Stem Cells

Stem cells are foundational building-block cells (for repair and advancement) 
capable of dividing indefinitely and transforming into specialized cells such as muscle, blood, or brain cells.
All of which are extremely important during the endless cycle of training and recovery.

These are found in small numbers in various adult tissues and organs. They are primarily responsible for maintaining, repairing, and replacing cells in their specific tissue of origin. [1, 2]

  • Bone marrow stem cells develop into all types of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

  • Connective tissue stem cells develop into bone, cartilage, muscle cells, and fat cells. (For athletic purposes, fat cells serve as the body’s largest energy reservoir and provide the production of hormones that regulate insulin use and metabolic adaptation processes that communicate directly with muscle cells during physical performance. You need and want healthy and productive fat cells.)

  • Neural stem cells (to include the central nervous system cells, peripheral nervous system cells, and brain cells) provide communication networks throughout your entire body and brain.

  • Muscle stem cells (known as satellite cells) build and rebuild muscle fibers for athletic advancement.

  • Intestinal stem cells help repair and replace the entire lining of your gut every 3 to 7 days. (FYI, your “entire gut” includes…

    Mouth: Where digestion begins as you chew and mix food with saliva.
    Esophagus: The muscular tube that pushes food down.
    Stomach: An organ that churns and breaks down food with acids and enzymes.
    Small intestine: Where most nutrients are absorbed into your bloodstream.
    Large intestine (colon): Absorbs remaining water and processes waste.
    Rectum & Anus: Stores and expels solid waste.

Of the six flow state chemicals, oxytocin, endorphins, anandamide, and dopamine are known to stimulate, mobilize, or regulate the use of stem cells to include:

  • Oxytocin-GLA: Known as the "love of self” hormone, it actively stimulates heart tissue regeneration by prompting stem cells to migrate and differentiate into beating heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes). It also helps repair aged muscle stem cells and orchestrates intestinal stem cell self-renewal.

  • Endorphins: These natural painkillers promote the proliferation (multiplication) of neural stem cells and support neuroregeneration that repairs the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as cells in your Analytical Brain, Emotional Brain, Athletic Brain, and brain stem.

  • Anandamide: It plays a significant role in neural progenitor stem cells responsible for learning, memory, and HAPPINESS. As an endocannabinoid, it also promotes the use of muscle stem cells, known as satellite cells.

    (Memory recall: Happiness equals success!)

  • Dopamine: Crucial for motivation and reward, dopamine signaling in the brain and peripheral tissues assists in the survival, mobilization, and migration of adult stem cells, such as hematopoietic cells. Lab techniques use this property to program stem cells to differentiate into dopamine-producing neurons.

Flow Hormones not only promote “being in the zone” during athletic performance, but also day-to-day optimal health.

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