General Health Information

A gland is an organ that manufactures and secretes chemicals, hormones, and fluids into the body to serve a wide range of functions all necessary for good health. If the glands become imbalanced or malfunctioning in some way, our whole body system can become seriously impaired causing many health problems. The endocrine glands are special glands because they secrete hormones. Examples of endocrine glands include the thyroid, the insulin-secreting pancreas, the pituitary (our "master gland"), the ovaries and testes of the reproductive system, and the adrenals next to the kidneys.

Poor nutrition and stress puts an added burden on these glands, often leading to a depleted state. For example, our adrenals release adrenalin which is produced during stress. When our adrenals become exhausted by repeated stress, it leads to reactive hypoglycemia. Our pancreas, in charge of sugar metabolism, can then also become exhausted which lead to diabetes.

The importance of a healthy reproductive system cannot be overstated. Healthy ovaries and testes provide our bodies with sufficient amounts of reproductive hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. In addition, a healthy reproductive system helps to ensure healthy sperm and eggs, for the formation of healthy fetuses which allows for optimal fertility.

Like all organs, our glands need good nutrition. Vital nutrients include vitamins, minerals, and amino acids such as C, E, B-complex, zinc, chromium, selenium, alanine, glycine, and glutamic acid. These nutrients are necessary for proper glandular function and as building blocks by which the glands construct their corresponding hormones. Healthy endocrine glands help ensure our bodies get adequate amounts of necessary hormones such as adrenalin, insulin, testosterone, and estrogen. Without these important glands we cannot handle stress or sugars properly, nor can we reproduce healthy children.

Wellness Plan

Regular exercise Healthy diet emphasizing fruits and vegetables Stress management Avoid prolonged exposure to pesticides and other man-made chemicals Pharmacist’s Supplement Recommendations: Vitamins and Minerals - betacarotene, vitamins A, C, D, E, B-complex, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, zinc, selenium, chromium, manganese, copper, iodine, magnesium, calcium, potassium Herbs and Phytonutrients - licorice root, kelp, alfalfa, Siberian Ginseng, Irish moss, parsley, hops, capsicum, lycopene, bioflavonoids Essential Fatty Acids - omega-3 and omega-6 Antioxidants - grape seed extract, Vitamin E Amino Acids - glutamic acid, alanine, glycine, dimethylglycine (DMG) Glandular Extracts - especially adrenal, pituitary, thymus, pancreas