domain(CRD).Byhavingdifferentligands—whichdrivedifferentfunctions— attachtoitsCRD,galectin-3canwindupinitiatingandaffectingagreatvariety ofresponsesandoutcomes.

Thekindofligandsthatattachtogalectin-3candeterminetheeffectthat galectin-3willhave.Additionally,galectin-3candeliverspecificligandsto targetedtissueswheretheligandsthenexerttheirspecificeffects.Forexample, ligandsthatpromotegrowthofbloodvesselscanbedeliveredtothecancerous tumorbygalectin-3,therebyincreasingbloodvesselgrowthandbloodsupply tothetumor.Thisenablesthecancertogrowfasterandbecomemore aggressive.Inthisway,galectin-3canactually feed and fuel thesetumorsby triggering angiogenesis (bloodvesselformation).

We’vediscussedhowgalectin-3pentamersscaffoldtogethertocreatea coating known as a lattice formation. This helps establish cell microenvironmentsandallowscellswithacommonadversarialfunctionagainst thebodytosticktogether.

Thiscantakeplacethroughtheuseofaclassofligandscalled integrins— moleculesthat“stick”cellstogether,creatingcommunitiesofcellsthatare independentfromtherestofthebody.IntegrinsareattachedtotheCRDof galectin-3,andtheyarethendeliveredtotheirdestination,wheretheycanstick tothetargettissue.Inthisway,integrinsaredirectlyrelatedtothemetastatic process,whichallowscancertothrivewhilethehostbodywithersaway.

Forthesereasons,galectin-3hasbeentermedthe“guardianofthetumor microenvironment.”

THE MICRO MIRRORS

THE MACRO

I’msurebynowyouseemyinclinationtocorrelatethemacroandmicro cosmos.Irelatewhatweexperienceasindividuals,communities,andtheplanet towhatishappeningatthecellularlevel.Thisisnotarbitrary;theseareall differentmanifestationsofthesamebasicprinciples.

Asindividuals,weexperiencelifethroughoursenses—weperceivesensory inputfromtheoutside,aswellasthroughourinnerthoughts,feelings,and bodysensations.Ourskinformsavisibleboundarybetweenusandtheoutside world,andweinteractwithoursurroundingsthroughbreathing,eating, drinking,andcommunication.Wearethecenterofourownreality,andwe experienceeverythingaroundusfromanindividualperspective.Yetwearepart ofafamily,community,nation,planet,solarsystem,andbeyond.

Whenweexplorethisconceptonthecellularlevel,weseethatourDNA allowstheexpressionofdifferentproteinsandcompounds,andformsour geneticmakeup.Thesameinformation—thesameDNA—ispresentineachand everyoneofourcells.Eachcelliscapableofproducingenergytosustainitself, andeachonehasaboundaryknownasamembrane.Themembraneis semipermeable,meaningitdecideswhatcomesintothecell,andwhatgoesout ofit.

Thecellmembraneregulatestheprocessthroughdifferentchannels,pumps,and receptorsonthecellsurface—it’safunctioningunitthatispartofalargerentity, ahumanlife.Justlikeus,thecellbehavesacertainwaybasedonsignalsfrom withinandoutsideitself,andasaresult,itproducesvariousbiochemical compoundssuchashormones,proteins,andsignalingmolecules.

TheMiracleofLife

Eachofusisatruemiracle!Wearemadeoftensof trillions of cells,eachofthemundergoinguptoonemillionreactionsevery second.Thesecellshavedifferentfunctionsbutworktogetherin harmonywithonegoalinmind:tokeepusalivebiologically andallowustofulfillourpurposeandaspirations.Furthermore, each person is an individualized expression of endless combinationsofgeneticinformationfrommillionsandbillions ofancestorsovermanymillennia.CanyouseewhyIaminawe thinkingaboutthemiracleofbeingalive?

Survivalisbasedonself-interest.Everycellandeveryorganinthebody followsthisprinciple.Acelltakesinwhatitneedsforsurvivalandexcretesany by-productsthatarenolongerneeded.Ifthecelllosesitsresponsibilitytothe community,itcanexcretecompoundsthatdamageitsenvironmentand,over time,itselfaswell.Thisillustratesthesurvivalparadoxatthemicrolevel—while beinganalogoustoenvironmentalhealthconcernswehavecreatedonearthat themacrolevel.

Oursurvivalasaspeciesonthisplanethasalsobeenbasedonself-interest. Wepullfromitwhateverwewantforourbodies,homes,andbusinessesand excreteanyby-productswenolongerthinkweneed.Andjustlikeacell,when weloseresponsibilitytoourtruecommunity—thedelicateecosystemfrom whichwespring—wedamagenotonlytheenvironmentbutalsoourselves.

Fortunately,themicroandmacronotonlymirroroneanotherbutcanheal oneanother.Whenweshiftawayfromasurvivalresponsewithinourbodies, wewillsimultaneouslydosoglobally,andviceversa.Thereisawaytothrive holistically.AsI’vesaid,there’salwaysapathtowardhealingifwechooseit.