• Is found in the spaces between tissue
• Is similar to blood plasma
• Is able to communicate with blood plasma
• The human body has about 2.9 gallons of interstitial fluid
• Functions include
  • Feed nutrients and chemicals from the blood to the cells
  • Remove toxins from the cells
  • Cellular communication
• Contents
  • Fluctuate depending on surrounding tissue
  • Generally composed of
    • water
    • amino acids
    • sugars
    • fatty acids
    • coenzymes
    • hormones
    • neurotransmitters
    • salts (minerals)
    • cellular waste
    • lymphocytes (white blood cells)
    • lymph

Relationship With Capillaries

As discussed in Principle #2: Blood Circulation, capillaries are so small that blood cells can only enter one cell at a time. These same capillaries will not allow red blood cells, platelets, or plasma protein to pass through their walls, but they do allow the other substances in the blood (see Principle #1: Blood Quality) to pass into the interstitial fluid. This is the process that allows the capillary to make the cellular exchange.

An osmotic process (osmosis) pushes these exchanged elements from the (arterial end) capillaries into the interstitial fluid and then back into the (venous end) capillaries returning to the heart (see image).

Relationship With The Lymphatic System

In order to prevent a build up of interstitial fluid, which can cause swelling (particularly of the ankles due to gravity), the lymphatic system can absorb a portion of the fluid and transport it back into the blood.

The Cellular Wastes

Through the processes of osmosis and lymphatic exchange, cellular wastes are forced into the blood stream. From there the cellular wastes are transported to four elimination stations.

Four Elimination Stations

God has designed the human body to eliminate waste in four primary methods.

1. Lungs
2. Skin
3. Kidneys
4. Colon

We will discuss these elimination organs in much greater detail in the future. For now, let us say, that if the body cannot properly eliminate cellular wastes, they will build up in the body and cause disease and all kinds of health related problems.

• To provide a healthy immune system
• To provide proper nutrients to our cells
• To cleanse the cells and tissues of our body

If one of the Life Principle elements are out of balance or not working properly, some tissue, organ, or part of our body will start to malfunction (beginning slowly at the cellular level) and symptoms of poor health will start to appear. Each of these three Principles must be operating properly in order to have a healthy body.