While there are many cells in our body that perform different functions and have different internal structures they all have some basic function similarities. All our cells need water to survive and work and they all have 3 basic components (excluding red blood cells that eject their nucleus). These components are the Nucleus, the Internal Structure and the Plasma Membrane.

Each of these components when combined performs specific functions. Even though they may perform different specific functions they all intake water, metabolize it and eject a waste product called nucleic acid. This waste product is then dealt with by the body's main cleaning systems; being the liver and the kidneys. This flow through system is very important and when something goes wrong; like the cell becoming clogged with toxins, problems begin to occur.

When the cell is functioning correctly it has a good flow of liquid (water) going through it. The liquid has two ways to enter and leave the cell structure. The outer membrane or plasma membrane is a selectively permeable barrier, meaning that it allows some substances to pass while excluding others.

When a substance can penetrate the plasma membrane without any energy input from the cell, it is called passive transport. When the cell must provide metabolic energy, the process is called active transport. The movement of water into the cell is an example of passive transport while movement of amino acids and most ions across the membrane is active transport.

The Plasma Membrane
The plasma membrane as well as being selectively permeable has another very important function. It maintains a potential voltage difference between the internal structure of the cell and the intercellular fluid. Scientists are just now starting to realize the importance of the voltage that exists on the membrane itself. Its electrical value plays a part in helping the membrane be selectively permeable. If this voltage drops too low it contributes to loss of cell integrity. What is important here is that it has been scientifically proven that an unhealthy cell has a very poor membrane voltage.

There are a lot of things that can start to go wrong when we exert an outside influence on the cell, such as a toxin. Our bodies are more than capable of withstanding low levels of toxins but when these levels rise too high, a chain of events start to take place and the integrity of the cell is compromised. The integrity of the cell can be affected from both the outside or the inside and the toxins that cause the problem do not need to come from an external source, because the cell itself produces a waste product that could be considered as a toxin.

As we have already said the body has a natural defense mechanism for removing toxins from the system. In the average individual, these systems are functioning correctly but under load the system can break down and result in a toxin build up. For most people the threat of toxin build up is not only from having the cleaning system not operating correctly, but from the type of toxins we are now exposed too. Some toxins do not remain in the intercellular fluid and become attached to the cell membrane, and if the body is operating below 100% problems can occur.

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