Endocrine System
Are you suffering from a broad range of seemingly unrelated symptoms,but no-one can find anything particular wrong with you? Symptoms such as headaches, stubborn weight problems, tiredness, depression, constipation, moodiness, allergies, PMS, skin conditions, difficulty concentrating or sleeping, inability to cope with stress like you used to, high or low blood pressure, high or low blood sugar? These are just SOME of the symptoms you can experience when your endocrine system is out of balance and needing support. This is a system of hormone producing glands and is involved in almost everything that happens in your body. by Sue Moore
SOME OF THE GLANDS IN THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: Adrenal, Pituitary, Pineal, Thyroid, Thymus. As an example, a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or "Yuppie Flu", is often just an exhausted Adrenal Gland. As this system controls so many bodily functions,the symptoms can be wide and varied when it's under stress, and therefore very confusing! We start taking medications for all these different symptoms, BUT MEDICATION STRAINS THE VERY SYSTEM THAT IS BEHIND THE SYMPTOMS TO BEGIN WITH. So in the long run, the situation is worsened. It becomes a vicious cycle. More serious illnesses, such as diabetes can develop due to a malfunctioning endocrine system. So this is a VERY important system to look after as it is a very finely tuned and balanced system, and if one gland is malfunctioning, usually others are too, or will be if the problem is not addressed. ONE CANNOT TREAT A GLAND IN ISOLATION.
There is a lot you can do in terms of diet and lifestyle that will help to balance out the Endocrine System and thus avoid having to go onto medication.
Children's hormonal systems can also take strain because of our modern diet and lifestyle. They may suffer from any of the above-mentioned symptoms, but we particularly see allergies, mood or behavioural disorders, poor concentration, sleep problems and bowel problems. Allergies can be severe, such as reactive asthma, or they can present with food intolerances.Symptoms can include paleness, irritability, inability to settle and emotional lability.With allergies or intolerances, there is obviously immune system involvement, but strengthen the Adrenal gland, and allergies improve. As teenagers, the so-called "typical teenage" behaviours of moodiness, acne, poor motivation, low energy, PMS etc, do NOT have to be as severe, or even be a problem at all!!
SUBSTANCES THAT NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM:Refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, heated fats, alcohol, vinegar, caffeine, dairy products, gluten can slow down thyroid function in gluten sensitive people, excessive use of salt, artificial additives, medication and smoking.
SUBSTANCES THAT POSITIVELY AFFECT THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: Healthy fats (found in corn on the cob, avocados, nuts and seeds, olives, cold pressed vegetable oils), high intake of raw fruit and veg, cooked veg, vegetable juices, complex carbohydrates. Sensible exposure to sunlight also helps,as well as exercise.
Do something before those annoying symptoms need medicating,or develop into a more serious disorder!
Sue Moore is a Natural Health Consultant and can be contacted on 27 11 675-5743.
