The organs are pieces of a collective engine. One can’t be well without the others.
Picture intended to depict a metaphor for our organs being parts of an engine.
Wouldn’t we all love for our bodies to be at peak performance and always sharp with a jab of overall acuity?—Gaining self-confidence with every bold exploration of your ideas and limitations, improving our mood and lifting the spirit, perpetuating the drive and motivation to flow forward in your life with direction and purpose…Ok you get the picture!—For many years the numbers and experience suggests that our human body in the western condition is inflamed in some way, fashion or form. Causes stem from inflammatory ingredients in our diet, short and long term stress, and exposure
to toxicities that exists in our modern environment (See Reference 3 below for link to Dr. Rashid Buttar’s 7 toxicities). Improperly-functioning organs become responsible for other health issues down the road. Morbidity and mortality rates due to overweight and obesity-related chronic diseases continue to increase annually.
We continue learning about inflammation and understanding the negative affects that it has on our organs. Our organs depend on one another, and therefore other areas of our body end up being affected long term. For example, various chronic diseases could lead to higher blood pressure, which is a major cause of Chronic Kidney Disease(1). When an issue becomes a mechanism for another injury we jeopardize our metabolic health too, ‘toxifying’ our bodies over the course of time and increasing the likelihood of anxiety, loss of sleep, emotional dieting, and even frequent hospital visits. We want to invest in our body and nutrition and reduce those ‘likelihoods’! Focusing on the Thyroid, Liver, Heart, and Brain, let’s discuss their functions, associations with our metabolism, and some nutrients that directly relate to the ability for each organ to properly function.
Concerned with brain function and health? Have no fear! More is being understood about the role and resilience of the brain, despite concern for age-related cognitive decline that we see more frequently in an aging population. More people are understanding ways to develop neurological pathways through healthy repetition of exercise, meditation, and lifestyle changes, as studies show that aerobic exercise is associated with synaptic plasticity and generation of neurons (neurogenesis)(2). This is great news, and sheds light on potential future studies about the relationship between repetitive exercise movements and long-term brain health.
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The brain consists of many regions responsible for many things such as memory, thought, emotion, sense capacity, and motor skills. The brain regulates vital components of life including metabolism, temperature, pressure and gas regulation, and other cellular behavior. These regulations require communication with the other organs. For example, the heart and brain communicates in various ways with one another:
Neurologically (nerve impulses)
Biochemically (hormones)
Biophysically (pressure waves)
Energetically (electromagnetic field interaction)
It’s critically important to understand that the majority of Americans do not get the proper nutrients through healthy eating required for all of the stimuli we are exposed to from things like DIET INFLAMMATION and STRESS. Our behavior and decisions are influenced little by little over time and our lifestyles create more toxicity and inflammation that may impair our brain function over time.
Cells are like individual engines: They take in energy, produce work, and excrete materials that assist body regulations to keep us healthy. Thyroid hormones help maintain body homeostasis by facilitating metabolism of lipids and glucose, regulating metabolic adaptations, responding to changes in energy intake, and controlling thermogenesis—In other words, the thyroid regulates the body’s metabolism.
Fatigue and muscle weakness are symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Iodine and an amino acid called tyrosin are used to create thyroid Hormones 4 and 3 (T-4 and T-3). Iodine is an essential nutrient, meaning the body can’t produce it and so we must ingest our iodine; iodized salt is an example of this. Selenium is a mineral needed to facilitate T-3 production and effectiveness of our thyroid. So of course we want sources of these nutrients, but we must also be mindful of the nutrients required to “lubricate” the mechanisms of thyroid production. When 90 percent of Americans do not get their recommended daily allowance for veggies and fruits, and variety lacks, nutrients like iodine, tyrosine, and selenium are rendered less effective and cellular metabolism may suffer (and this goes for all other cellular functions in the body). We must be aware of calorie intake, but we must also seek variety in our food choices. There are alternative supplements that may facilitate such natural treatment of vital organs and glands and though I do not wish to promote any specific product, I do support experts like Dr. Dave Janda and Dr. Peter Glidden, who have productive discussions and offer products on such topics as thyroid maintenance. This content can be found on Youtube below (4), and this is merely to give you an idea about the products that are available to supplement with eating healthier, sleeping properly, and being physically active.
The heart consists of cardiac muscle cells (myocardium) that are embedded densely with capillaries and numerous mitochondria (endurance-type of muscles). One of the ways that our western diet negatively affects our heart health is that we take in a lot of LDLs, or low-density lipoproteins which are used to move excess fat to cells for storage. LDL’s are known inflammation markers to endothelial damage, coronary artery blockage, and essentially heart disease. Reducing inflammation regarding our diets and other significant factors such as stress (hormone hyperactivity and depletion)
Receives blood returning from the limbs and peripherals.
2. Pumps blood to the lungs for aeration through the pulmonary circulation.
3. Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.
4. Pumps blood into the thick-walled, muscular aorta for distribution throughout the body into systemic circulation.
The heart is also believed to communicate with other parts of the body, such as the brain and cells throughout the body, where the idea is that it’s not just the brain sending voluntary and involuntary commands to the heart; the heart may send signals to the brain and cells too! Connecting clear senses to the heart allows your heart to respond to purpose.
Fiber is important in removing LDLs from our system, and fiber can be found naturally in fruits, whole grains, vegetables, and legumes. This reinforces the importance of getting RDAs for veggies and fruits. Vitamin C facilitates repairing of arteries from such damage as atherosclerosis. Vitamin C also assists with collagen production which holds coronary cells together, according to Dr. Gifford-Jones, a medical doctor speaking in regard to heart health supplements for NationalNutrition.ca (5). Inadequate collagen creates cracks between coronary cells which may be a mechanism for clotting that occurs between these cracks (atherosclerosis), according to the doctor. Studies show that Vitamin C consumption was a key component in reducing risk for stroke. Coronary arteries aside, imagine the benefit of the 60,000 miles of total length of arteries in our body! Furthermore Lysine, which also assists in collagen production, can be found in such foods as fish, which also can be a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids may help to reduce triglycerides and reduce the development of plaque in the arteries over time with a moderate intake.
Since we talked about the thyroid, let’s start by mentioning the liver’s role in thyroid hormonal regulation. We have tuned up the thyroid and now the liver can assist with synthesis of thyroid hormones for metabolic regulation. The list of functions of the liver are lengthy, but one of the crucial roles is that the liver detoxifies the blood from the things we put in our body. When our liver is fatty from poor dieting and lifestyle habits, it may increase the likelihood of developing a number of diseases such as Chronic Kidney Disease.3
In terms of our metabolism, the liver is responsible for gluconeogenesis, where the liver can produce glucose and sent back to tissues for energy. The liver also performs glycogenolysis, the process by which glycogen is broken down into glucose and used in tissues for energy. A proper-functioning liver ensures bile, cholesterol, and hormone excretion. It also ensures the body has the proper molecules available for energy production from glucose, to ketone bodies. So the liver must be healthy for your keto-diet!
Certain vitamins and minerals are stored, as is glycogen. Eating a low carbohydrate and sugar (fructose) diet, while minimizing alcohol consumption and getting the RDA’s for veggies and fruits may improve your liver’s ability to function, and also make your liver’s job easier.
Vitamin A and Iron
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin B12
Exercising is an excellent way to maintain Liver function and health, as it is with the other organs mentioned above. We must train our bodies to better-utilize the energy system of the body and the various ways in which our body conducts metabolism. With consistent activity and proper eating, the body can become more efficient in the metabolic processes and we can better manage our body weight and waistline in the future!
Sincerely,
imm
1. Schutten, J. C., Joosten, M. M., de Borst, M. H., & Bakker, J. L. (2018). Magnesium and blood Pressure: a physiology-based approach. Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease, (25-3), (244-250). https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ackd.2017.12.003
2. Rendeiro, C., & Rhodes, J.S. (2018). A new perspective of the hippocampus in the origin of exercise interactions. Brain Structure and Function, (223), (2527-2545). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-018-1665-6
3. 7 Toxicities in our lives link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFReEk4CTm8
4. The Nutritional Approach For Your Thyroid Health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUNgq87M1Po&t=52s
5. Top 7 Heart Health Supplements Recommended by Canadian Health Experts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd4KPwAR964