Gonads – Reproductive Organs – Natural Endocrine Health

Although the gonads are part of the endocrine system, their primary purpose is to produce gametes (semen and eggs).

The woman’s ovaries are located on both sides of the uterus below the opening of the fallopian tubes. They are oval or almond-shaped. The ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone. These two hormones affect many of the female characteristics and reproductive functions.

The male’s testes are egg-shaped organs that hang in a pouch of skin called the scrotum outside the male body. The testes produce testosterone, which affects many of the male characteristics and sperm production.

Women synthesize most of their estrogen in their ovaries and other reproductive tissues. Since men lack this female anatomy, they need to produce estrogen through a process involving an enzyme called aromatase that transforms testosterone into estradiol.

In women, testosterone is produced in various locations. One-quarter of the hormone is produced in the ovaries, a quarter is produced in the adrenal glands, and one-half is produced in the peripheral tissues from the various precursors produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands.

This is an excerpt from the ridiculously long article, Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones I believe that it’s easier to heal the body when you understand how the body works, but understanding the endocrine system is big a task.  It’s a long article, but I think it’s worth it and I hope you’ll check it out.

Testes

The testes secrete testosterone, which is necessary for proper physical development in boys. Testosterone maintains libido, muscle strength, and bone density. Disorders result from a lack of testosterone production. Here are the common causes:

  • Defects in the pituitary, hypothalamus, thyroid, and adrenals can affect testosterone production.
  • Medications can affect testosterone production.
  • Testes-based conditions, such as severe injury, radiation, or chemotherapy can all deplete testosterone levels.

Besides the case of an injury, if the testicles aren’t working there’s almost always a problem within the endocrine system.

Raise Your Testosterone Naturally

  • HITT (High-intensity interval training)
  • Weightlifting
  • Moderate intermittent fasting
  • Don’t smoke
  • Detoxify the endocrine system (if need be)
  • Eliminate refined foods, especially sugar
  • Eat healthy fats
  • Get enough vitamin D and zinc
  • Handle stress well
  • Sleep well
  • Avoid soy and alcohol
  • Eat nuts
  • Limit or eliminate coffee

Ovaries

The ovaries are a pair of ova-producing organs (that is, they produce egg cells) that maintain the health of the female reproductive system. The ovaries, like their male counterpart, the testes, are known as gonads. This simply means they are the primary reproductive organs.

In addition to their role in producing ova, the ovaries also have the distinction of being an endocrine gland because they secrete hormones—primarily estrogen and progesterone—that are vital to normal reproductive development and fertility.

Estrogen (estradiol, specifically) plays a vital role in breast development, fat distribution, and the development of the reproductive organs.

Diseases and Disorders of the Ovaries

Diseases associated with the ovaries include ovarian cysts, ovarian cancer, menstrual cycle disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and osteoporosis.

Menopause is a rapid loss of estrogen production at a certain age, typically around 50; better health can delay it.

The ovaries play an immensely important role in the female reproductive system, and in the endocrine system as a whole. The hormones they secrete ensure the proper development of the female body and promote healthy fertility.

Natural Remedies for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Avoid AGEs: Women with ovarian cysts have higher levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in their blood. These are cancer-causing compounds formed when glucose binds with proteins, typically caused by high-heat cooking methods with meat and sugars.

Get Enough Nutrition

Obviously, eat well, but also make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D, calcium, vitamin E, essential fatty acids, chromium, and magnesium.

Avoid Wheat

Just try it for two weeks. Today’s wheat is wreaking havoc on our bodies, and many women dealing with ovarian cysts have issues with gluten. Eliminate refined sugars as well, detoxify the gut, and take care of the endocrine system.

Supplemental
  • Increasing progesterone in the body, which decreases estrogen, can help as well. You can do this with a progesterone cream applied to the skin, but the following herbal remedies are a better choice than ingesting or absorbing a hormone.
  • Maca root (Lepidium meyenii) helps the body produce progesterone, balances the hormones, and helps balance the endocrine system as a whole.
  • Black Cohosh root (Actaea racemosa): helps regulate the menstrual cycle, and is really good at relieving ovarian pain.
  • Dong Quai root (Angelica sinensis) is a Chinese herb known to aid hormonal balance and, specifically, congestive fertility issues. Dong Quai also supports healthy circulation to the reproductive organs and promotes healthy menstruation cycles. Dong quai should not be consumed by women with fibroids or blood-clotting problems.
  • Milk thistle seed (Silybum marianum) supports hormonal balance through liver support.
  • Tribulus (Tribulus terrestris) has been shown to normalize ovulation when used prior to ovulation.
  • Vitex, AKA chaste tree berry, chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) aids in regulating hormonal balance, promotes ovulation, and improves menstrual cycle regularity.
  • Wild yam root (Dioscorea villosa) promotes a healthy menstrual cycle and hormonal balance and reduces ovarian pain.
Naturally Alleviate Menopause Symptoms

Menopause can be both a blessing and a curse. The right diet can usually alleviate symptoms, but the bad news for some women is that when health is restored fully, menopause may be delayed. It may be a choice between hot flashes or periods, but know that PMS symptoms dissipate as well with better health, and so does heavy menstrual bleeding.

  • Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa, Cimicifuga racemosa) has received considerable scientific attention for its effects on hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.
  • Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) has been reported to help women with hot flashes. Studies report few side effects and no serious health problems with use.
  • Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat gynecologic conditions for centeries. Dong quai has blood thinning properties, and should not be consumed by anyone with fibroids or blood-clotting problems.
  • Evening primrose oil or black currant oil provide gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid that can influence prostaglandin synthesis and help moderate menopausal symptoms.
  • Ginseng (Panax ginseng or Panax quinquefolius has been shown in research to alleviate some menopausal symptoms, but it has not been found to be helpful for hot flashes.
  • Omega 3s with DHA and EPA, B vitamins, vitamin D, Vitamin E, Magnesium, and exercise have all been shown to alleviate hot flashes as well.
Natural Remedies for PMS

Most women deal with headaches, mood swings, bloating, and other hormonal problems that threaten their relationships, work life, and well-being every month due to PMS.

It’s not a curse. It’s not something women have to live with. Difficult monthly cycles are a sign of poor health. The healthiest women barely notice their cycle, do not feel as though emotions run away with them every month, are exceptionally regular, they do not cramp, and they spot, as opposed to a heavy bleed. Along with a healthy diet, make sure you have the basics covered, including B vitamins (get a complex with extra B6), healthy fats (with DHA and EPA) vitamin D, Vitamin E, Magnesium and exercise, along with lots of fresh, raw, organic produce every day (more vegetables than fruit). And as always, avoid stimulants, soy and refined processed foods.

PMS is also a symptom of an unhealthy gut with too much Candida. Cutting out sugar and other foods that feed yeast, and high-quality probiotics taken regularly also work wonders for many women with difficult PMS.

Also for cramps, cranberry lemonade with stevia, and Mountain Rose Herb’s pregnancy tea works amazingly well. This is also great for detoxifying the liver and kidneys, and alleviating morning sickness.

  • Chasteberry fruit extract (Vitex Agnus-astus) can help balance the hormones released by the pituitary gland that control your overall hormone function. Studies of over 5,000 women have found it effective. Take 100 mg twice a day of a 10:1 extract.
  • Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) and cramp bark (Viburum opulus) can help regulate cycles and relieve cramps.
  • Dandelion root can help with liver detoxification and also works as a diuretic.
  • Flax seeds contain lignans that balance hormone metabolism and block some negative effects of too much estrogen. The fiber in flax seeds helps too. 
  • Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa, Cimicifuga racemosa) has received considerable scientific attention for its effects on hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.
  • Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) has isoflavones that improve estrogen detoxification.
  • Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) is an antispasmodic herb that eases cramps and other symptoms of PMS. It dilates blood vessels to increase flow and helps replenish blood after the period has ended.

Some swear by progesterone creams to calm raging PMS. As previously mentioned, increasing progesterone reduces the problems associated with estrogen. Extreme care should be taken with this or similar hormone therapies.

Diet is, as always, paramount. Check out Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included. And again, this is an excerpt from the ridiculously long article, Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones.

Related Reading:


Healing the Pituitary Gland with Nutrition and Natural Remedies

The pituitary is about the size of a pea. This gland lies in the sella turcica, known as the “Turkish saddle” at the base of the brain, behind the optic chiasm. The pituitary gland contains two functionally different body parts known as the anterior pituitary and the posterior pituitary. As far as we know, these two, while right next to each other, do not really work together.

At one time, the pituitary gland, also called the hypophysis, was thought to be the “master gland” that controlled all of the other endocrine glands. Now we know that the hypothalamus takes messages from the brain and tells the pituitary which hormones to excrete. For instance, the hypothalamus will secrete growth-hormone-releasing hormone or growth-hormone-inhibiting hormone to tell the anterios pituitary to release or stop releasing growth hormones. The hypothalamus and the pituitary are tightly integrated. Together, they regulate all processes having to do with primitive reactions, such as stress, rage, flight, body temperature, thirst, hunger, sexual activity, and survival in general.

This is an excerpt from the ridiculously long article, Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones I believe that it’s easier to heal the body when you understand how the body works, but understanding the endocrine system is big a task.  It’s a long article, but I think it’s worth it and I hope you’ll check it out. Also be sure to see How to Heal Your Gut because nothing will work right without a healthy gut.

Anterior Pituitary – Adenohypophysis

The anterior pituitary gland is controlled by negative feedback mechanisms that make up three-quarters of the pituitary gland. Once triggered by the hypothalamus, hormones are released by the anterior pituitary into the bloodstream.

For example, the hypothalamus releases hormones that tell the pituitary to release hormones that stimulate the thyroid to release hormones. These hormones enter the bloodstream to boost metabolism within the body where required. The negative feedback loop we spoke of above is how hormones in the blood communicate to the brain. When the metabolism has been successfully increased to the desired state, hormones in the blood tell the hypothalamus to tell the pituitary to stop stimulating the thyroid gland.

Principal Anterior Pituitary Hormones

Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone

TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to release thyroid hormones.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone

FSH & LH (luteinizing hormone) are known as gonadotropins because they stimulate the gonads (testicles and ovaries). They are not necessary to sustain life, but these hormones are essential for reproduction.

Prolactin

PL stimulates milk production.

Adrenocorticotropic

ACTH stimulates the release of adrenal cortical hormones by the adrenal glands.

Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone

MSH is a collective name for a group of peptide hormones produced by the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus, and the skin. This hormone is an anti-inflammatory hormone that gets its name because of its effect on melanocytes, skin cells that contain the black pigment, melanin. Melanocytes are responsible for moles, freckles, and suntans. Melanin helps protect our cells from DNA damage from sunlight.

Studies have recently shown that MSH can also suppress appetite. In all likelihood, MSH is also responsible for a range of other processes in the body.

Related: Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections
Human Growth Hormone

HGH (somatotropin) stimulates growth of the body and helps regulate metabolic processes. People feel younger and the body heals much faster when there is enough (or excess) growth hormone. The most important function of HGH is to tell the liver to produce IGF-1, or insulin-like growth factor 1. IGF-1 is considered by many to be the key anti-aging hormone. Together these two hormones influence every system in your body.

Increase Your Growth Hormones Naturally

If you get a prescription, injections given twice a day by a doctor can increase your IGF-1 hormone production by 20 to 40 percent. Professional athletes and movie stars swear by growth hormone injections. They may be the untold secret to many people’s success, but there are health problems with injecting hormones into the body. One of the many problems is that the pituitary can lose its ability to produce its own GH.

Some take pills and supplements that contain growth hormones, which are available over the counter like other supplements. Users should do their due diligence before taking any product containing human growth hormones.

There are also many supplements designed to increase the body’s growth hormone production (Growth Hormone Production Nutrition). When someone is matched with the right supplements, the right formula can increase IGF-1 levels by 20 percent or more. A good alternative to HGH injections, these supplements are amino acid-based precursor formulas that contain ingredients such as glutamine, tyrosine, GABA, arginine, and lysine.

Working out can dramatically increase growth hormone prevalence. A thirty-minute aerobic session can increase IGF-1 levels by more than 100%, and a serious weight training session can increase levels by 400 to 800%. On that note, everyone should be doing squats for a multitude of reasons, including but not limited to growth hormone production!

HGH Protocol

Squats have a myriad of health benefits including an increase in growth hormone production. It’s one of the most important movements we can do for our health. Try with just a few bodyweight squats if you’re out of shape, and work your way up to being able to do 100 squats at one time without getting sore. If you can’t do squats, try lying on the floor and then standing up, then lying back down to repeat, alternating legs each time. If you’re really serious about kicking up your growth hormone production, try sprints with high-intensity-interval training and low rep Olympic barbell squats with deadlifts, rows, pull-ups, and bench presses. The more muscles involved in the action and the heavier the load, the more HGH is released.

Related: How to Detoxify and Heal the Lymphatic System

Specific nutrition is known to increase growth hormone production under the right circumstances; these supplements are much more powerful when combined with the right exercise program.

  • L-arginine is an essential amino acid that can increase the release of HGH, but do not take with sugars. L-arginine should be taken only with low glycemic nutrition.
  • Glutamine is your body’s most abundant amino acid. Studies have shown that even modest amounts can significantly increase HGH levels.
  • Glycine plays a critical role in initiating normal patterns of REM sleep and has shown some promise in increasing HGH. We’re not sure if the high-quality sleep is what’s improving the hormone levels, or if there are also other factors when supplementing, but proper sleep is a critical factor in the body’s ability to regulate the circadian release of HGH.

Adequate sleep is a must! The highest concentration of HGH activity occurs when we are sleeping.

Growth hormone and testosterone production peak during sleep. You can actually get people to test pathologically low for growth hormone by waking them repeatedly during the night. I always tell people that if you want to maximize your growth hormone, get a good night’s sleep.” – University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas

Avoid high glycemic load foods, which is good advice for most anyone who’s not healthy or wants to stay healthy. Insulin inhibits HGH secretion. High glycemic foods (which are generally processed foods with refined sugars) wreak havoc with our insulin levels.

Hawthorn berries, horny goat weed, and maca are also known to aid the body with HGH production.

Anterior Pituitary Nutrition

Conditions such as acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome, and prolactinoma occur when the pituitary gland produces too much of one or more of its hormones.

Adult growth hormone deficiency, diabetes insipidus, hypopituitarism, hypothyroidism, and hypogonadism may result from the pituitary gland producing too little of one or more of its hormones. There are many more diseases that stem from a dysfunctional pituitary gland, like acromegaly, which gave André the Giant his stature and early death.

As previously mentioned, high glycemic foods and refined foods should be avoided for healthy pituitary function, but this is true for all glandular function, and for the entire body, for that matter. It should be noted that fruits with high glycemic loads have other benefits that make moderate consumption healthful, provided the person does not have an illness that requires limited natural sugars. Adaptogens like ashwagandha, eleuthero, holy basil, maca, Panax ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, and schisandra, as well as glandulars (desiccated glands), are generally used for naturopathic healing of the pituitary. Check out Shillington’s Brain Tonic and Desiccated Pituitary.

Considerable recent research has shown that the pituitary is extremely sensitive to diet. (Someday science will recognize that this is true for every cell in the body.) If you don’t assimilate enough protein, your pituitary can’t produce enough pituitary hormones (which are made up of amino acids). The pituitary is also known to need manganese, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin D, and B vitamins for proper healthy function.

Posterior Pituitary Gland – Neurohypophysis

The posterior pituitary gland is slightly smaller and lighter in color than the other half of the pituitary, and it is not technically a gland, though it is a vital part of the endocrine system (and everyone still calls it a gland). This “gland” does not synthesize hormones. Instead the posterior pituitary stores and secretes two hormones, oxytocin and vasopressin, which are actually produced in the hypothalamus (master gland) and transported to the pituitary.

Diabetes insipidus is the only clinical disorder that is generally conceded by the medical community to be of neurohypophyseal origin, but more and more evidence suggests that the posterior pituitary may have functions now scarcely appreciated. Treatment for the posterior pituitary gland is lumped in with treatment for the entire endocrine system, and the nutrition recommended is the same as mentioned above for the anterior pituitary gland.

Oxytocin

OXT is a powerful hormone with a lot of responsibilities. During childbirth, this hormone increases the strength of uterine contractions and stimulates the ejection of milk after delivery. Incidentally, Pitocin is a synthetic form of oxytocin, used to induce labor.

Oxytocin is known as the “love hormone,” or the “bonding hormone,” because it’s said to foster maternal instincts and sexual pleasure during and after intercourse. It’s not just a sex hormone, oxytocin levels in the body increase when we hug or kiss a loved one like a spouse, parent, or child.

Oxytocin plays a role in healing as well:

As mice age, the amount of oxytocin in their blood decreases. But what does that mean for their health? Researchers injected oxytocin under the skin of elderly mice with damaged muscles and discovered the muscles healed much faster than those of mice left untreated.” – Mental Floss

We’re just beginning to find out that oxytocin radically affects many aspects of our lives. This hormone inhibits the brain’s fear center, has been shown to influence how men remember their mother’s affection toward them as children (likely true for women, too), makes it easier for us to lie, makes it easier for us to trust, has been shown to make men more loyal to their spouses, is released when we feel safe and unobserved (causing shyness and a desire for privacy), increases the pain threshold, relieves stress, helps us relax, alleviates depression, increases generosity, and generally makes us feel good.

While oxytocin is partly responsible for a man’s courage to ask a woman out, this dynamic also helps give men the loyalty to stay with their loved ones. Dads who got a dose of an oxytocin nasal spray were shown to play more closely with their infants than dads who did not get the hormone spray. Another study found that men in relationships, when given a burst of oxytocin, stay farther away from an attractive woman.

It stands to reason that oxytocin plays a key role (though certainly not the only one) in women being able to handle the strain and pain of childbirth.

Antidiuretic Hormone

ADH: (aka vasopressin, argipressin) is responsible for water concentration and blood vessel constriction. While precise control of the body’s water concentration is a function of several hormones acting on both the kidneys and vascular system, ADH is a key player in this process. Blood vessels increase re-absorption of fluids by the kidneys, which decrease urine production to improve hydration. The effect raises blood volume and blood pressure.

Not-so-fun fact: alcohol inhibits this hormone, producing the profuse urination we experience from a drinking binge, which can lead to severe dehydration.

Diet is, as always, paramount. Check out Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included. And again, this is an excerpt from the ridiculously long article, Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones. Also, check out How To Heal Your Gut.

Supplement Stack For the Pituitary Gland

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Nutritional Support for Cystic Fibrosis

The global incidence of cystic fibrosis is estimated as 1/2500 live births.  CF cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be managed to support overall health, to manage associated symptoms, and to increase the quality of life. CF is equally diagnosed in males and females, although males tend to have a higher life expectancy (approximately 40 years) in comparison with women (approximately 37 years). Progressive lung conditions or related problems are the primary cause of death in CF patients; therefore, intervention strategies are usually aimed at supporting respiratory health and increasing immune function against respiratory infections.  A nutritional-based approach can effectively help to manage CF and associated symptoms to increase overall health and quality of life.

CF is caused by a mutation in the gene responsible for regulating the passage of salt in and out of exocrine glands. These glands produce and secrete substances onto epithelial surfaces of the body: sweat glands, salivary glands, reproductive glands, pancreas glands, and glands of the digestive and respiratory systems. If this gene is mutated, the protein influenced by it will be transformed and consequently stimulate the production of thick, sticky and abnormal mucus that may obstruct airways and damage tissues.

Each person inherits two copies of the gene related to CF, but CF is only possible if both parents have the mutated gene and passes it on to the child. If only one parent has the defective gene, their offspring will be a carrier of this gene and may pass it on to their children if their partner is also a carrier. A child with two carrier parents has a 25% chance of inheriting the disease and a 50% chance of being a carrier. The primary risk factor is both parents being carriers of the defective gene.

Every part of the body that presents with exocrine glands will be affected by CF: the pancreas, reproductive glands, digestive tract, salivary glands, sweat glands, and the respiratory tract.

Symptoms of CF

Symptoms of CF begin early in life and are often first seen in the respiratory tract or in the digestive tract.

Cystic Fibrosis Manifestations

Respiratory Tract

Thick, sticky mucus in the lungs and bronchial tubes may block lung passage and thereby promote the colonisation of harmful bacteria in the respiratory tract. Symptoms related to respiratory issues in CF patients include coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and recurrent lung infections. The bacteria may remain dormant in the lungs and contribute to repeated outbreaks of lung infections. These bacteria are often immune to conventional treatment and may contribute to tissue damage and may even suppress immune defences. Another primary characteristic of CF is chronic inflammation in the respiratory tract, which may consequently contribute to the formation of pro-oxidants, which are components that may damage and cause deterioration of tissues.

Digestive Tract

Thick secretions from the pancreatic gland may obstruct the secretion of digestive enzymes, which are required for digestion of food particles. Insufficient digestive enzymes may contribute to malabsorption and subsequently minimise nutrient stores in the body. Fat digestion and absorption are particularly affected by CF, leading to greasy and foul-smelling stools.

Other Common Symptoms

  • Excessive and salty sweating
  • Salty-tasting skin
  • Infertility (reproductive organs are affected)
  • Dehydration
  • Chronic diarrhoea
  • Poor growth
  • Excessive appetite, but poor growth or low weight (due to malnutrition)
  • Sinusitis

Conventional Approaches to CF

  • Antibiotics are generally given to CF patients to manage chronic respiratory infections; however, antibiotics destroy both harmful and beneficial bacteria, which may in effect lower defences even further (beneficial bacteria is critical for immune functioning).
  • Anti-inflammatory medication (e.g.: ibuprofen) is often administered to reduce airway inflammation, which may effectively reduce inflammation, but it may also damage the gastrointestinal tract, which should be protected and strengthened as this tissue is already vulnerable in CF patients.
  • Devices are used to remove mucus, to increase breathing, and to keep the airways open.
  • Lung replacement surgery is often performed if lung conditions worsen or if lung tissue is excessively damaged.

A Nutritional Approach

Nutrition can help manage not only the symptoms of CF but the side-effects of treatment, as well.

Guidelines for Useful Supplements

  • Multivitamin and mineral supplement – to ensure optimal nutrient stores. The highest quality sources of bio-available nutrients are plant- or food-derived multi-nutrient supplements. Malnutrition often exists alongside CF due to reduced digestive enzyme secretions and damage to the intestinal lining, which reduces capacity for absorption. Therefore, it is critical to ensure adequate nutrient intake through the diet and supplementation when needed to replenish nutrient stores in CF individuals.
  • Gastrointestinal supporting supplements – 60-70% of the body’s immune tissue is located in the gastrointestinal tract; therefore, if the gastrointestinal environment is sub-optimal or presents with an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, it may significantly reduce immune capacity. The abnormal mucus secreted in CF tends to damage the gastrointestinal tract, which may further reduce immune function. Supporting gut health is a primary consideration for nutritional therapy intervention and includes the following strategies:
    • Probiotics: Essential probiotics for the gut are Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis. Dosage should preferably be 50 billion units per day.
    • Digestive enzymes: As mentioned, the pancreatic secretions of digestive enzymes may be reduced, which significantly reduces the body’s ability to digest and absorb foods. Providing digestive enzyme supplements alongside a meal ensures that these enzymes are present in the gut when food arrives that needs to be digested and absorbed.
    • L-Glutamine powder: An amino acid that fuels the gut epithelial cells to repair any present damage and to protect against further deterioration to these intestinal cells. Dosage depends on age and progression of disease; suggested dosage is generally between 10g-50g per day.
    • Vitamins A, C, D and E: Essential vitamins for immune functioning and maintaining gut epithelial tissue integrity. Dietary intake of these vitamins should be optimal, but a supplement form of these vitamins may be required for additional support. Vitamin C and E are powerful antioxidants to protect the body’s cells and tissues against damage incurred by oxidants and inflammation. A high-quality multivitamin generally provides sufficient amounts of these vitamins, but the diet should also ensure a broad variety of fruit and vegetables to increase the intake of vitamins.
  • Essential fatty acids: Omega 3 essential fatty acids (especially DHA and EPA) are powerful anti-inflammatory fatty acids and may, therefore, protect tissues against inflammatory damage. Essential fatty acid supplements should preferably be purified to minimise exposure to heavy metals and toxins. Cod liver oil provides concentrated quantities of vitamin A, vitamin D, and essential fatty acids in a highly absorbable form.
  • Zinc: A mineral that supports integrity and healing of tissues and provides immune support.
  • MSM (methylsulfonylmethane): To protect lung tissue against damage and maintain strength and integrity of the respiratory tract.
  • N-acetyl cysteine: A building block for glutathione production, a potent antioxidant required to protect cells against oxidant damage. Systemic glutathione levels are often deficient in CF individuals, especially in the epithelial lining. Glutathione has a therapeutic effect on lung tissue through the neutralisation of oxidants, reduction of inflammation, and resolving accumulated mucus.
  • Curcumin (the main active ingredient in turmeric): Curcumin is one of nature’s most potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. It may protect against lung inflammation and promotes optimal immune functioning. Curcumin assists in liver function and protects liver cells against damage. Optimal liver function is required to stimulate the secretion of digestive juices and bile acid production, which are both crucial for digestive functioning. A curcumin supplement should be combined with black pepper or in a highly absorbable form (usually indicated), because curcumin has a very low bio-availability and therefore needs assistance to be taken into circulation.

General Dietary Guidelines

CF often contributes to malnutrition, therefore, the diet is of paramount importance to ensure adequate intake of nutrients to support health, growth, and immune functioning. The diet should be mainly plant-based with a broad variety of fruits and vegetables to ensure adequate intake of all the essential vitamins and minerals. Fruits and vegetables should preferably be organic to ensure a high nutrient profile, high antioxidant content, and a low exposure to toxins and pollutants.

As mentioned, sufficient intake of omega 3 may be effective in reducing inflammation, supporting immune function, and preventing mucus over-production. High-quality dietary sources of omega 3 include oily fish (especially salmon), flaxseed oil, and nuts (particularly walnuts).

Processed and heavily cooked foods stimulate mucus secretions and should, therefore, be avoided to prevent excessive build-up of thick, abnormal mucus. Foods should be easy to digest and if food intolerances are present, these foods should be eliminated completely to avoid an over-active immune system, excessive inflammatory responses, and increased mucus secretions.

Foods to Avoid

  • Animal-derived foods are hard to digest, often contain a high amount of toxins, and are rich in saturated fats. Animal foods provide high amounts of arachidonic acid (AA), a fatty acid that is generally excessive in CF patients. Reducing the intake of animal-derived foods may keep AA levels in check, especially if the person supplements with a high-quality omega 3 supplement containing DHA and EPA.
  • Dairy products stimulate mucus secretions.
  • Processed foods, junk foods, processed meat, cheese, pre-packaged foods, etc.
  • Refined starch such as white flour products (bread, pasta, pizza, pastries, etc.)
  • Sugar

Foods to Include

  • Animal protein alternatives include soaked nuts and seeds (to increase nutrient absorption), beans, pulses, sprouts, high-quality protein powder and hemp powder (a high quality, high protein source). Nuts and seeds additionally provide essential fatty acids and vitamin E to reduce inflammation and provide antioxidant protection.
  • Anti-inflammatory foods reduce inflammation in the respiratory tissues and prevent damage caused by inflammation. Anti-inflammatory foods include dark green leafy vegetables, avocados, oily fish, ginger, garlic, turmeric, and cinnamon.
  • Foods that may reduce mucus formation and secretion include garlic, onions, parsley, celery, cranberry, and lemons / lemon juice.
  • Pineapple and papaya provide natural digestive enzymes to support proper digestion and absorption of ingested foods. Include these fruit alongside meals to optimise nutrient stores.
  • At least 10-12 glasses of water per day are required to ensure proper hydration of the body and to regulate fluid balances.
  • Expectorant foods that may assist in relieving congestion and mucus build-up include cayenne pepper, garlic, turmeric, and hyssop.
  • Immune-supporting herbs and food include eucalyptus, onions, ginger, garlic, tea tree oil, Echinacea, and thyme. Garlic, ginger, and onions also act as cellular antioxidants to protect against oxidant damage.

Blood Sugar Regulating Diet

Damage to the pancreas may often incur damage to the cells responsible for secreting insulin, thereby reducing the body’s ability to regulate blood glucose levels. Carbohydrate intake should be restricted to prevent excessively elevated blood sugar levels, which may eventually manifest as insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon can be used daily to assist in blood sugar regulation. If insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes is already present, more specifically tailored dietary and supplement guidelines should be followed to manage blood sugar levels.

A therapeutic and powerfully anti-inflammatory drink to include daily is “Golden milk.”

Golden Milk Recipe

  • 1 cup of full cream coconut milk
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp raw honey
  • a pinch black pepper (increases turmeric absorption)
  • a tiny piece of fresh ginger
  • a pinch of cayenne pepper powder

Blend the ingredients in a high-speed blender until it’s properly mixed. Heat for 3-5 minutes over moderate heat in a saucepan and drink immediately.

Other Measures

Functional breathing techniques can also be very useful and effective to increase the capacity and flexibility of the respiratory tissue. An example of a functional breathing technique is 4-7-8 breathing:

  • Inhale deeply through the nose for 4 seconds, taking the inhaled oxygen deeply into the diaphragm.
  • Hold the breath for 7 seconds.
  • Exhale deeply through the mouth for 8 seconds.
  • Repeat at least 3 times.
  • This exercise also calms the nervous system and can be quite effective to combat stress and anxiety.

For a more tailored, personalised approach, a nutritional therapist can develop an intervention program according to the person’s unique biochemical make-up and current state of health.

Related Reading:
Author:

Jeanne Van Zyl lectures in Nutrition for the group of colleges that includes CNM (College of Naturopathic Medicine), in Europe, and CNH (College of Natural Health) in South Africa.



EU Proposal to Renew Glyphosate License Blocked!

Europe has become a battleground between environmental groups and big biotech companies. A French farmer won a case against Monsanto after suffering neurological problems due to inhaling their weedkiller, Lasso. By now, everyone has seen the study from the World Health Organization’s cancer agency calling glyphosate, the darling of Monsanto’s herbicides, probably carcinogenic. Instances like these and many others have left some European Nations wary of these chemicals, as evidence of their toxicity to humans is on the rise.

The Votes Are…Not In

And now we come to a crossroads. The European license for glyphosate is scheduled to expire on June 30. Previous meetings of nations of the European Union to renew the license for a 15-year span have ended in stalemates, as countries have refused to support that renewal in the face of growing scientific unrest and public opposition. The latest meeting took place Monday, with the executive body of the European Union, the European Commission (which is not affiliated with any specific country), proposing a 12- to 18-month extension for more scientific study. Malta was the only voice speaking against the extension, but the lack of votes from Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Austria, Portugal and Luxembourg kept the extension from being adopted.

The Results Are…Likely To Go One of Two Ways

So what happens now, with the glyphosate license expiring in less than a month? Option one would be an executive decision by the European Commission ignoring the lack of agreement from EU Nations and reauthorizing glyphosate. While possible, this scenario flies in the face of the Commission’s support of the democratic process that led to last year’s law allowing countries to make their own decisions regarding genetically modified crops. The leader of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, has publicly proclaimed his unwillingness to act against the interests of the majority view. The proposal of an extension did receive support from many countries, though, and Monsanto could see losses of potentially up to $5 billion dollars, which could result in some serious corporate pressure on the Commission.

What’s behind door number two? The simple option: leave it be. If a new agreement is not in place by the 30th of June, the license  is expired and all glyphosate products need to be gone from European Union shelves in six months. Is this more likely to happen if there are only eight votes either blocking or missing in keeping glyphosate from the shiny new license it desires? It seems unlikely until you consider some of the countries that abstained: Germany, France, and Italy, aka, three of the most powerful countries in the EU. The more you look at it, the more prudent this option becomes, really. Glyphosate has been labeled as probably cancer-causing. A product with issues (dangerous malfunctions, allergens or food contamination) would be pulled the shelves immediately. Why is glyphosate any different?

The Whole World Should be Watching

Europe has been on the forefront of recent biotech regulations in agriculture, and the decision, in this case, will resonate throughout the world. Supporters of a renewed license have pointed to the fear and confusion this will cause with consumers, which consumers would be well within their rights to feel. A probable cancer-causing chemical that has previously been sprayed with wild abandon is pulled off of shelves until a scientific consensus can be reached. What exactly is there to fear again? The knowledge that safety takes a backseat to profits, perhaps.

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Heal the Endocrine System and Balance Hormones

As OLM always says, it starts with diet. Supplemental therapies are much more effective with a healthy diet, and for most people, the right diet is all they need. But there are plenty of people who do not have access to healthy foods, and there are many who have such a depleted endocrine system that the body is just plain going to need a lot of help.

This is an excerpt from the ridiculously long article, Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones I believe that it’s easier to heal the body when you understand how the body works, but understanding the endocrine system is big a task.  It’s a long article, but I think it’s worth it and I hope you’ll check it out.

Eliminate and Flush Out Endocrine Disrupters and Detox the Body

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are chemicals that mimic our own hormones. They bind hormone receptors and disrupt the body’s normal hormonal actions. Endocrine disruptors may cause a more powerful response than the natural hormone would have or a diminished response. In some cases, they cause a completely different response than its natural counterpart would have created. EDs are typically measured in parts per trillion, which is indicative of the fact that very small amounts can have a disrupting effect on us. EDs are very stable. They don’t break down quickly. This is, in large part, why they are in so many products. They also get stored in our fat cells. They tend to stick around for a long time.

How to Avoid Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors

  • Keep your home clean, and vacuum often.
  • Always avoid artificial fragrances
  • Avoid plastic (I know, easier said than done)
  • Avoid touching, breathing the air, or consuming foods or liquids that have come in contact with warm or hot plastics (make sure that a hot car is well ventilated)
  • Avoid canned foods
  • Avoid any and all BPAs and most products that replaced BPAs with other petroleum based products
  • Filter tap water before drinking
  • Get a whole house water filter (we breathe chemicals from tap water when we shower)
  • Avoid chemical cleaning products
  • Avoid conventional personal care products like makeup, shampoos, soaps, moisturizers, etc.
  • Avoid food sprayed with chemicals
  • Avoid BPA paper receipts (some receipts contain 250 to 1,000 times the amount of BPA typically found in a can of food)

As usual, eating right makes all the difference. Science is finding that people who eat well, and include copious amounts of various vegetables in their diet, have less concentration of BPAs and other EDs in their body than people exposed to similar levels who do not eat well.

Get Your Gut Right

A healthy gut expels toxins better than an unhealthy gut. A healthy gut has beneficial bacteria, which science is finding makes a big difference in the amount of EDs we retain. Specifically, there’s been some big research on probiotics:

In one study, lab rats were exposed to BPA and some of them were later given probiotics. The results found that the amount of BPA excreted through urine and bowel movement was 2.4 times greater in the rats given probiotics, and the percentage of BPA bound to the excrement was significantly greater. This equated to lower BPA concentration levels in the blood for the rats administered probiotics.

Eat Right – Always Be Detoxifying

Eat a salad every day with lots of raw vegetables and herbs, many of which help moderate estrogen and other hormone levels, and these salads will help flush out chemicals. Drink lots of water, and try cranberry lemonade with stevia to aid the body with detoxification.

Avoid and Remove Toxic Heavy Metals

Arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and many more of these kinds of waste from industry have detrimental effects on our endocrine system.

Supplements and Foods that Remove Heavy Metals

Sleep Well

We work all day. Our body works all night to regenerate. When we don’t get enough sleep, we need adrenalin to make it through the day. This wears out the adrenal glands and eventually disrupts the entire system. Adrenaline, as common as it is, can be toxic to us after some time. Get plenty of quality, deep, regenerative sleep and don’t compensate with stimulants.

Exercise and Be Active

If sleeping well is difficult, exercise is most likely the answer. But that’s not all exercise has to offer. Breathing heavily and sweating profusely during an intense exercise program can expel a tremendous amount of toxins. Exercise also resets our hormones, balances our mood, and makes our brain work much better. While most turn to alcohol, television, and drugs during times of stress, this is when we need exercise the most. Here’s a tip: next time life gets too stressful, take a squat break. Squats release tons of hormones and will help alleviate stress and cravings for vices.

Top 10 Herbs, Vitamins, and Minerals for Better Endocrine Health

Before we get into this, know that every vitamin and mineral is important. We tend to be low in some more than others due to the way we live, but taking vitamin D won’t make up for not getting enough calcium. For that matter, taking a calcium supplement won’t make up for not getting enough calcium either, because we need to get most of our vitamins and minerals from our food. Supplements can supplement our food, but they don’t make up for a toxic diet.

  1. B vitamins: Always use a complex unless otherwise recommended by a professional.
  2. Fatty acids with DHA and EPA: There’s a million reasons, but the bottom line is that we need the right fats to create healthy cells. Since cells are what we are made of, healthy cells = healthy body.
  3. Vitamin D: It’s actually a hormone.
  4. Magnesium: Like vitamin D, Magnesium is one of those nutrients that we tend to be pretty low in, and the results from fixing the deficiency are usually pretty dramatic.
  5. Maca root: Most often taken to improve libido, energy levels, mood, and fertility, maca does not affect the hormones directly, but it has hormone-balancing effects that help alleviate a range of stressors including fatigue, anxiety, stress, depression, and sleep issues.
  6. Chasteberry: This herb has been used for thousands of years by women to relieve menstrual problems and it’s also used by natural health practitioners to reduce a male’s testosterone levels when need be (not recommended for most men of course).
  7. Black cohosh: First used by native Americans, and now very popular in Europe, this herb has commonly been used to treat symptoms of menopause, PMS, painful menstruation, acne, weakened bones osteoporosis, and for starting labor in pregnant women. Black cohosh also has many positive benefits for men as well.
  8. Saw palmetto: While the previous two are typically used by women, saw palmetto is known as a male supplement, primarily for better prostate health and to balance men’s hormones. But it’s not just for men, as it’s also useful for women with hair loss, acne, menopausal symptoms, and more. It also keeps women from producing too much testosterone but does not seem to impede normal production.
  9. Glandulars: Glandulars are desiccated glands, typically derived from pigs, cows, or sheep. They are obviously not for vegans, but if they are an option, glandulars provide the nutrition that the glands need, obviously, since they are made up of that nutrition.

Stress

You see every professional talking about eliminating stress when you look at articles about balancing hormones. For those who like to cause stress, this is great advice. On the other hand, the idea of eliminating stress for most people is fool hearty. Accidents happen. Children go missing. People get fired. Wars happen. People die. Stress will always be around, ready and waiting to consume us. The trick is in how you handle it.

People who are dealing with a lot of stress often attempt to balance their hormones in part by avoiding stress, but the stressful situation that may have helped set off the hormonal imbalance still needs to be dealt with, and chances are, dealing with stressful situations is going to be stressful.

Handle stress better.

Breathe properly (deeply, like a singer or a martial artist). A well-trained massage therapist can help detoxify the body, and we all know how relaxing a massage can be. Grounding helps open our energy pathways, which has a tremendous effect on our glands. Spend lots of time in nature. Try yoga. Meditate. And don’t quickly make big decisions when you are stressed.

Conclusion

It takes time for the endocrine system to heal; it’s rarely a quick process. Since our endocrine system is responsible for our hormones, when our hormones aren’t working, we really aren’t ourselves. Or at least, we’re not our best. Hormones influence us so powerfully that a balanced endocrine system can be the difference between happiness and misery. When our hormones aren’t working right, we can’t think straight. We make poor decisions. We lash out. We live in fear. We excite too easily. We sleep too much or not nearly enough. Hormone balance is critical! But that’s the catch.We tend to self-sabotage when our hormones aren’t working properly. Someone who’s head isn’t working right tends to have a very hard time getting well. It often makes a long road to health even longer. And for those who are overweight, hormonal problems will continue to be an issue until well after that excess weight is lost because of how we store toxins in our fat.

Be patient. The good news is that it virtually always takes a heck of a lot less time to get well than it took to get chronically ill.

P.S. The following is a list of supplements that could all be taken together (save the male and female formulas, obviously you’ll pick one). Not everyone will need more than a few of these to see significant results, and it’s much easier to figure out which formulas are best for you if you read the entire, Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones. Most importantly, nobody will notice significant results without a healthy diet. It’s imperative that the gut is taken into consideration for any holistic approach to healing. Gut health comes first, and ignoring the gut will result in a lot of problems. Be sure to check out Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included, and Candida, Gut Flora, Allergies, and Disease, and see the Further Reading section below.

Recommended Products:
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Children and Eczema

Eczema is a chronic itchy skin condition that usually starts during the first five years of life, most often in the first six months, and typically lasts into childhood and even adolescence.  In infancy, eczema often appears as red, scaly, crusted and even weeping patches often on both cheeks and on the (lower) extremities.  During childhood, eczema usually moves to areas such as the knees, elbows, wrists, and ankles.

There are times when the skin appears only mildly affected while, during other periods, it is moderately–to very severely affected.

Eczema now occurs in almost 20% of all children in industrialized countries; its prevalence in the United States alone has nearly tripled in the past thirty years.

Why the Increase in Eczema?

One Suggestion

Could the increase be partly due to an imbalance in the gut bacteria?

There are four main ways in which the body eliminates unwanted matter:

  1. The bowels get rid of food waste – as well as waste from the lymphatic system and toxins from the blood that the liver has cleaned out.
  2. The kidneys and bladder handle cellular waste as they clean the blood.
  3. The lungs deal with any waste that can be converted to a gas, for example, carbon dioxide.
  4. And the skin eliminates waste as we perspire.

All four methods have to work properly for optimum efficiency, but even if just one does not, waste finds it way back into the body, which has to go back to square one to find another method for elimination.

A traditional naturopath doctor, Kathryn Doran-Fisher,  believes eczema is a result of waste material being passed out of the skin that was never meant for the skin to eliminate. These irritating substances cause inflammation, itching, and redness as the immune system works to get rid of it.

Another Possible Reason

Before the 1900s, vaccines were administered by a lancet, but by the turn of the century, nearly all countries in the western world changed to using the hypodermic needle instead. Coincidentally or not, a new disease called serum sickness began to afflict thousands of children. The connection was well recognized and documented in the medical literature of the day. In fact, Dr. Clemens Von Pirquet (who actually coined the word “allergy”) was a leading researcher in identifying the new disease. The doctor recognized that vaccines had two primary effects: immunity and hypersensitivity. He said they were inseparable; the one was the price of the other.

  • Could the growing number of cases of eczema in children be part of that second primary effect of hypersensitivity, especially in view of the increased vaccine schedule of recent decades?
  • Could the elimination of the toxins from vaccines (even through the skin as we describe above) be at fault?

Whatever the reason, eczema can be particularly harsh and painful for children to endure.

How Can We Help Our Children To Heal the Eczema?

Investigating your child’s gut health and ensuring the buildup of good bacteria in their digestive system has to be at the top of the list.  Parents can do this in a number of ways:

  • By making every effort to breastfeed your baby for as long as possible.
  • By cutting down or cutting out all refined sugars (including agave, fruit juices, coconut sugar, etc.).
  • By including probiotics in your diet (in the form of fermented foods or with probiotic supplements) during pregnancy.
  • By giving probiotics from a young age to beneficially alter the early colonization of bacteria in the gut and to help the child’s immune system develop and mature. However, probiotics do need to be integrated with a healthy diet.  It does not help to add probiotics if your child is consuming loads of sugar, grains, and fruit juices as these will rapidly break down in the intestine and feed the pathogenic bacteria, rendering those probiotics useless.

The presence of Candida or yeast is a sign of problems with gut health. It is those simple carbs – sugars, grains, and pastas – that feed the yeast.  Candida develops as a helper to create balance in the gut due to antibiotics, preservatives, heavy metal toxins, and processed foods. Once gut health is improved sufficiently, Candida becomes obsolete. Unfortunately, Candida overgrowth can be passed down from mother to child.

Consider changing to a raw food diet if your child is on solids. Such a diet would include a large proportion of living, nutritionally-dense organic uncooked and unprocessed food along with pure water. Such a diet will help eliminate those toxins that can be created during the cooking process and help the body to become more alkaline.

Make the connection between that nightly bath time and the appearance of eczema. Bathe your children when they’re dirty,  this usually means two to three baths a week. Use one bath each week to wash your child’s hair and body with natural soap/shampoo, while the other bath or baths are kept simple with oatmeal milk or herbal bath bombs,  not only to clean their skin but to nourish it as well. Dryness and eczema go hand in hand, and it is this dryness that makes it so important to keep on moisturizing when you have the recurring symptoms of eczema. When the body sweats, valuable water and moisture are lost from the skin. Caring for children with eczema means establishing a skin care routine that locks in moisture.

Dry skin brushing combined with the use of a natural scrub to exfoliate, followed by a natural moisturizer, can help to get rid of dry skin topically.

Using 100% natural H-Eczema Formula will work gently with your child’s body to heal those symptoms without the adverse effects that other harsh eczema remedies (containing chemicals and other harmful ingredients) can bring.

Conclusion

No parent wants their child to suffer from the pain and discomfort of eczema. We must remember that our skin is our largest organ and everything we apply to the outside of our skin gets absorbed into the skin and into our bloodstream.  We need to focus on what goes into our children’s bodies not only via the mouth and nose, but also via the skin – everything from the type of food they eat, the vaccines injected, the day-to-day exposure to chemicals, toxins and so much more.

Sources and Further Reading:


Silence Increases Neurons in the Brain

I vividly remember the fear I felt when faced with the empty nest syndrome. It wasn’t just that my kids would be gone, I would be alone. Alone. Alone. Alone. In silence.

As it turned out, silence was the best part. It was regenerative. It was healing. It was… awesome. And the silence sparked the most creative period of my life.

A 2013 study may explain why. Imke Kirste, Ph.D., a regenerative biologist from Duke University, studied the effects of different sounds on cells in the hippocampus region of the brain in mice. The sounds being tested were white noise, piano music by Mozart, and pup calls (baby mouse cries). Two hours a day of silence was supposed to be the control. Instead, silence became the surprise trophy winner. Silence caused an increase in new neurons. Sounds did not.

So… silence is more than golden. It feeds the brain.

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