Here is the first half of Part II, yes, it is that big. I hope you enjoy this semi-technical read. It is a fresh new look at what metabolism really is. Stay tuned for part II of Part II, The H2 Metabolic Reset Program.
If you haven’t read Part I, start here for an intro on what Metabolism really is.
What does a healthy metabolism look, feel, sound and smell like?
For starters…
Your breath should not stink nor your tongue have fur
Your energy is robust and your eyes have no blur
Your skin, nails and hair should glisten with flexible strength
Your sleep patterns reflect the perfect length
Your attitude is pleasant and absent of gloom
And your poop does not demolish the bathroom
And that’s just for starters! Sadly, I think that is my best poem yet…If you read the internet or talk to most people you would think of a healthy metabolism as something that merely maintains you at your optimum weight, i.e. burns as many calories as you eat. I wish it was that simple, because if it was, then losing weight and keeping it off would be as easy as working out more and eating fewer calories.
I’m not sure if you know it or not, but that simple equation doesn’t work all the time like the magazines and “experts” say. In fact it works very poorly in my experience. Do you know why? One word; hormones. With this thought comes the following incite;
LOSING WEIGHT SHOULD NOT BE YOUR GOAL (even if it really is);
GETTING A HEALTHY METABOLISM AND BALANCING HORMONES SHOULD BE.
Once you do that, your weight will normalize to a healthy state every time, and stay that way.
So, back to the question; what does a healthy metabolism look, feel, sound and smell like? Let’s start by expanding our definition of metabolism by saying;
“Metabolism is a symphony of organs and systems in the body that acts as a generator for anything and everything that goes on inside the body.”
This is a much deeper explanation than simply “that thing that helps us burn calories.” Ok, so now we know that metabolism is not one thing and that there is actually a team influencing our metabolism. But who’s on the team??
Well, essentially the entire body is the team because everything affects everything, right? But for our purpose right now let’s stick with the organs and systems that most directly affect your energy and how to optimize their function.
Yes I know, I can tell by the look on your face right now that this is getting to be TMI and seems way too complicated to comprehend. Don’t worry, this is just a quick physiology lesson for you to understand the big picture of metabolism and help you not be fooled by the fallacy that looking good means you’re healthy. Because if it were, then my grandpa and many others would still be alive.
I will lay out details later on what to do with all of this stuff, but for right now, please sit back and enjoy this new integrative look at the physiology of your metabolism.
For me, Chinese Medicine and its 12 meridians best explain the complexities of our metabolic team and all of its harmonious interactions between the organs that nurture our body with energy, health and vitality. Some of the following descriptions are based on Chinese medicine, while others are based on western medicine.
As you take this quick journey through the physiology of your metabolism, please try to imagine how each part affects the whole, and if there is dysfunction in any part of the team, then there is a chain reaction of compensations everywhere.
Also note, this is not an exhaustive look at your metabolism by any means. But I think you will find that the major components are covered here in a new and refreshing way. Take comfort in the fact that many of the following descriptions, which may seem foreign to western thought, are rooted in over 5,000 years of medical experience and wisdom.
One last gem to think about…ancient medicine is focused on encouraging your body to work in harmony with itself and nature, whereas western medicine is accustomed to fixing symptoms by directly working on that “thing” in exclusion to anything else, i.e. fever, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc. As you read the following, try to see the amazingly complex inner workings of the body and how something often considered unrelated can affect so many things.
This is all in effort to inspire you to
take care of every part of your life.
Please note; qi = chi = energy = vital essence = life force = all interchangeable
Meet Your Metabolic Team
The following descriptions are not meant to be exhaustive, rather most related to your metabolism.
In the “How to Take Care of your ____” sections I only list three for each organ below. I will have many more to come in future posts or maybe even the book.
THE TEAM
Lungs
Spleen
Small Intestines
Liver
Pancreas
Large Intestines
Kidneys
Adrenal Glands
Thyroid
Hypothalamus
Pituitary Gland
Lungs
Job Description
- Elimination
- “Regulator of the waterways” – via diffusion and distributing fluids throughout the body, sweating, etc. (our skin is considered the third lung)
- Controllers of receiving pure energy from the universe
- Control respiratory functions, which affect all the rhythms of the bodymind, including blood flow
- Breathing is one of the main ways we replenish our energy
- Combine external energy (air) with internal energy stored in the kidney to produce our overall qi
How to take Care of your Lungs
- Stay away from smoke and toxic fumes
- Inhale essential oils
- Practice proper breathing patterns and posture daily
Stomach
Job Description
- Governs nutritional/energy intake
- Digestion and breaks down foods to prepare them for absorption into the body
- Controller/sorter of “rotting and ripening”
- Grounds us to earth
- Receives nourishment, integrates it and brings it to fruition
- Passes on food energy to be distributed by the spleen via the blood
How to take Care of your Stomach
- Don’t drink alcohol or take drugs (aspirin etc.)on an empty stomach
- Eat fresh and natural foods
- Don’t drink more than 4 ounces of liquid with your meals
Spleen
Job Description
- The constant provider (similar role as mother nature)
- Governs transportation and transformation of nourishment/blood/energy to the entire body
- Greatly influences immune system
- Receives food energy from stomach and small intestines and spreads to rest of body
- Produces and manages the blood, while supplying the nourishment that sustains our body
- The source of life for other organs
- Regulates metabolism by adjusting quantity of energy that is utilized from digestion and released into circulation
- Distributes moisture
How to take Care of your Spleen
- Be sympathetic and don’t worry about things
- Eat and digest in a relaxed environment
- Don’t overeat
Small Intestines
Job Description
- The separator of pure from impure
- Receives and assimilates the bulk of food
- Assists in transforming gross material into usable energy
- Separates fluid waste and sends it to the kidneys, and solid waste to the large intestines
How to take Care of your Small Intestine
- Combine your foods properly
- Nurture your intuition
- Be good at receiving things (compliments, gifts, etc.)
Liver
Job Description
- Moves energy/qi to all parts of the body, i.e. regulates our energy and keeps things running smoothly
- Center of metabolism
- Stores and regulates the distribution of blood in the body
- Governs the eyes, nails, tendons and muscles
- Helps to regulate blood sugar by either releasing glucose or storing it as glycogen; the former depends on glucagon and the latter on insulin, both come from the pancreas
How to take Care of your Liver
- Eat plenty of nutrient-rich foods
- Drink alcohol moderately if at all
- Stay away from drugs and toxic things
Pancreas
Job Description
- Works in both the digestion and endocrine systems
- Produces several hormones including insulin, glucagon and somatostatin; somatostatin regulates the production of insulin and glucagon
- Secretes digestive enzymes into small intestine that further break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins; all of which are essential for nutrient assimilation
- Storage depot for digestive enzymes
- Increases blood sugar (glucose) by secreting glucagon, which causes glycogen to be broken down into glucose in the liver
- Decreases blood sugar (glucose) by secreting insulin, which causes glycogen to be broken down FROM glucose and stored in the liver
How to take Care of your Pancreas
- Don’t overeat sugar
- Balance your nutrition (click here to see how I do it)
- Drink alcohol moderately if at all
Large Intestines
Job Description
- Transforms and conveys waste
- Stores and eliminates waste
- Collects and releases what digestion and metabolism reject
- Defines and molds that which we don’t want and that which is not us
How to take Care of your Large Intestine
- Learn how to let go of stress through your breath
- Practice discipline and compassion
- Finish what you start
Kidneys
Job Description
- Governs the absorption of energy/qi
- Ensures proper absorption of energy through the lungs
- Stores the essential qi/energy
- Governs storage (especially fluids)
- Responsible for growth, development and reproduction via its storage of qi
- Governs water and bone
- Warms, nourishes and moistens other organs
- Governs hearing
How to take Care of your Kidneys
- Drink your water
- Manage fear
- Nurture your imagination
Adrenal Glands
Job Description
- Releases the steroid hormone, cortisol
- Increases blood sugar and speeds up metabolism in response to stress
- In an acute response to stress, controls inflammation and boosts immunity via cortisol release. Chronically elevated levels of cortisol have an opposite and harmful effect, such as suppressed immune system and increased inflammation and fatigue; prolonged exposure to cortisol therefore encourages exhaustion, disease, arthritis, asthma, poor healing, allergies, lupus and more
- Helps regulate blood pressure, body temperature and exhaustion
- Mobilizes energy reserves and increases glucose by releasing fatty acids and glycogen stores from the liver into the blood stream
- Helps to wake us up and feel alert in morning via timely release of cortisol (almost opposite cycle of melatonin, which helps put you to sleep)
How to take Care of your Adrenal Glands
- Stay away from excessive and prolonged exercise
- Follow good sleep patterns and manage stress
- Don’t abuse stimulants, i.e. coffee, drugs, exercise, etc.
Thyroid
Job Description
- One of the largest endocrine glands
- Produces thyroid hormones, principal ones being T3 and T4, which regulate the rate of metabolism
- Controls how quickly or slowly the body uses energy, and therefore is directly related to body temperature
- Increases protein production and stimulates mitochondria (energy production centers of cells)
- Produces calcitonin, which helps in calcium homeostasis
- Influences growth and development throughout the body
- Hypothyroidism can increase cholesterol in the blood, which therefore makes high cholesterol a symptom, not a cause
How to take Care of your Thyroid
- Balance your nutrition (click here to see how I do it)
- Stay away from excessive and prolonged exercise
- Follow good sleep patterns and manage stress
Hypothalamus
Job Description
- Regulates the thyroid gland via the pituitary gland
- Regulates hunger, body temperature, thirst, fatigue, sleep and circadian cycles
How to take Care of your Hypothalamus
- Take care of the rest of the team
Pituitary Gland
Job Description
- Stimulates the thyroid via its thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
How to take Care of your Pituitary Gland
- Take care of the rest of the team
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