The Endocrine System might just be my favorite body system because it is in charge of communication. The hormones secreted by the endocrine glands tell everyone else what to do and when to do it (bossy glands!) But this is just one aspect, one reason why I like it. The other is that it corresponds exactly with the traditional chakra system.

Science first: The Endocrine System is composed of glands that release hormones into the blood, which tell the various organs in our body what to do or stop doing (we got this). Let’s look at the major glands and their jobs:

The Pineal Gland: This might be my favorite gland within my favorite system. The pineal gland is the coolest of them all because it is magical and otherworldly. In other words, science doesn’t really know everything about how it works yet. What we do know is that it is in charge of biorhythm, or what we call the Circadian Rhythm. Your circadian rhythm is your internal clock – it tells you to wake up at 6 a.m., have a bowel movement at 8 a.m., be hungry by 10 a.m., have lots of energy by noon and then be hungry again and then around 3 p.m., get sort of tired, get a second wind, be hungry again and then be tired by 10 p.m.  Yes, your body runs on a schedule.  How closely do you match the average normal biorhythm? I’d venture to say it’s a sign of health if you’re right on schedule with pineal directives. So, how does the pineal gland do this? It takes its orders from a “higher” source: The sun. Light and dark cycles are what control the pineal gland and tell it what to do, so it can tell you what to do. You know how you feel depressed and low energy – sleepy, if you will – during an overcast day when “the sun doesn’t come out”?  Shake your fist at the pineal gland – it’s telling you, it’s time for bed, silly, not work! Can’t you see it’s still night time?  Duh. The pineal gland is tiny and it is nuzzled in the center of your brain.

The Hypothalamus: The hypothalamus is kind of another mystery. It is also located in your brain and we don’t know much of how it works, except that it links the nervous and the endocrine systems and it produces hormones that have to do with the next guy we’ll be talking about. We also know that it plays a role in mating: In many vertebrates, the hypothalamus has been shown to pass info about seasonal changes and availability of a mate. Kinda like a wingman.

The Pituitary Gland: The pituitary is located just under the base of the brain, between your two frontal lobes, where it hangs with the hypothalamus. They’re like buddies, brothers, homies, and, in this case, the pituitary is the extrovert and better known of the team. The pituitary gland is sometimes called “the master gland” because it has a lot of other glands under its command and it gives out orders all over the place like there’s not tomorrow: The posterior pituitary releases hormones made by the hypothalamus. One of them is oxytocin. You heard of it, eh? Probably not because it is involved with the mammary glands, but because it stimulates contraction of the uterus, therefore playing a role in female orgasm and earning its name as the “cuddling hormone”, because it is also involved in making pair bonds, the feeling of attachment to a partner after sex (now you’ve heard of it?) The posterior pituitary also releases antidiuretic hormone, which promotes water retention in the kidneys. The anterior pituitary has even more responsibilities – it’s growth hormone (another popular guy, hailed as the new fountain of youth) stimulates growth – especially of bones – and metabolic functions; prolactin stimulates milk production and secretion when a woman has a child; follicle-stimulating hormone stimulates production of ova and sperm; luteinizing hormone stimulates ovaries and testes; thyroid-stimulating hormone (you can guess it’s job) and adrenocorticotropic hormone, which stimulates the adrenals to secrete glucocorticoids. Whew! I know, it’s exhausting! Bow down to the master.

Thyroid and Parathyroid: Your thyroid gland stimulates and maintains metabolic processes and lowers blood calcium levels via a hormone appropriately called calcitonin. The parathyroid balances it out: It secretes the also appropriately called parathyroid hormone, which raises blood calcium levels.

Thymus Gland: Your thymus gland is special. It is not pictured above but it is located in the center of your chest cavity, close to your heart. It is involved in your Immune System. The thing about the thymus is this: When you’re a kid, it is quite large. After puberty, when a whole lot of things change for you and your body and when your immune system is well established, it begins to shrink. By adulthood, most of the thymus gland has been replaced by tissue, but it continues to work throughout life.

The Adrenal Glands: Famous for the fight or flight response via adrenaline (real name: epinephrine) and norepinephrine, hormones that raise blood glucose levels, increase metabolic activities and constrict certain blood vessels so that you can run away from that saber tooth tiger or punch your boss when he turns into one (in your head). The adrenal cortex also has two other hormones, the steroids glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, which raise blood glucose levels and promote reabsorption of sodium and excretion of potassium in the kidneys, respectively.

The Pancreas: You also know this guy (especially if you have diabetes) – he’s in charge of insulin and glucagon, proteins that control blood glucose levels.

The Sex Glands: The gonads (testes) and the ovaries (ova). Your favorite guys, where androgens support sperm formation and promote development and maintenance of male secondary sex characteristics, and estrogens and progesterone stimulate uterine lining growth and promote development and maintenance of female secondary sex characteristics. Without these glands and their hormones (who get their orders from hormones in the pituitary), we wouldn’t be able to give life.

Now, for the metaphysics: If you look at the picture above, you will notice the fascinating  correspondence between some of the major glands (thymus, for example) and the chakras (heart chakra in green, for example), the energy vortices in your body. Coincidence? I don’t believe in them. I believe we are built in a way for a reason. It makes sense that the energy centers of our body, the places esoteric books say are where information comes in and goes out of to and from the Universe, would be located exactly where the communication centers of our physical body are. We’re holistic beings – mind, body, soul/spirit. You do the math. I’ll leave you with just this one thought: The more you take care of your endocrine system via good nutrition (many of the hormones are classified as proteins and amines and all of them are directly affected by what you eat and drink), a decent sleep cycle, exercise, and proper stress management, the more “clean” and connected you may be to that crucial information that mystics say comes from your chakras. And, the more balanced you are energetically, well, the healthier you will be all around. After all, that is the core of this material masterpiece you call your body.

]]> http://hlifemedia.com/2010/06/the-endocrine-system-the-great-communicator/feed/ 4 http://hlifemedia.com/2010/05/the-hreport-week1may/ http://hlifemedia.com/2010/05/the-hreport-week1may/#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 09:05:29 +0000 Maryl Celiz http://hlifemedia.com/?p=4722

Mind: No time to reap the mental benefits of a workout? No problem. According to a study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, just five minutes of exercise in a park, working in a backyard garden, on a nature trail, or other green space will benefit mental health. So called “green exercise”, physical activity in the presence of nature, has been proven to decrease the risk of mental illness and improve a sense of well-being. But until now, nobody knew how much time people needed to spend in green spaces to get those and other benefits. The study analyzed activities such as walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming. All natural environments were beneficial, including parks in urban settings. Green areas with water added something extra, and the researchers noted that a blue and green environment seems to be even better for health.

Heart: Not all rice is created equal – and now some can help your heart. According to a study conducted at Temple University School of Medicine, brown rice might have an advantage over white rice by offering, among other benefits, protection from high blood pressure and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). This new research suggests that a component in a layer of tissue surrounding grains of brown rice may work against angiotensin II, an endocrine protein that is a known culprit in the development of both of these conditions. The subaleurone layer of rice, located between the white center of the grain and the brown fibrous outer layer, is rich in oligosaccharides and dietary fibers, making it particularly nutritious. The researchers conducted tests with this part of the grain and vascular smooth muscle cells, and discovered that components in the subaleurone layer inhibited angiotensin II activity. Because half-milled rice still contains this layer, it is expected to also have this benefit.

Immunity: There may be a connection between caloric intake and immunity. According to a study published in Journal of Gerontology, Biological Sciences, volunteers who followed a low-calorie diet or a very low-calorie diet not only lost weight, but also significantly enhanced their immune response. The study may be the first to demonstrate the interaction between calorie restriction and immune markers among humans. The calorie restriction for test subjects ranged from 10-30% and the experiment was conducted for six months. The results showed for the first time that short-term calorie restriction improved the function of T-cells, as these white blood cells proliferated significantly with both calorie-restrained diet groups. There was no word on the specifics of the diet or nutrient content.

Nutrition: Consuming more olive oil could help prevent ulcerative colitis, according to a new study presented at the Digestive Disease Week conference in New Orleans last Saturday. The findings show that people with a diet rich in oleic acid, present in olive oil, are far less likely to develop the condition, one characterized by inflammation of the lining of the colon. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid found in olive, peanut and grapeseed oils, as well as butter and certain margarines. The fatty acid seems to help by blocking chemicals in the bowel that aggravate the inflammation found in this illness. Dr. Andrew Hart, lead author of the study, said that two to three tablespoons of olive oil per day would have a protective effect. Note: Some research suggests that olive oil is best consumed uncooked, to prevent possible hydrogenation and reap the most health benefits.

Brain: Regular exercise speeds learning and improves blood flow to the brain, says a new study published in the journal Neuroscience. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that monkeys (more comparable to human physiology than other animals) who exercised regularly at an intensity that would improve fitness in middle-aged people learned to do tests of cognitive function faster and had greater blood flow to the brain’s motor cortex than their sedentary counterparts.   The scientists who conducted the experiment said that this suggested that people, with very close genetic and structural composition to monkeys, would reap similar benefits. “These findings indicate that aerobic exercise at the recommended levels can have meaningful, beneficial effects on the brain,” said Dr. Judy L. Cameron, senior author of the study. “It supports the notion that working out is good for people in many, many ways.”

Infants: According to a study, extremely low birthweight babies who received feedings supplemented with probiotics had better weight gain than infants who were not given the supplements. The research, presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Canada last Saturday, found that these healthy, live organism supplements whose positive effects on the digestive health and immune function of adults has been documented were also beneficial for premature infants. Results showed superior weight gain in children who received the probiotics even though the average daily volume of their feedings was less than infants in the control group, suggesting that the “good bacteria” helped to improve nutrient absorption. In addition, no side effects were seen as a result of probiotic supplementation.

You have it, it’s a part of you, and it has your back like no one else: Your immune system. It protects you from things that bug you (like a cold), things that want to mess with you (like the sting of a bee) and things that could kill you (like cancer). Or, at least, it tries to. But, how well do you know your immune system?

Let’s find out.

Complete the following sentence: “My immune system is affected by _______.”

A.  Microbes
B.  Diet
C.  Exercise
D.  My boss
E.  All of the above
F.  A, B and C but not D
G.  A is the same as D

While your boss might very well be a microbe, the answer is E. Things like bacteria, viruses, the types and quantities of food that you eat, exercise or lack thereof, and stress (caused by your annoying microbe of a boss and all those TPS reports) all affect the condition of your immune system. The good news for you is that, for the most part, these things are within your control.

Knowledge is power, so let’s explore the fascinating world of our natural defenses. When we say “defenses” we are literally talking about the guys in charge of defending you from bad things. There are three lines of defenses in your body. The first is your skin. Your skin, along with mucous membranes and the secretions from both of these, act as the external barrier that protects you from invading microbes. If somehow they get past this first line of defense (maybe you have a cut and they get in through there), the second defense mechanism kicks in. This second line of defense is composed of phagocytic cells that literally ingest the invading organisms, as well as antimicrobial proteins, both of which can be said to be “in action” when we see (or feel) inflammation.

Both the first and second line are non-specific defense mechanisms, meaning that they don’t differentiate between one invader or another. This is where the third line of defense is different and incredibly special: It remembers who tried to attack you previously, so that it can strategize and dispatch specially equipped troops to handle this enemy full-force. The third line of defense is like the Special Ops, the FBI, the CIA of your body: protection coupled with intelligence. This is a specific defense mechanism composed of lymphocytes and antibodies, and it is what we most commonly refer to when we say “immune system.”

Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell (there are five types) and they are the key cell of the immune system. There are two main types of lymphocytes: B cells and T cells. These are named after the two sites where lymphocytes develop: B cells grow in the bone marrow, while T cells grow in the thymus gland.  Other than these two areas of the body where these types of cells develop, the lymphatic system (the traffic grid for lymphocytes) has special spots where lymphocytes hang out. These are organs where “foreign” molecules are trapped, and they include the spleen, lymph nodes, the appendix, tonsils, an area of the small intestine called the Peyer’s patch, and a clump of tissue in the back of the nose called the adenoids. As lymphocytes mature, they develop the ability to also differentiate not just between distinct foreign substances, but also between foreign substances and bacteria/microbes that belong to the self.  It would be disastrous if our immune system would destroy stuff that naturally belongs to our bodies, as we can see in the case of immunodeficiency diseases like lupus or multiple sclerosis. Because of this, the immune response is highly specific and regulated.

So, how do we maintain a healthy immune system?  Healthy immune function depends on both the endocrine system and the nervous system. Physical and emotional stress can harm immunity: Hormones secreted by the adrenal glands during the fight or flight stress response affect the number of white blood cells and also may suppress the immune system in other ways. Neurotransmitters secreted when we are in a good mood or in a relaxed state have also been found to affect immunity. This means that general good health and your state of mind affect immunity. Regular exercise, laughter, a healthy diet that enhances neurological function (whole grains and leafy greens support the nervous system) and avoids toxic chemicals (sugar, alcohol, unnatural and overly processed foods), general good hygiene that includes regular mind/body/environment detoxes to prevent build-up of any kind, and a concerted effort to include people, places and activities that make you happy and relaxed (meditation, positive friends, places like the beach where you gather ions that soothe you) are great ways to help boost your immune system and to maintain it in good shape so it can do its job of protecting you. Take care of it, and it will take care of you.

And if your boss – or any other person other than you – is making you miserable, you have two options: adapt or exit. Staying in an environment in which you put your health at risk by subjecting yourself to undue pressure, abuse, or even just a basic lack of enjoyment is putting yourself on a path to a malfunctioning immune system, with an open invitation to illness of all kinds. Take responsibility of your health by taking care of your immune system, which includes being in a home and work ambiance that supports who you are, and where your contributions are appreciated.

A final note about food: Chlorella is an algae that has been found to actually help multiply T cells in our body, which means it directly boosts the immune system by adding more soldiers to the force. How awesome is that? You can find out more about this wonderful helper in our HFood: Chlorella article. Also, echinacea (pictured above) is another plant used to help the immune system, as it is known to activate T cells and trigger immune response.

]]> http://hlifemedia.com/2010/04/the-immune-system/feed/ 4 http://hlifemedia.com/2010/03/hreport-week2-march/ http://hlifemedia.com/2010/03/hreport-week2-march/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:48 +0000 Maryl Celiz http://hlifemedia.com/?p=3746

Exercise: Poor air quality apparently affects the running times of women marathoners, according to a study. Higher levels of particles in the air were associated with slower running times for women, while men were not significantly affected. The differences, according to researcher Linsey Marr of Virginia Tech, may be due to the smaller size of women’s tracheas, which makes it easier for certain particles to deposit there and possibly cause irritation. “Although pollution levels in these marathons rarely exceeded national standards for air quality, performance was still affected,” Marr said. Her studies were conducted where major USA marathons are located, such as New York, Boston, and Los Angeles, where pollution tends to be highest. Although the regular person might not be significantly impacted by low-yet-still-acceptable air quality, marathoners typically inhale and exhale about the same amount of air as a sedentary person would over the course of two full days. This means they are exposed to much greater amounts of pollutants than under typical breathing conditions. Interestingly, the performances of female marathoners appeared to only be affected by particulate matter, and not other pollutants like carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide. The research was published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise.

Parenting: The final results are in – violent video games make kids more aggressive. According to research published in the Psychological Bulletin, “We can now say with utmost confidence that regardless of research method — and regardless of the cultures tested in this study, you get the same effects. And the effects are that exposure to violent video games increases the likelihood of aggressive behavior in both short-term and long-term contexts. Such exposure also increases aggressive thinking and aggressive affect, and decreases prosocial behavior,” said Craig Anderson, author of the analysis that includes 130 research reports. Anderson also said that while this doesn’t mean that video gamers will go out and join gangs, these effects are conclusive and not trivial, and determine not only future aggression but also other sort of negative outcomes. More importantly: This is one risk factor that is within parental control.

Pesticides: According to evidence in male frogs, Atrazine wreaks havoc with hormonal balance. In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Atrazine (one of the world’s most widely used pesticides) has been found to be a potent endocrine disruptor to the point that it left many male frogs in the lab “chemically castrated” (unable to reproduce) and turned others into females. “Atrazine has caused a hormonal imbalance that has made them develop into the wrong sex,” said Tyrone B. Hayes, author of the study. Some 80 million pounds of the herbicide atrazine are applied in the USA on corn and sorghum to control weeds and increase crop yield. More and more research, however, is showing that atrazine interferes with endocrine hormones such as estrogen and testosterone – in fish, amphibians, birds, reptiles, laboratory rodents and even human cell lines, with a possible link to human birth defects and low birth weight after exposure in the womb. As a result, the EPA is reviewing its regulations on use of this pesticide, with several states considering banning it, and the European Union already barring its use. Syngenta, which manufactures atrazine, disputes many of the studies, but Hayes says, “when you have studies all over the world showing problems with atrazine in every vertebrate that has been looked at – all of them can’t be wrong.”

Nutrition: The fluorescent lighting in supermarkets can boost the nutritional value of fresh spinach, scientists report. A simulation of a grocery store scenario in which researchers exposed spinach to light and darkness cycles similar to those of retail stores for three to nine days yielded a surprisingly positive effect: Significantly higher levels of vitamins C, K, E and folate (a B vitamin). They also had higher levels of the healthful carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. The more light exposure, the more the levels of folate and vitamins increased. By contrast, spinach leaves stored under continuous darkness tended to have declining or unchanged levels of nutrients, scientists say. The research was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Stress: Stress takes you back to the grind – of your teeth, that is. Research published in the journal Head & Face Medicine indicates that people who are stressed by daily problems or trouble at work seem to be more likely to grind their teeth at night, a condition known as ‘sleep bruxism’. This was especially common in those who try to cope with stress by escaping from difficult situations. Bruxing can lead to tooth wear, looseness and sensitivity of teeth, as well as pain in the muscles responsible for chewing. The best way to stop: Find a way positive coping strategy to deal with stress and relax before you get to bed.

Brain: A new EEG study found that Transcendental Meditation activates the brain’s natural “ground state”.  The research, published in a special issue of Cognitive Processing dedicated to the neuroscience of meditation and consciousness, discovered that TM technique specifically produced a unique state of “restful alertness” as seen in the much higher alpha power in the frontal cortex and lower beta and gamma waves in the same frontal areas during TM practice, and that it also created a greater alpha coherence between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, suggesting that it was working as a whole. Most importantly, the study concluded that TM practice enhances an individual’s sense of “self” by activating what neuroscientists call the “default mode network”, the natural ground state of the brain often seen during eyes-closed rest.

Immunity: A new study touts the benefits of soluble fiber saying that it reduces inflammation associated with obesity-related diseases and strengthens the immune system. According to the researchers, soluble fiber changes the personality of the immune cells – from pro-inflammatory angry cells to anti-inflammatory healing cells that help us recover faster from infection. This happens because soluble fiber causes increased production of the anti-inflammatory protein interleukin-4. Good sources of soluble fiber are oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, lentils, citrus fruits, apples, strawberries, and carrots. Insoluble fiber, found in whole wheat and whole-grain products and green leafy vegetables, is also valuable for providing bulk and helping food move through the digestive system, but it doesn’t provide the boost to the immune system that soluble fiber provides. The study will appear in the May 2010 issue of the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

Emotions: Laughter is a universal language, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study, conducted with people from Britain and Namibia, suggests that basic emotions like fear, anger, sadness and amusement are shared by all human beings. Conventional wisdom dictates that, while we all communicate, people from different cultures may not understand the same words, phrases or body language. In spite of this, the researchers discovered that emotions like laughter and anger are easily recognizable despite cultural differences, suggesting that these emotions and their vocalizations are similar across all cultures.  Laughter was probably the best recognized among the positive emotions, which should not come as a surprise, as researchers have seen this with other primates such as chimpanzees, and other mammals, too.  While previous studies have indicated that smiling is also universal, laughter is special because it symbolizes playfulness, probably one of the first steps in communication between children and their mothers.

Immunity: There is a very strong but mysterious link between infections, genetics, the environment and autoimmune diseases.  For example, research shows that people who live near airports are more susceptible to diseases like arthritis and lupus, but we don’t know how or why.  Now, a report published in Autoimmune Reviews describes pollution as a trigger in many autoimmune disorders. Second-hand smoke, food chemicals or chemicals in the air, fumes from jet fuel as well as UV exposure and other forms of environmental pollution are considered activators that provoke the onset of autoimmune diseases. Professon Ehrenfeld, who conducted the report, also cites hairspray and lipstick as environmental triggers. “Reactive arthritis is caused by a severe gastro-intestinal, urinary or sexual infection in some people,” he said of the chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks its joints, leading to pain and substantial loss of movement. “Most people think arthritis has to do with old age. This is false.” He says old age brings about osteoarthritis, not rheumatoid arthritis, the reactive inflammatory type of arthritis most commonly seen in women between the ages of 20 and 40.

Brain: New research finds that an increase in brain magnesium improves learning and memory in young and old rats. The study, published in the journal Neuron,  suggests taht increasing magnesium intake may be a good strategy for enhancing mental abilities and supports speculation that inadequate levels of magnesium impair cognitive function, leading to faster deterioration of memory in aging humans. Diet can have a significant impact on cognitive capacity. “Magnesium is essential for the proper functioning of many tissues in the body, including the brain and, in an earlier study, we demostrated that magnesium promoted synaptic plasticity in cultured brain cells,” explained Dr. Guosong Liu, lead author of the study. “Our findings suggest that elevating brain magnesium content via increasing magnesium intake might be a useful strategy to enhance cognitive abilities,” explained Dr. Liu. “Moreover, half of the population of industrialized countries has a magnesium deficit, which increases with aging. This may very well contribute to age-dependent memory decline; increasing magnesium intake might prevent or reduce such decline.”  Foods rich in magnesium include whole grains, nuts, and green vegetables, with green leafs as a particularly good source.

Mind: The space between might be the trick to remembering what you learn. According to a study published in the journal Neuron, it is during periods of rest while we are awake that our memories are strengthened. It has been previously established that this is the case during sleep, but this research indicates that memory strengthening,  – keeping information that we have just taken in – also can happen while we are awake and at rest. “Taking a break after class can actually help you retain that information you just learned”, explained Lila Davachi, assistant professon in NYU’s Department of Psychology and Center for Neural Science. “Your brain wants you to tune out to other tasks so you can tune in to what you just learned,” she said, adding: “your brain is working for you when you’re resting, so rest is important for memory and cognitive function.”

Parenting: According to a study, most parents don’t realize their children are overweight. Half of the mothers who took part in a the research with more than 800 parents thought that their obese four or five year-old was normal weight,as did 39% of the fathers, according to the report in the February issue of Acta Paediatrica. “Overweight children are very likely to become overweight teenagers and adults, so intervening when they are aged between three and five could prevent weight problems later in life. It is vital that parents are aware of their children’s weight if we area to prevent them becoming obese in later life.” An interesting note: Mothers and fathers of overweight and obese children were significantly heavier than the parents of normal weight children.

Nutrition: A new study has found that Vitamin D can counter the effects of Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease. “Our data suggests, for the first time, that Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to Crohn’s disease,” said Dr. White, co-author of the study, noting that people from northern countries, which receive less sunlight that is necessary for the fabrication of Vitamin D by the human body, are particularly vulnerable to the disease that can affect the many parts of the digestive tract. Dr. White says that this is great news for people who live in climates with less sunlight and who have Crohn’s disease or for whom this runs in the family, as they now may benefit from a Vitamin D supplement or from eating/drinking cod liver oil. The report was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.