Hunger is a natural response by the body when it has used up the caloric intake from our last meal and we need to replenish. When we are in a constant state of hunger, or hungry very shortly after our last meal, this can signal a health problem such as hormonal imbalance or other either genetic or chronic health conditions. The hormones from the thyroid, pancreas, reproductive glands, and pituitary or adrenals glands are all possible contributors to constant hunger.
There are also other factors that can play a large role as well. A diet that is very low in fat can create a constant hunger. Our bodies require a certain amount of fat each day to regulate our metabolism and these healthy fats (such as avocado, nuts or olive oil). These fats trigger a hormone called leptin that curbs or stops the appetite.
When any one of many things that can create imbalances or that can override the body’s normal metabolic function occurs, we can short circuit the body’s ability to sustain normal appetite and food consumption. Most commonly these are hormone or neurotransmitter imbalances that create hunger due to the interruption of the normal hunger/hormone chemical.
Stress can play a large role in this condition, as well as excessive or chronic long term carbohydrate intake. Excess carbohydrates can result in both a decrease and an increase in insulin secretion which can then trigger several metabolic problems and syndromes.
If you are experiencing, chronic persistent hunger it is important to consult with your physician. There are many situations that can also contribute to your hunger such as hyperthyroidism, menstrual irregularities, Von Gierke disease, bulimia, Prader-Willi syndrome, diabetes, medications or hypoglycemia.
For more whole health discussions, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama. Also available on iHeartRadio.
Nearly 20% of people wearing braces in the U.S. are adults, yet it seems that many more can benefit from orthodontics. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) showed that a large majority of people have malocclusion or misalignment, with only 35% of adults having well aligned mandibular incisors (the four incisors located on the jaw). Interestingly, this is a modern problem, since our hunter-gatherer ancestors had almost no malocclusion and dental crowding. The advent of farming and the greater availability of ‘soft’ foods like grains and legumes lessened the size of jaws without a corresponding change in tooth size. The result is that there is not enough space in the jaws and the result is misaligned or crowded teeth. This is one of the earliest examples of the interconnectedness of different body systems. Not to mention the close connection between oral and cardiovascular health (Sanchez, 2017). It shows the important link between our diet and our oral health, and is also indicative of why so many of us need orthodontics.
Malocclusion and the Risk of Falls
A 2016 study by scientists at the University of Barcelona showed that having an imperfect bite (e.g. gaps between teeth, crowding of teeth, missing teeth) can affect our postural control. These postural problems can potentially increase the risk of falls in people with certain diseases, or even affect athletes’ performance, potentially increasing instability as tiredness increases. The researchers concluded that orthodontics should be considered both by members of the general population and by athletes as a way to help prevent falls and instability.
Orthodontics and Sleep
We know that quality sleep is vital for our physical and mental health, with chronic sleep deprivation linked to obesity, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes. A 2012 University of Eastern Finland study on children aged six to eight found that the risk of sleep-disordered breathing is increased by crossbite (a type of oral misalignment which occurs when the upper and lower sets of teeth don’t meet correctly), among other factors. The researchers stressed that children with disordered breathing should have their dental bite examined, since employing orthodontics to reduce sleep issues may be required.
Braces for Better Mental Health
A 2018 study published in the Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences found that there is an important relationship between orthodontics, mental health, and body image. Researchers noted that participants who had worn braces or other orthodontic devices were overwhelmingly satisfied with the results. They concluded that orthodontic treatment could significantly improve one’s overall mental health and change one’s attitude towards one’s physical image.
Many of the biggest health problems on a global scale – including sleep deprivation, obesity, and falls, can be aided through orthodontics. We have mentioned just a few instances of the way in which orthodontics can enhance health, but its effects are significantly more numerous. Teeth that are correctly aligned, for instance, can help us enjoy our food more, and enjoy a wider variety of foods – including harder, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables – which are so useful for our heart and overall health. If you are an an adult who is bothered by missing teeth, malocclusion, gaps or other problems, see your dentist and discuss the suitability of orthodontics.
For more whole health discussions, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama. Also available on iHeartRadio.
Decades ago, in the 1990’s, Peggy Huddleston, author of “Prepare for Surgery Health Faster,” demonstrated the relationship between a patient visualizing their healing after surgery and a decrease in the need for pain medication and subsequent shorter hospital stays.
Huddleston conducted numerous studies at Boston area hospitals and, without exception, the use of healing visualization before and after surgery resulted in measurable improvements in the recovery from surgery. This also resulted in a decrease of costs related to hospitalization length of stay, medication, and the absence of complications after surgery. Thus, guided imagery is a useful tool.
Until recently, it was only nurses, social workers, and pastoral counselors who were advocates of guided imagery as a healing modality. But due to health consumers now educating their doctors about the healing benefits of guided imagery, physicians are also getting on board. Many are now recommending the use of guided imagery not only for pre- and post-operative benefits, but also as adjunctive therapy for chronic pain and disease.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the well-known cardio-thoraic surgeon at Columbia Presbyterian Medical center, recommends imagery for his patients. This trend can now be seen at all major medical centers and hospitals. In addition, with studies, explored in the health coach certification program, showing that imagery saves money, has no clinical risk, and can be administered without a practitioner, companies like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California have incorporated the modality into its paid services for its members.
In June of 2000, Blue Shield began a pre-surgery program involving Guided Imagery for its members who were approved for a major surgery. This established the first health plan to develop such a program.
Apart from its use with surgery, guided imagery can facilitate relaxation and reduction of stress. By imagining your body healing and growing stronger, messages are sent to the amygdala portion of the brain, which “automatically” sends messages to our immune system to create chemistry that will assist in the recovery or healing process that is desired.
Specific imagery learned in health coach certification for specific conditions can also greatly enhance the healing, but just visualizing the immune system sending out “messengers” to heal whatever part of the body is ailing can result in improved outcomes.
One of the frustrating aspects of health information is that just when you think you’ve got a handle on what you are supposed to do to be healthy – the information changes.
For example, not long ago those of us who were over 50 were assured that if we moderately cut back our portions, decreasing our calories, and exercised for a half hour 4-5 times a week, we could keep the extra body fat that creeps in after menopause, at bay.
How many women dutifully reduced their calories and did their daily half hour exercise routine, only to feel that there was “something wrong with them” because this formula didn’t work for their body, even though the “experts” said it was the right way to control weight after the age of 50.
The weight loss wisdom has now shifted for women past the age when our estrogen is dramatically lower than pre-menopause. Estrogen, as every woman knows, is that amazing hormone that is a metabolic calorie burner as well as a reproductive hormone. It keeps us heart healthy; keeps our skin healthy and it produces “pheromones” for attraction, among other amazing and important body functions
No longer is a half hour of exercise deemed adequate to increase the metabolic furnace that is slowed down by the loss of estrogen and the creeping weight gain around the middle. We now have to exercise a minimum of one hour per day and really watch everything we put in our mouths, especially carbohydrates, which we want more than ever for the serotonin surge they give us. This new information comes from the simple fact that women over 50 generally do not lose the weight they want with just a half hour of exercise.
What is important regarding losing weight and keeping it off after 50 is what our individual body tells us is right for our metabolism and body type. We need to ask ourselves what do we know about ourselves, and our own weight loss and weight gain pattern? Thatt should be more important than the “weight loss expert’s” advice.
The big question is, now that we are past the age of reproduction and our body no longer is protecting us against many of the maladies that come with getting older, what are we willing to make the priority in our lives and what do we know about our own metabolic profile and how food and exercise affects our body weight? What also happens past 50 that can liberate us from this body syndrome and how can we harness it for our whole health and well being?
After 50, we lose our inhibitions, accept ourselves for who we are more, surprise ourselves with finding new interests and passions and throw off the yoke of being so concerned with success and achievement. We may lose some physical passion, but mentally and spiritually we are “off and running” in a whole new way.
Important questions to ask ourselves about what we know about how to lose weight:
1- What do I know about how I gain weight? 2- What do I know about how I lose weight? 3- Do I eat when I’m stressed? 4- Do I lose weight when I’m stressed? 5- Do I use food for emotional soothing? 6- Does eating play a dominant role in my daily routine? 7- Is losing weight more important than eating what I like when I like it? 8- What am I willing to give up to get the body weight I want? 9- Do I feel my food choices need to improve? 10- What is my personal experience with exercise? 11- What works best for me, what kind of exercise do I enjoy? 12- What do I know about how my body responds to exercise? 13- Am I willing to make the time to take care of myself? 14- What are my health priorities? 15- What are my ego priorities? 16- What keeps me from being the weight I want to be- REALLY?
We know that the issue of weight loss is intimately connected with our relationship with our mental, emotional and physical energy. Rarely do we see an energetic, productive, organized individual (man or woman) who struggles with weight issues, even after 50 because they are often focused on their external interests and passions. Ironically, these folks often suffer from not taking the time to eat when or as much as they should.
One of the weight loss “secrets” I have learned over the years from my patients is that when they are excited, creative, interested and passionate about their work, their relationships, learning, doing or being, the issue of a naturally right body weigh solves itself. We are often over focused on the sensory experience and pleasure of food as a main stay for satisfaction and fulfillment.
However, when something else captures our attention and energy, the issue of fulfillment and gratification can come from a totally unexpected and different source. Something to consider ~ Let’s find our passion and joyfully burn those calories!
For more whole health discussions, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama. Also available on iHeartRadio.
There is no doubt that today more and more people are turning to integrative medicine and alternative modalities for their health concerns and disease prevention. This popular movement, winning one out of every two Americans as converts, may seem to some like a new idea or a “health revolution.” In reality, it is a return to period in time, over 400 years ago, when health was seen from a more whole person, integrated and even spiritual perspective.
Until the early 1600’s, the realm of human health was believed to represent a person’s spiritual state. If one was healthy that meant they bore not demons. If one was sick, that meant they needed to purge sickness, which was seen as “possession” or a spiritual incorrectness that had to be remedied. The prevailing church of the day, ruled by the Vatican, exerted a huge influence over the medical community and how people viewed the cause and cure of their disease.
In 1612, physician Anton Descartes, a powerful, influential physician and scientist, declared, “I think therefore I am” , stating that the mind and body were two separate, unrelated parts of a human being, and as such the study and treatment of the human being needed to be separated into the mind or spirit portion and the physical bodily portion.
Descartes lead the political movement to separate the body from the soul, a separation in which he and his peers literally brokered a deal with the Vatican, which was reluctant to give up control over its flock. However, the “scientific revolution” was gripping the culture and the church knew it was prudent to agree. Thus, the division of mind and body began and the practice of medicine started down the slippery slope to where we find ourselves today.
Since this division set up a medical system that treated only physical health, it became considered, by the mass majority, that this form of medicine was the only legitimate form of health care. However, over the course of the past 50 years people have grown sicker and increasingly dissatisfied with the medical system.
This led to an increase in the use of “untried” remedies and treatments which offered success and often cures for varied ailments. These “alternatives” treatments attempt to address the whole person rather than just the physical body. Because of the success of alternative treatments, and their resultant popularity, we are currently experiencing a renaissance of the “whole-person” body, mind and spirit approach to healing that the National Institute of Whole Health’s accredited program is based on.
Today, thanks to the Internet, we have more information about every aspect of health than ever before. Still, there exists confusion between alleopathic medicine and integrative medicine, how their treatment approaches differ and how one can discern what is right for their particular need or condition. By comparing and contrasting both approaches individuals can be empowered with information to make an educated decision about how they would like to address their personal health care and what forms of health care they would like to incorporate.
Often called modern medicine, conventional or traditional, allopathic medicine defines health as the absence of disease. The term comes from the Greek roots meaning “opposite” and “disease”, referring to a principle of curing a disease, disorder or problem by administering drugs or surgery that produce the opposite effect of the problem.
The main cause of illness is considered to be viruses or bacteria and scientific tests are used to diagnose before drugs or surgery are prescribed. Furthermore, the emphasis here is more on “attacking the problem”, seen as an invader or enemy outside the self rather than exploring the cause and effect of the problem and working to identifying what needs to be changed or altered to bring about the return of health.
Alternative, natural, complementary or holistic medicine practices approach the problem or condition from a focus of identifying what particular choices or behaviors the individual might be making that is leading to the expression of symptoms collectively called their “disease or diagnosis”.
In contrast, because integrative medicine bridges the gap between traditional and alternative medicine, an integrative physician or practitioner would evaluate not only the patient’s physical health, but also the other aspects of their life that may be influencing their health.
Scientific evidence and ancient teachings have proven that there are multiple components to health that make up a whole person, therefore, illness cannot be cured or wellness realized without taking multiple aspects into account.
For example, a traditional alleopathic approach to a sore throat could include a drug substance or over the counter aspirin and possibly a cough and sore throat medicine. The integrative medical practitioner, trained to stimulate the body’s natural healing potential, may well prescribe nutritional changes, herbs, aromatherapy, gargling with various natural extracts, vitamins, garlic, broths, vegetable or juice extracts, calcium sources or homeopathic remedies.
By looking at different patient situations through our accredited health program we can see how traditional and integrative medicine differs in their approach. Patient A is a 35-year old male who is married with two children and works in a high stress job. He considers himself healthy however, despite working out fairly regularly and eating healthy, he is constantly tired and has trouble sleeping at night.
On the opposite end of the spectrum Patient B is a 50-year old single stay-at-home mom who is raising a young son. She has high cholesterol, is borderline diabetic and is generally not in good health.
Patient A: Conventional Analysis & Treatment Recommendation: This patient would most likely be given a blood test to check for anemia or pathology and then prescribed a sleeping pill to deal with the insomnia. If nothing showed up on the blood test, the practitioner would probably recommend addressing the stress with a pill to calm down to seeing a therapist to deal with his stress.
Patient A: Integrative Analysis & Treatment Recommendation: This practitioner would also probably order a blood test to check for anemia or pathology. After assessing that possibility, if the blood test came back “negative” (ironically, that’s positive!), the practitioner would then explore and discuss with the individual what they felt is contributing to their problem. Based on the patients’ self-awareness and the practitioners mindful listening and assessment of the patient, the practitioner might recommend a homeopathic remedy, a change in sleep venue or a new bed, meditation before retiring, an decrease in stimulating food such as caffeine and alcohol, and an increase in fruits and vegetables in t he diet. The multiple aspects of the individual’s life and their own innate awareness of their health would be considered.
Patient B: Conventional Analysis & Treatment Recommendation:This patient would be given a blood work-up to determine her levels of cholesterol and glucose or blood sugar. Depending upon the values found on the tests, the doctor would prescribe medications appropriate for lowering the levels of cholesterol and/or blood sugar. The doctor may also suggest the patient make an appointment with a dietician to go over dietary changes.
Patient B: Integrative Analysis & Treatment Recommendation: This practitioner would also do a blood work-up to assess the patient’s various blood values. However, rather than prescribing a drug to lower or later levels, this practitioner may invite the individual into a discussion about what she felt she could do to bring these levels down to avoid the need for a medication.
The discussion from our accredited health program would outline and recommend options for lowering cholesterol which would include natural supplements, dietary changes or adding more vegetables and whole sprouted grains instead of high fat foods, an exercise program that she would be able to follow, drinking more water, using homeopathic remedies to improve her overall health, discuss her social life and recreation. This practitioner would focus on changing the causes of her chronic condition rather than just medicate it.
The options we are offered today through Integrative Medicine invite us to become more pro-active and better informed as well as become better health care consumers. This empowers us to take greater control over our health outcomes and longevity. That’s a prescription for good health we can all live with.
For more whole health discussions, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama. Also available on iHeartRadio.
Cleaning products can be as unhealthy for human lungs as smoking twenty tobacco-based cigarettes a day, according to a study from the University of Bergen. And with 28% of Americans spending more than seven hours a week cleaning their homes, there are potentially big risks involved in being around harmful chemicals. Whether it’s an increased risk of cancer or minor ailments like throat problems, these chemicals can cause significant health issues.
Formaldehyde
This is one of the most common bathroom product dangers. It’s found in everything from laundry detergent to soap. Unlike green household product alternatives such as organic or self-made cleaning materials, it can cause severe health problems for people who are repeatedly exposed to it. These can include leukemia and other forms of cancer, given that formaldehyde is a carcinogen. Exposure methods are varied. It may be that you breathe it in, for example. You can also take it in through your digestive system if you eat food that has been contaminated by a formaldehyde-heavy environment.
Ammonia
Ammonia is also found in a number of major cleaning products, such as window cleaning fluids and bottles of multi-purpose spray. And it too can cause a number of issues. It’s possible that a person who is exposed to ammonia will experience a burning sensation in their throat, and in the worst case scenario, long-lasting lung problems. Cell damage is also a distinctive possibility for those who breathe in ammonia. When it combines with the naturally-present water inside the human body, it creates the dangerous and abrasive ammonium hydroxide compound.
Phthalates
Terms like “ammonia” are relatively well known, even if the exact effects that they can have on people aren’t as familiar. But the truth of the matter is that there are lots of other less recognized chemicals in many bathroom products which are just as problematic for your family – and potentially even more so. One of these is phthalates. These are found in all sorts of bathroom products, including air fresheners. They can even be found in toilet paper.
The effects of phthalates can be diverse, and usually negative. An experiment carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Harvard University found that men with pronounced phthalates levels in their bloodstreams saw lower sperm counts. They’re particularly associated with products which are artificially fragranced. So, it’s wise to go for more organic options if you’re considering buying a bathroom cleaning product designed to keep the smells at bay.
A tub of sanitizer or a bottle of bleach may seem like a must-have when it comes to health and hygiene around the bathroom. But the reality is that these products could be putting you and your family at risk. From the formaldehyde in detergents to the ammonia in those ever-handy surface sprays, there’s a lot to look out for – and it may be worth carrying out a bathroom product audit and weeding out the dangerous items.
For more whole health discussions, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama. Also available on iHeartRadio.
Referred to as the “root chakra” in yoga circles,
the reproductive glands are in the most primal sense, the survival component
of Maslow’s Hierarchy and in fact, they are essential to the survival of the
species – which is their primary purpose. They are, of course, part of the
organs and system of reproduction which includes various accessory parts that
are necessary to support the reproductive function.
That the Reproductive Glands belong to the physical aspect
of Whole
Health is very straight forward and evident. When we look at them in terms
of Selye’s Stress Model we can see that they are connected to the
“survival stressors” of:
Reproduction (Yes, sadly sex is another stressor
for our bodies.)
Trauma
Exertion (too much exercise or over work)
Weather (excessive heat, sun, cold)
Surgery (very stressful to the entire body and
nervous system but sometimes necessary to save out life)
These stressors have a strong effect on the reproductive
system. Stress decreases drive and impulse to reproduce as the body wisely
knows to conserve its energy until there is a well balanced system ready for
reproduction.
So far, we have gone over five of the Seven Aspects. The
last two are fun because they really clarify the emotional and behavioral
aspects of these important and influential glands.
The virtue of the reproductive glands is spirituality
– seeing the profound divine and unfathomable nature of reproducing and
bringing forth, from the co-joining of two human beings, new human life. (If
you’ve had children you know that they really do smell like they just came from
“heaven” – what we imagine heaven to be anyway)
The deadly sin of the reproductive glands is – we all
know this one – its all around us. Yes, indeed, good ‘ol lust, which of course
is about self-gratification and not the co-joining of a partnership resulting
in a new life.
Understanding this information is important when we look at a person’s physical presentation or dis-ease from a Whole Person perspective. What are the cause and effect factors at play that create disease? What is out of balance in the person’s seven aspects that is creating problems in this part of the body? Hope you’re enjoying this series because I’m having a great time with my favorite subject-the endocrine system!
For more whole health discussions, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama. Also available on iHeartRadio.
Called the “Master Gland” by many, the next endocrine gland to discuss is the Pituitary Gland. The Pituitary, in yoga and energy circles is often referred to as “the third eye”. This is because the Pituitary Gland is associated with “higher awareness and higher consciousness”.
As the Pituitary gland is located in the frontal portion of the brain, right behind the space between our eyes, it is called the “third eye” as it also “sees” the world from a different perspective beyond just the physical appearance. The Pituitary sits on its own little throne, called the “Turk’s Saddle”, and holds court as a high ranking endocrine gland. It has been called the Master Gland because the Pituitary acts as a “dispatcher” of sorts, directing the various endocrine gland secretions to function on cue.
These cues come from the nervous system, the emotional center of the brain and the body’s chemical communications. The Pituitary is the interconnectedness component of Maslow’s Hierarchy. Just as the Pituitary interconnects all of the endocrine glands to each other, so does it relate to our awareness and consciousness regarding our connectedness to one another.
From your learning with the National Institute of Whole Health, you may recall that that the endocrine system is a completely inter-dependent system and if there is an abnormal function in one gland it has a direct effect on all of the other glands, each of which adapts to the hormonal change and “pitches in” to try and restore balance to the body chemistry.
This is actually what happens in healthy societies when each member works to serve the common good of all. Physically the Pituitary is connected to our Balance in the world and to the balance of the entire endocrine system.
Regarding Selye’s Stress Model, the Pituitary, holds a place for our “higher self” and responds to and expresses Trust, Acceptance and Integration. The Pituitary is the Spirituality component of the Whole Health Five Aspects.Spirituality being defined literally as “breath or life” or how we live within our self and with others.
So far we have gone over FIVE (5) of the SEVEN (7) aspects.The last two aspects, as we have seen with all the other endocrines clarify the emotional and behavioral aspects of each specific endocrine gland.
The VIRTUE of the Pituitary is Charity which expresses a generosity towards others and a giving of self. The Pituitary works on behalf of all the other glands, doing multiple jobs for the benefit of all. When we are accepting and gracious to all, we express the highest consciousness of the human experience and we are said to be living from our “third Eye Chakra”.
The DEADLY SIN of the Pituitary is the opposite of its virtue. The opposite of this charitable, hard working gland is SLOTH or laziness and self-serving behavior. While the higher expression of the Pituitary is Charity and generosity towards the good of all, the lower expression of the Pituitary is a laziness and uncaring self absorption. When we are too self-centered or narcissistic, we work against the common good and can become destructive.
It is very simple to see the value and importance of understanding how the body works in a whole integrated way during health coach certification. Many meditation and spiritual practices understand the power and potential of awakening the Pituitary or “Third Eye” consciousness. This awakening is not only for the benefit of others, but for our own emotional and physical health, as well as for our own happiness.
For more whole health discussions, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama. Also available on iHeartRadio.
Market research conducted in August 2018 found that the Vitamin and Supplement Manufacturing industry in the US ballooned to profits of $31 billion. This number is a clear sign of the American public’s great desire to pursue a greater level of whole health and integrative nutrition. The debate, however, still continues to thrive in regards to the safety, efficacy, and even necessity of taking supplements. While supplements aren’t new, it’s still worth exploring and discussing them before jumping on the bandwagon.
The Rising Popularity of Supplements
A commissioned study from 2017 found that 76% of respondents say that they consume dietary supplements. The supplements they take commonly come in the form of pills, powders, and even herbal teas. The common responses when asked why they took supplements were to “improve” and “maintain” their health. Another 15% claimed that taking supplements boosted their immune system and that they were getting sick less often. Word of mouth and social media have all been conducive in spreading the glowing reviews of satisfied users to entice other people into using dietary supplements, as well.
The Unforeseen Risks
The issue begins when the supplements that people purchase are fake and contain harmful elements that end up compromising their whole person health. Even when the supplements are authentic, there’s a risk to combining different ones and using them with medication. Taking too much of certain nutrients like iron can cause hemochromatosis, as warned by the FDA. Popular supplements like St. John’s Wort originally enjoyed a reputation of being effective in boosting moods and chasing the blues away. It wasn’t until later when people found that it curbs the efficacy of antibiotics and even antiretrovirals. You just might be risking your health because of a post that you read online, so it’s best to be careful.
A Life Without Supplements
Consumers that are skeptical or have heard horror stories about fake ones wonder if it’s possible to survive without them. It actually is; it’s just going to involve a lot of dedication. A lot of the vitamins and nutrients that supplements claim to give you are readily available in the food we consume regularly. When you carefully plan the food that you eat, you can actually get the nutrient count that you need. You can try to create a food plan that maximizes your nutritional intake or you can have a health coach or dietitian help you out.
Finding the Right Balance
There are supplements that do as advertised and there are all-natural diets that work. It is entirely possible to reach some sort of compromise between supplements and diet; all that’s needed is due diligence. Read up on different findings to build a study-based and fact-based opinion on supplements and nutrition. There’s a wealth of information out there about integrative nutrition. If that isn’t enough, you can always ask your trusted nurse coach or other healthcare professional for their educated opinion.
At the end of it all, doing research about supplements will safeguard your whole person health. As a consumer, it’s your responsibility to see if something trendy is worth dabbling into. Always avoid putting your health at any unnecessary risk.
———————- For more whole health discussions like this, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama. Also available on iHeartRadio.
There are three parts of the human brain, referred to as the “triune brain”. Paul D.MacLean, an early research director for the National Institute of Mental Health, postulated his Triune Brain Theory what states that the human brain is a product of three stages of evolution and is actually three separate brains which have evolved into one brain over long periods of time.
The first section [the lowest portion of the brain] which is comprised of the top part of the spinal cord, the medulla oblongata, the pons, and the cerebellum, MacClean calls “the reptilian brain” as he stated “at its base [the human brain] was a variation in the elaboration of the reptilian brain.”
The limbic system [located in the mid-portion of the brain] states MacClean, “was an elaboration of the new mammalian brain from the Jurassic period”. He termed it the “mid-brain” or the neo-mammalian brain (new mammal).
The upper most and largest part of the human brain, the
cerebral cortex, encompasses our logic centers, our “intellect”.
MacClean termed this portion “the neo-cortex” (new cortex).
Viewed thru the perspective of MacClean’s “Triune
Brain” theory, this is the time line on which the human brain evolved:
1. Reptilian portion = Triassic period – 248 to 206 million
years ago. Regulates hunger, body temperature control, fight or flight
responses; is shared with reptiles
2. Limbic Portion = Jurassic period – 206-144 million years
ago. Regulates mood, memory, hormone control; is shared with older mammals =
dogs, cats, mice.
3. Neocortex = Eocene & Oligocene Epochs – 55 -24
million years ago. Regulates logic and thought required for complex social
situations, etc; is shared with monkeys and chimpanzees.
The Reptilian or “vegetable brain” [recall the
autonomic nervous system functions], is fundamentally concerned with
homeostasis, which is involved in regulating all of the body functions that
allow each of us to be human, get up every day and live our lives. If you do
not have a well-functioning lower brain, if you have a tumor, if you have a
trauma, if you’re in an accident, if something happens to your brain stem, you
may no longer have the capacity to control the day to day homeostatic functions
to maintain your life.
Embedded inside the Limbic System is a structure identified
as the Reticular Activating System which has pathways as well as neurons
traveling throughout the lower brain, up through the medulla oblongata, across
the Limbic System into the Neo-Cortex or the “thinking brain”.
The Limbic System and Reticular Activating System interpret
sensory motor messages that are “incoming” from the person’s
environment and it is in this portion of the brain that we not only interpret
the “incoming stimuli and information” but we also select methods for
survival and adaptation.
Here is where it gets exciting to put the anatomy and
physiology of brain function and the psychology of personality together!
We know the neo-cortex is our thinking, intellectual brain –
our “smart brain” and most of us know individuals who are brilliant
academically or intellectually yet they are emotionally dysfunctional in the
extreme. Our thinking brain would presume that being “smart” or
intellectually capable would exercise dominion over one’s emotions, however,
the missing piece of information here is that our emotions actually are a
survival adaptation mechanism that each of us individual develops as we process
our early environment and social conditioning. Nothing is more powerful in the
human being than its drive to survive! Hence, our emotions win the day in the
battle between thinking and feeling.
It is critically important for each of us to understand that
our emotions represent how we learned to adapt in our surroundings and
environment, especially during the first 0-5 years of our development. Our
familial “input” taught us, as did Pavlov with his dogs, how to
respond to the stimuli we received as infants and toddlers.
This embedded neurological conditioning is not overcome by
the thought process, as the thought process for humans is the
“newest” component to our primordial brain. It is in the survival
adaptive portion of our brain where we form our “personality” and
where we become conditioned to create and interact within relationships.
When we understand the possibility that interpersonal issues
that frustrate us may come not from “being difficult” or “bad
intent” but rather from our drive to survive and our interpretation of the
stimulation and environment we were conditioned by, then we can begin to be
“kinder and gentler” towards ourselves and others.
In summary, our emotions are the way we learn to live and survive in our world. We cannot “think them” into changing, but we can step back and appreciate the service and challenge they offer us in our daily lives.
For more whole health discussions like this, listen to my weekly radio show Living Above The Drama available on iHeartRadio.
