Structural System

July 28, 2010

The structural system provides a framework for the body. Consisting of bones, muscles and connective tissues, it gives the body not only form, but also the ability to move.

When a baby is born, it has about 350 bones, all soft because they are composed mostly of a watery substance called cartilage. As the baby grows, calcium phosphate permeates the bones, and they stiffen. This process is called calcification. Eventually calcified cartilage is replaced by true bone, made up largely of calcium phosphate, and some of the bones fuse together. A normal adult has between 206 and 209 bones in his body, depending upon whether he has one or two additional ribs and an extra bone in the coccyx (tailbone).

Calcium phosphate is deposited in bones in two ways. At the outer edge it takes the form of a solid, compact material covered by a membrane called the periosteum. Deeper inside, it becomes a honeycomb of sponge-like, porous material called cancellous bone. A soft material known as marrow fills the spaces inside the cancellous bone. Marrow is actually the manufacturing site of both red and white blood cells, and as such is tunneled with vessels that move freshly made red and white blood cells out and bring in red ones containing essential nutrients.

Although bones generally stop growing in length during mid-teens for girls and at around age 20 for boys, they never really stop the growing process, because they are constantly rebuilding themselves.

Bones contain two types of cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts. These work together to continually build new bone material on the outside and remove old, unneeded material from the inside. To sustain this growth, the body must have sufficient supplies of certain nutrients, including calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D. If there is a shortage of calcium in the bloodstream, the body will remove it from the bones without replacing it. This can eventually cause bones to become weak and porous. Unchecked, it can lead to a severely lifestyle-limiting, sometimes fatal condition known as osteoporosis.

Connections

Joints have been called masterpieces of engineering because they are designed to permit movement between bones that must meet, but not touch each other. Their role is to bind two or more bones firmly together while cushioning and lubricating them well enough to last thorough a lifetime of lifting, swinging, bending, walking, etc.

While their individual construction may vary, most joints are made up of the same elements. The joint is enclosed in a tough, fibrous capsule of connective tissue that secretes a liquid called synovial fluid. The synovial fluid lubricates the moving parts. Outside the capsule, fibrous anchors called ligaments surround the joint and link the bones. Ligaments protect the capsule and help keep all motion of the joint within safe limits. In places where muscle tissues, called tendons or sinews, pass next to large joints so that muscles on one side will be linked to bones on the other, small fluid-filled pouches, or bursae, also act as buffers.

Muscles

Bones and sinews may control the movements of the body, but muscles create them by converting chemical energy from food into mechanical energy.

Muscles perform their work by contracting. This means that they pull, never push, and because of this it takes a pair of them to make a range of movement possible. There are more than 600 muscles in the body consisting of three basic types: heart muscle, smooth muscle, and skeletal muscle. Each muscle is make up of innumerable tiny, string-like fibers, and each of these, in turn, is composed of bundles of infinitesimal filaments varying in length from half an inch to about a foot. Small muscles have just a few fibers, while large ones have a great many.

Muscles grow strong through use. The effort it takes to use muscles makes the heart supply them with more blood vessels. In effect, exercise enlarges and strengthens muscles just as it does bones.

Factors in Structural Health

Regular, lifelong activity is essential to keeping bones and muscles functioning optimally. If a person is never very active, his/her bones won’t be able to grow as dense as nature meant them to be. Likewise, if a person is active enough to develop the strongest skeleton possible, but then becomes inactive, the bone that is no longer needed will eventually be lost.

Diet is also extremely important. As mentioned earlier, a shortage of calcium over an extended period of time can spell disaster. In fact, the loss of calcium is the most serious nutritional problem experienced by older Americans. Bone loss appears to begin as early as age 35, and is particularly serious for women. As they approach menopause, their rate of bone loss accelerates greatly, partly because of a decreased secretion of the hormone estrogen, which helps maintain bone mass. An estimated 5 million women are affected by bone loss. Men, too, should be cautious, although the number of men experiencing serious loss is only about one-fifth that of women. The National Institutes of Health suggests that a daily calcium itake of at least 1,200 mg is required by adults. Because it is difficult to obtain that amount from food alone, and because some individuals may be allergic to the best dietary sources of calcium, supplementation is recommended.

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Urinary System

July 27, 2010

The urinary system consists of two kidneys, each having a ureter connecting it to the bladder. The bladder is then connected to the urethra, which ultimately leads to an opening out of the body. The function of the urinary system is to produce and remove a waste product called urine, and to regulate the amount, alkalinity or acidity, and consistency of body fluids.

Kidneys filter blood. Every minute, one-fourth of the blood in the body enters the kidneys, which are composed of about 2 million microscopic filters called nephrons. Nephrons are responsible for absorbing nutrients and eliminating toxins and other waste materials from the blood. In addition, the kidneys help regulate other bodily functions by secreting the hormones renin, erythropoietin and prostaglandin. Renin helps control blood pressure, while erythropoietin help stimulate the body to produce more red blood cells.

Prostaglandin is not limited to the kidneys. In other tissues, and situations, it causes smooth muscles to contract or relax, is involved in abnormal fluid collection in the body, is responsible for some types of fevers and pain, and is heavily involved in the process of inflammation. But in the kidneys, prostaglandin causes dilation of the veins and helps with the urine-making process.

The bladder is a sac-like organ located in the pelvis. Its function is to store urine until it is excreted. It is made up of three layers of involuntary muscles that provide it with the ability to expand and contract. When empty, the bladder shrivels up to the shape of a small prune, but it swells and stretches as needed to hold urine. Most people’s bladders can hold about a pint of urine. Then, when the bladder is full, the walls expand and send impulses to the brain telling it to urinate.

Urine is 96 percent water. The other 4 percent includes a mix or urea, salt, sugar, proteins, fat, vitamins and coloring from bile pigments. Its color is usually clear or yellow, though this depends upon the diet and health of the individual. Urine has a distinct, ammonia-like smell that is primarily due to the nitrogenous wastes it contains.

Factors in Urinary Health

Kidneys are designed to keep the blood clean. They spend every minute of the day filtering out impurities. However, like any intricate structure, they have limitations. Even so, modern society seems to dictate that they must deal with more and more abuse. Drinking water frequently during the day can alleviate some potential problems by helping the kidneys flush toxins from the body.

Healthy cells need the proper concentration of salts. That’s why potassium and sodium are crucial to the body’s fluid balance. More than half of the water in the body is located inside the cells. The rest is mixed with salt – rather like diluted sea water – that bathes the cells.

The kidneys are the major regulating mechanism for maintaining proper sodium and potassium balance. They are designed to excrete extra potassium and save sodium. In times past, there was plenty of potassium in foods, but not as much sodium. Today, people eat more foods that contain sodium (mainly processed foods with added sodium) and not as many fresh foods with natural potassium.

Unfortunately, even with a high-sodiium diet, the kidneys still save sodium and excrete potassium..Obviously, we can’t change the way our kidneys function, but we can change our diet. Since food processing lowers the potassium content of foods, we should eat plenty of fresh foods.

Herbal supplements, vitamins and minerals can also help provide the urinary system with the nutrients it needs to effectively perform its delicate chemical balancing act.

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Respiratory System

July 25, 2010

The lungs are the center of the respiratory system, which includes the nose, throat and trachea (windpipe). Air comes into the body through the nose and mouth and travels past the larynx (voice box) to the trachea, which branches into two main tubes or bronchi. From there, air moves into the inner recesses of the lungs, where the lungs transfer oxygen into the blood via small air sacs called alveoli. Each alveolus has extremely thin walls containing a network of capillaries involved in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Breathing, usually automatic and regulated in the medulla oblongata of the brain, takes place 10-15 times per minute. Inhaling occurs when a message is sent from the respiratory center of the brain to the diaphragm and certain rib muscles. These contract, pulling the lower surfaces of the lungs downward so they can fill with air. Stretch receptors in thelungs then send signals back to the brain, which causes the diaphragm and rib muscles to relax This in turn causes the diaphragm to move upward, so that the air is exhaled.

Blood is responsible for carrying both food and oxygen to cells. The cells use the oxygen to convert carbohydrates and fats into energy. The byproduct of this process is carbon dioxide, which the body exhales.

It happens this way: The right side of the heart pumps blood with a high concentration of carbon dioxide into the lungs. There the carbon dioxide is replaced with oxygen, which causes the blood to change from a dark red to a bright red color. This indicates that hemoglobin has picked up the oxygen. The oxygen-enriched blood is then pumped through the left side of the heart, and next circulated throughout the body. Then the carbon dioxide is exhaled.

The respiratory system is sensitive to the amount of carbon dioxide present in the blood. If this amount rises, the breathing response will increase so that more oxygen is available for energy metabolism.

Factors in Respiratory Health

Most people start out with a pair of bright, healthy pink lungs. As they go through life, many individuals either knowingly or unknowingly abuse and weaken their lungs. The seriousness of this cannot be overemphasized. Remember, the respiratory system is responsible for supplying oxygen to the blood and expelling waste gases. Without life-giving oxygen, cells cannot utilize the energy resources that are available to them and so cannot function. If the efficiency of the respiratory system begins to diminish, any energy stored in the body has to be released at a slower rate.

Cigarette smoking is a major cause of lung damage. Of the more than 4,000 substances found in cigarette smoke, two of the most dangerous are nicotine and carbon monoxide. Nicotine, believed responsible for the addictive properties of cigarettes, causes the release of epinephrine, a hormone secreted by the body. This in turn produces an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Carbo9n monoxide prevents the blood from carrying the full amount of oxygen, and over time this can be extremely harmful.

Cigarette smoke damages the lungs, bronchi, blood vessels, heart and other organs and tissues. In addition, it is associated with increased risks for all of the following conditions and diseases: coughing, breathing problems, respiratory infections, pneumonia, stroke, hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), stomach and intestinal ulcers, and cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, kidneys, bladder and pancreas. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage and fetal death. Even second hand smoke has been reported to increase the risk of respiratory and middle ear infections in children and has been related to deaths due to lung cancer and heart disease.

Beyond smoking, the respiratory tract is especially vulnerable to particles floating in the air due to pollution. Professor Julius Comroe of the University of California has estimated that city dwellers may take in as much as 20 trillion partricles of foreign matter per day.

The respiratory system has several ways of dealing with these particles. For example, the cough and the sneeze reflexes keep the passageways of the lungs clear of foreign matter. Cilia, the hairs in the nose, trap irritants, contaminants, bacteria, viruses, fungi, vehicle exhaust and other materials. But not all particles are trapped here.

There are also cells in the respiratory tract especially designed to engulf and rid the body of foreign particles. These particles irritate the tissues, causing them to sell and produce extra mucus. The lining of the respiratory tract becomes uncomfortable and sore, and swelling and mucus eventually obstruct the passages. If particles are trapped further down in the tract, bronchitis and asthma may result.

Since oxygen is so vital to the energy needs of the body, it is essential that we maintain healthy lungs by breathing unpolluted air as much as possible and by supplying the body with good nutrition.

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Products for the Brain and Nervous System

July 24, 2010

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The Brain and Nervous System

July 24, 2010

Together, the brain and nervous system are responsible for processing and storing information, thinking, sleeping, perceiving pain, breathing, contracting muscles, glandular secretions, maintaining body temperature and more. In short, they provide a vital communication link between our internal and external worlds. This happens because the sensory organs of the nervous system receive external information and relay it to the brain. There is is sorted, prioritized and passed to organs, tissues and cells so that they can adapt to changes in both environments.

The nervous system has two parts: the central and the peripheral systems. The central system consists of the brain and spinal cord, both made up of nerve fibers. The peripheral system is the network of nerves located throughout the body.

The brain has three main parts: the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem. The cerebrum receives information, thinks about it, processes it and then sends it out. The cerebellum is essential for balance and coordination. The brain stem connects the cerebrum to the spinal cord and is responsible for regulating such functions as respiration, heart rate and blood flow, eye movements and pupil size, and neck and head movement.

The peripheral system penetrates every tissue of the body just as the circulatory system does. It is composed of 28 billion neurons, or nerve cells that transmit messages by means of electrical impulses, or signals, to organs. when the impulses arrive at an “end organ” or effector, they cause activity. If the effector is a muscle, the activity is contraction. But if it is a gland cluster connected with the digestive tract, the action is the release of digestive enzymes.

The Communication Process and Stress

The nervous system communicates two basic types of messages: one is to activate and the other is to relax. Some of its actions are automatic (e.g. the heartbeat, breathing and digestion) and some are voluntary (e.g. eating, drinking and walking).

In addition to influencing the physical functions of the body, the nervous system also influences how it acts or reacts to stress. The fight-or-flight response is a good example. This is a hormonally stimulated state that prepares the body for an upcoming challenge.

Stress is a factor in every life, and the degree to which it affects us negatively is largely determined by how we react to stimuli around us. We need to supply the nervous system with good food so that our nerves can accurately communicate and handle the various stresses to which they are constantly exposed.

Even though everyday hassles may seem minor, researcher Dr. Richard Lazarus has found that in combination they can have an even bigger impact on our health than traumatic events such as death, major illness or financial difficulties.

It seems that our nervous system doesn’t differentiate between a physical threat and an emotional one. Thus, crying children, a critical boss, unpaid bills, traffic jams, missed deadlines and a host of other mental/emotional crises can be perceived by our nervous system as a form of danger, and may even evoke our fight-or-flight response. This defense mechanism can actually damage our health if it is evoked constantly and unnecessarily and the energy released by it is not dispelled through fighting or fleeing.

Prolonged emotional stress can lead to a breakdown of health. Evidence shows that many of us may not handle stress well. In fact, it has been estimated that one-half of those going to see a doctor have symptoms that can be traced to psychological stress.

Of course, emotional stress is not the only factor involved in illness and disease, nor is it necessarily the primary cause. It is, however, one of the risk factors associated with poor health.

Stress Management

Psychologist Donald A. Tubesing related stress to the tension on a violin string. He said we need “enough tension to make music, but not so much that it snaps.”

Fortunately, stress can be managed and its effects reduced. Exercise, meditation and relaxation techniques, attitude changes and improved nutrition are some effective ways to handle it.

Stress can also increase the need for certain nutrients since it alters our metabolic process. For example, an increased metabolic rate means an increase in the burning of carbohydrates. When larger than normal amounts of carbohydrates are metabolized, the need for thiamine and other members of the B-complex family may increase.

Stress is closely related to nutrition. The fight-or-flight response increases the metabolic process, which in turn increases the need for certain vitamins – particularly the water-soluble vitamins that must be replenished on a daily basis. This is why the B-complex and C vitamins are the core of all anti-stress vitamin supplements.

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Intestinal System

July 22, 2010

After food leaves the small intestine, it moves into the large intestine or colon, a muscular tube – about five feet in length and approximately two inches in diameter – coiled into a frame around the convoluted small intestine. Waste material is forced through the colon by the action of the muscles. It then exits the body through the rectum.

The colon has three main parts: ascending, transverse, and descending. Since much of the digestion process has already taken place, what enters the colon is mostly waste materials in liquid form. As the colon contracts, this substance is pushed along its length. Most of the water and mineral salts in the liquid are reabsorbed back into the body. What remains is a semi-solid waste – 60 to 70 percent water and 10 to 30 percent bacteria, plus indigestible cellulose material, dead cells and other waste materials.

The process of elimination takes anywhere from 12 to 24 hours or longer. Generally, the shorter the time, the better. Unfortunately, modern diets and health habits sometimes result in greatly increased transit times. As transit time increases, the stool becomes increasingly hardened and difficult to pass due to dehydration. Moreover, as the body reabsorbs the fluid content of the feces, it also absorbs many soluble toxins.

Factors in Colon Health

People whose diets are high in refined foods (including sugar and white flour) and low in fiber content are especially susceptible to intestinal problems. In fact, colon and rectal disorders are much more common in America than Africa, where the average diet contains seven times as much fiber as in the U.S,

The colon works best when it is moderately full. Dietary fiber fills this need. Although it contains no nutrients, fiber helps promote good health by providing the necessary bulk to encourage timely movement of fecal material through the colon. As this happens, certain toxic materials are removed along with many times the fiber’s weight in water. This is important because it helps maintain bowel regularity and shortens the time toxic materials remain in the body.

Fiber

There are two basic types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber includes pectin, gums and some hemicellulose. Fruits, vegetables, seeds, brown rice, barley and oats are sources of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber works mainly by helping to produce a softer stool. It also chemically reduces the absorption of certain substances into the bloodstream.

Insoluble fiber includes cellulose, some hemicellulose and lignin. Whole grains and the outside of seeds, fruits, legumes and other foods are the main sources for insoluble fiber, which works like a sponge, absorbing many times its weight in water and swelling up inside the intestines. The result is more efficient elimination.

When extra fiber is added to the diet, it is important that extra fluids also be added. If not, the beneficial effects can be diminished as the added fiber actually slows down or even blocks proper intestinal elimination. Spreading out fiber intake is also suggested to help ease any unpleasant side effects that may occur at the start of a new, fiber-rich dietary regimen.

Exercise also plays a role in the health of the intestinal system. Without sufficient exercise, bowel action may slow and normal circulation within the digestive system may be reduced.

Beneficial Bacteria

In addition to eating sufficient amounts of fiber, it is important to maintain a good supply of beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus. Unlike bacteria that cause disease, L. acidophilusis extremely helpful. It produces digestive enzymes and assists in the final processing of food. It also produces important vitamins such as vitamin K and the B vitamins (B12, thiamine and riboflavin), and helps inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Unfortunately, naturally occurring lactobacillus can be destroyed by a course of antibiotic treatment.

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Glandular System

July 22, 2010

The human body has two types of glands: exocrine glands that secrete fluids into a duct or a tube, and endocrine glands that release chemicals known as hormones into general circulation. Endocrine glands include the pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroids, thymus, pancreas, adrenals and sex glands (ovaries and testes). The hormones they release regulate basic drives and emotions while promoting growth and sexual identity and controlling body temperature. They also help to repair broken tissue and generate energy.

The amount of hormones released by the endocrine glands depends on the body’s needs. Levels change in response to infection, stress and changes in the chemical composition of the blood. Hormones are regulated by control mechanisms within the body. The process is something like this: an endocrine gland secretes its hormone and then the hormone travels to receptors on cells located within a particular tissue or organ. The tissue or organ is then able to carry out its function. However, when the level or activity of the tissue or organ becomes too high, there is a “negative feedback” to the gland that tells it to cut back on production and secretion of this hormone.

Factors in Glandular Health

The endocrine system functions best when it has ample stores of minerals – particularly trace minerals. For example, the thyroid gland maintains proper metabolic rates and levels of body fluids when it has ample iodine. Similarly, the pancreas, which controls blood sugar levels, needs chromium.

Eating foods rich in trace minerals helps support the body’s glandular functions. Unfortunately, many foods that are a mainstay of the modern diet are devoid of trace minerals. This is due in part to the depletion of minerals in the soil and the effects of processing. For example, raw sugar loses 94 percent of its chromium and 89 percent of its manganese during processing. Likewise, as wheat is processed into shite flour, it loses 50 percent of its chromium and 86 percent of its manganese.

Nutritional supplements rich in trace minerals, when taken with a well-balanced diet, help ensure the endocrine system gets the nutritional elements it needs to function properly.

Pituitary Gland

The pituitary is roughly the size of a pea. The front lobe produces hormones that stimulate the thyroid, adrenals, testes and ovaries; encourage the growth of the body; and stimulate the secretion of milk in a mother’s breasts. Growth hormone affects almost every tissue in the body by regulating the amount of nutrients taken into cells. Too much growth hormone results in gigantism in children, while too little causes dwarfism.

The intermediate part of the pituitary may be involved with melanin secretion, which affects skin color.

The back lobe produces a hormone that causes the uterus to contract during childbirth and then stimulates the production of milk in the mammary glands. It also produces another hormone that regulates the retention of water by the kidneys.

Pineal Gland

Named for its pine-cone shape, the pineal gland may function in hormonal regulation, menstruation and sex development. It secretes a large number of active chemicals, the most important of which is melatonin, a substance that is present in higher concentrations during the night. Melatonin plays a role in controlling the sleep cycle. It also inhibits the secretion of gonadotropins. This is why tumors of the pineal gland may slow down the development of sexual maturity or in some cases accelerate it.

Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands

The thyroid controls the body’s metabolism and has the ability to concentrate iodine consumed with the diet. It also produces the hormone calcitonin, which helps to lower the level of calcium in the blood.

The parathyroid glands are small glands, usually four in number, embedded within the back of the thyroid. They produce the hormone parathormone, which regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Calcium plays an important role in many metabolic processes. Too much calcium (hypercalcemia) or too little (tetany) can disrupt the normal function of the muscles and nerves. The body’s cells are extremely sensitive to changing amounts of blood calcium.

Thymus

The thymus gland is central to the body’s defense mechanisms. It is composed largely of developing lymphocytes, a special type of infection-fighting cells. Although its function is not fully understood, it is known that the thymus plays an important role in developing immunities against various diseases. This is especially true during the early years of life. After puberty the thymus begins to shrink in size. Researchers have speculated that the progressive shrinking of the thymus gland a age increases is one of the reasons older people are somewhat prone to infections.

Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is actually a tiny cluster of nerve cells located at the base of the brain. It serves as a link between the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system. It is responsible for many body functions because it integrates and ensures appropriate responses to stimuli. In addition, it regulates hunger, thirst, sleep and wakefulness and also plays an important role in the regulation of most of the involuntary mechanisms of the body, including body temperature, sexual drive and the female menstrual cycle. Finally, it regulates the work of the pituitary gland.

Pancreas

The pancreas contains cells that secrete enzymes involved in the digestion of food, and other cells that produce the hormones insulin and glucagon. Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in the blood by facilitating its movement into the cells of the body. It is also important in the manufacture and storage of fats and proteins and in growth. Glucagon increases the amount of sugar present in the blood by causing the breakdown of fats and proteins. It tends to be secreted in times of stress.

Adrenal Glands

The adrenal glands are essential for functions such as the body’s chemical regulation of sodium and potassium; blood concentration; pulse rate; smooth muscle relaxation or contraction; and dilation of pupils. Although it appears to be one organ, it is actually two small glands. The outer cortex of each is essential for the body’s chemical regulation. The adrenal cortex secretes two hormones, cortisol and aldosterone, which are known collectively as corticosteroids. They help the body reduce stress and are essential for life. Cortisol is an energy generator that regulates the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose and directs reserves to the liver. It also suppresses inflammation. Aldosterone regulates the mineral and water balance of the body. It prevents excessive loss of water through the kidneys and maintains the balance between sodium and potassium in the bloodstream. This balance is important to the contraction of muscles. The inner part, or medulla, secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine, two hormones that help the body reduce stress and are important in the fight-or-flight response.

Ovaries

The ovaries are located on each side of the abdomen. They have a dual function: producing and releasing ova (eggs), and secreting female sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics in girls after puberty and, along with others, are responsible for the regular bodily changes that accompany the menstrual cycle. Both of these functions cease at menopause.

Testes

Located in the scrotum, the testes produce sperm and secrete testosterone, which is responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics in boys after puberty, and for maintaining maleness throughout a man’s adult life.

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Digestive System

July 21, 2010

The digestive system is the means by which the body transforms food into the energy it needs to build, repair and fuel itself. On average, an adult body processes roughly 2-1/2 gallons of digested food, liquids and digestive secretions each day.

Digestion begins in the mouth, where food is chewed by the teeth and mixed with saliva. The saliva helps lubricate both the mouth and the food, and dissolves food particles to enhance taste and facilitate swallowing. Saliva also cleanses the mouth. Chewing is important because as food is ground into increasingly fine particles, digestive juices containing enzymes mix with it. The more thoroughly food is chewed, the more complete the digestive functions are that occur at this point.

Once food is swallowed, it travels through the throat or pharynx to the esophagus. Both the pharynx and the esophagus are muscular tubes that work through a series of contractions to move the food along and eventually empty it into the stomach. The stomach then churns it into a paste called chyme, which is easier to digest. Some of the components of the food, such as water and sugar, are absorbed directly from the stomach into the bloodstream.

The next stop is the pyloric sphincter, which serves as the gateway to the small intestines. The digestion of starches, proteins and fat occurs in the small intestine with the help of secretions that originate in the pancreas, liver and intestinal villi.

How Different Nutrients Are Digested

Carbohydrates (starches and sugars), proteins and fats are made up of extremely complex molecules that must be broken down or digested in order to be useful to the body. The process of digestion changes starches and complex sugars into simple sugars, proteins into amino acids, and fats into fatty acids and glycerin. In these forms the nutrients can finally be absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the cells.

The digestion of carbohydrates begins in the mouth. Saliva contains the enzyme ptyalin, which changes some of the starches into sugar and makes them available to the bloodstream. The process continues in the stomach.

Proteins begin the digestive process only after reaching the stomach. This is due to the presence of hydrochloric acid and another enzyme called pepsin. Only a small amount of absorption occurs between the stomach and the bloodstream; most of it takes place after the contents have moved on to the small intestine, where it is met by pancreatic secretions that contain the enzymes amylase, trypsin and lipase. Amylase works to change starch into simple sugars, trypsin breaks down partially digested proteins, and lipase splits fats into fatty acids and glycerin.

In addition to these fluids, the intestinal walls produce secretions that, while milder than pancreatic juices, perform similar functions. Bile, which is produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder, also flows into the small itestine through the bile duct. Bile helps to further digest and absorb fats. In addition to producing bile, the liver stores fats, carbohydrates, proteins and vitamins. It also absorbs poisons and toxic substances before neutralizing them.

About 90 percent of absorption takes place in the small intestine. Food is digested when it has been broken down into particles small enough to be absorbed by the tiny blood and lymph capillaries located in the walls of the small intestine. From there the nourishment is circulated to all the cells in the body.

Factors in Digestive Health

There are many ways to abuse and weaken the digestive system. Overeating, constant snacking and diluting digestive secretions with liquids can all place undue stress on digestive organs. Eating too fast, or feelings of emotional stress may adversely affect digestion. In addition, as people age, the amount of hydrochloric acid (HCl) their bodies produce decreases. The decrease starts between ages 35 – 45. By age 55, almost everyone has reduced levels of HCl.

Heredity may also be a factor in digestive health. Some people begin life with digestive organs predisposed to problems. Of course, when this is the case, any kind of abuse only compounds the problem.

What Are Enzymes?

Enzymes are complex organic substances produced in plants and animals that catalyze (speed up) chemical reactions in cells and organs. The digestive enzymes work with the body fluids to break down large chemical chains into smaller particles. The body is then able to absorb and utilize these smaller food particles.

The Importance of Enzymes

Enzymes are the catalyst of all chemical changes that occur in the body. They are found in both the food we eat and in our bodies. Without enzymes, body functions would be too slow to sustain life. Unfortunately, although they are absolutely essential, each person is born with a limited potential for enzymes. That’s why maintaining an adequate supply of enzymes plays such an important role in supporting the health of the body.

When the enzymes that exist naturally in foods are destroyed by heat, wilting, or other abuse prior to digestion, the body must create new ones before it can properly digest the food. One of the best ways to help maintain a healthy supply of enzymes in the digestive system is to eat fresh, raw fruits and vegetables as often as possible. In addition to the enzymes these foods contain, fruits and vegetables are a rich source of the vital coenzymes (vitamins) needed by the body on a constant basis.

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Circulatory System

July 21, 2010

The role of the circulatory system is twofold: it delivers oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body while picking up waste and toxic materials that need to be eliminated. It accomplishes this monumental task trough a network of nearly 60,000 miles of blood vessels and a fist-sized organ, the heart, which pumps more than 2,000 gallons of blood through its chambers each day.

Transporting Your Life Blood

Blood vessels are divided into three main categories: arteries, veins and capillaries. Arteries are thick-walled vessels that carry blood from the heart to all parts of the body. Each time a person’s heart beats, the elastic walls of the arteries swell to make room for the blood that is forced into them. The muscles inside the walls contract slowly, in effect squeezing the blood and forcing it to move along the arteries toward the capillaries. If arteries lose their elasticity – known as arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) – the heart has to work much harder to keep the blood circulating. Like a machine, if the heart is overworked and not properly maintained, it cannot function optimally.

The Lymphatic System

In addition to moving the blood along, the squeezing process forces fat globules, tiny protein particles and other nutrients to go outside of vessel walls. Once these things are out, due to their size, they cannot re-enter. Instead, they are collected along with other cellular debris lying between cells.

The lymphatic system picks up these particles and mixes them with plasma, which forms lymph. The lymph is then purified, recycled in the lymph nodes, and added back to the blood. This process, which is vital to the circulatory system, is also essential to the success of the immune system.

The Return Trip

Veins are thin-walled blood vessels. Their purpose is to return the blood from the body to the heart. Many larger veins have valves to prevent a back-flow of blood. If these valves experience prolonged or excessive pressure, veins can become overstretched, and the valves may be destroyed or rendered incompetent. This results in problems like varicose veins.

Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in the body. They serve as intermediaries, connecting arteries with veins. Since capillaries are extremely small and have permeable walls, it’s possible for capillaries to reach nearly every cell in the body and to transfer substances, including important nutrients, to and from the tissues.

The Heart

The heart is made up primarily of muscles that facilitate its pumping action. This most vital of organs consists of four compartments or chambers. The upper two are referred to as the atria, and the lower two as ventricles. Oxygen-poor blood enters the right atrium and moves through it to the right ventricle. From there, blood is sent via the pulmonary arteries to the lungs so that it can pick up a fresh supply of oxygen. Once it has taken on a supply of oxygen, blood moves through the pulmonary veins – first to the left atrium and then to the left ventricle.

The heartbeat is sustained by the sinoatrial (SA) node, which functions as a pacemaker. A healthy heart has a regular beat, although the rate can vary depending on several factors including age, sex, physical activity and emotion.

Health Factors

For the circulatory system to function properly, the heart must be strong, the vessels capable of safely transporting optimal amounts of blood, and the blood itself must be healthy. Serious problems can arise when these conditions are not met. Each year approximately 25 percent of all deaths in the U.S. occur from heart attacks. and the majority of these are attributable to hardening of the arteries. In addition to heart attacks, a poor circulatory system can lead to strokes, kidney disease, varicose veins, blood clots and a variety of other conditions that can kill or severely limit the enjoyment of life.

Three major factors that contribute to circulatory problems are hypertension (high blood pressure), high triglycerides and cholesterol in the bloodstream, and smoking. Nutrition has been linked directly to hypertension and high levels of triglycerides and cholesterol. Other factors include obesity, heredity and emotional stress. Unfortunately, the threat of problems increases significantly when more then one factor is present. That means that when a person has three risk factors, his chances for disease are six times greater than when only one is present.

How can you maintain a healthy circulatory system? Most experts agree that the keys are to avoid smoking, monitor your diet, exercise regularly and manage stress.

Reference:

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Immune System

July 20, 2010

According to one scientist, the immune system is the sixth sense: it recognizes viruses and bacteria the brain doesn’t identify, and then converts that information into hormones that go to the brain to activate the immune process.

The immune system works in partnership with other protective body systems. For example, the skin forms a physical barrier against foreign materials, while the respiratory system utilizes cilia, mucus and coughing to rid the body of inhaled microbes and pollutants. In addition, acid in the stomach and enzymes in the pancreas and intestines destroy many harmful microorganisms.

If foreign materials overcome the body’s other protective mechanisms, then the immune / defense system begins operating. This system is composed of lymph nodes, blood proteins (known as immunoglobulin) and specialized white blood cells such as lymphocytes, as well as the organs that produce these cells and the blood vessels that transport them.

Lymph nodes, or lymph glands as they are sometimes called, are usually small oval structures that are normally the size of small kidney beans. They are generally located in clusters near veins at strategic points along medium-sized lymph vessels at the knee, elbow, armpit, groin, neck, abdomen and chest.

The lymph nodes clean and filter blood. They also serve as a gathering place for germ-fighting cells during illness. The filtration process prevents bacteria, cancer cells and other infectious agents from entering the blood and circulating through the system. The lymph nodes are also centers for production and storage of some of the white blood cells, namely the lymphocytes and monocytes, which are important elements in the body’s immune mechanism. During any kind of infection, the nodes become enlarged due to the multiplication of lymphocytes in the node.

All parts of the immune system are designed to react rapidly to disease-producing organisms and their toxins. If the disease gets past these defenses, the body produces a generalized fever, localized inflammations and other reactions designed to conquer unwelcome invaders.

Antibodies (immunoglobulin) are important for proper function of the immune system. These proteins distinguish between the body’s own protein and foreign protein. When foreign protein is identified, antibodies can destroy it. It is estimated that there are 100 million different kinds of antibodies, each of which is custom-built.

The body constantly battles mutant (cancer) cells. Some immunologists believe that there are always malignancies in the body and that they are usually recognized and destroyed by the immune system.

Factors in Immune System Health

We live in a world of natural poisons and man-made pollutants. These environmental pollutants, along with improper diet and other harmful habits such as smoking and improper rest can reduce the body’s ability to protect itself from harmful bacteria, viruses, chemicals and other factors that can lead to disease.

Purdue University nutritionist, Thomas Petro, Ph.D., wrote “It’s not that certain nutrients affect the immune system – it’s that every nutrient affects the immune system.” For that reason, a balanced diet is probably the most important consideration in maintaining a healthy immune system. In addition, when the body is deprived of some minerals, it is more likely to retain pollutants.

A great deal of focus has been directed at the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E because of their function in protecting the cells from damage caused by natural body processes, lifestyles, and environmental and chemical pollutants. These vitamins and other powerful antioxidant nutrients, along with the trace mineral selenium, help prevent important molecules and structures within the cell from reacting with oxygen, which often injures – literally burns – the cell structure. This process is called oxidation.

Reference:

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