Systems biology, 12 systems & the PrimoVascular System and microbiome.

Both are needed additions. Includes a summary of 14 systems of the body with the two I added.

Systems biology takes a functional approach and looks at how the body works as a whole instead of focusing only on the liver, or heart, or esophagus - needed for acute problems. Systems biology and functional health works to prevent acute and chronic problems by restoring or maintaining function as we age or during an illness.

Current view of what the major systems of the body include:

1. Digestive.

2. Cardiovascular

3. Immune

4. Lymphatic

5. Endocrine

6. Nervous

7. Integumentary (skin, hair, nails)

8. Muscular

9. Reproductive

10. Respiratory

11. Skeletal

12. Urinary

    *List by Cindy H. Carroll, MS, RDN, RN, The Institute for Functional Nutrition, IFN.health, (pdf).

    And I would add:

13. Primovascular System

Why is the digestive system #1? - the pdf was written by a dietitian ;-)

- and nutrition impacts everything else. However so does the rest of the list, so it could be in any order. It could be bullet points but as lists get longer having numbers helps.

I might reorder the list in this way:

1. Nervous System: Central and Peripheral nervous system, brain, spine, nerves.

2. Primovascular System: It precedes the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic systems during fetal development. Vessels from those systems can have smaller PV vessels intersecting the larger ones. Stem cells are located in these vessels and can travel to other locations. PV nodes are located in various places along the network and match the acupressure/acupuncture Prime Meridian charts. Properly made homeopathic remedies contain nanoparticles of the herb or other material and may be stimulating a stem cell or immune response based on the Law of Similars/traditional vaccine concept - provide the body a tiny amount of the negative substance that causes that set of symptoms and it stimulates the body to respond in a way that protects against that set of symptoms.

3. Cardiovascular, heart, spleen, and blood vessels, endothelial tissue.

4. Lymphatic, Lymph nodes and vessels; they require muscle motion and activity to propel fluid through the vessels. The PrimoVascular system also is not directly connected to the heart and would require full range body motion to maximize fluid or energy flow through the vessels - these two sets of vessels may be part of the reason exercise promotes mitochondrial health.

5. Immune: The thymus gland, spleen, lymph nodes and all of the immune cells work together to support our defense against infection or removal of other toxins.

6. Endocrine: Pineal gland, Pituitary, Hypothalamus, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Thymus, Mammary glands, Adrenal glands, Ovaries, Testes, Prostate, Skene’s Gland, Adipose tissue, Pancreas, Gastrointestinal tract - They all need adequate iodine, the thyroid just gets first pick - so clinical or subclinical hypothyroidism indicates low iodine for all of the glands in the body {and I may have forgot some}.

7. Reproductive: Sex organs, uterus, a variety of glands, are all involved in creating a baby and its placenta (liver like organ involved in nutrient and toxin exchange for the fetus. Mammary glands and the digestive system are needed for lactation, and hormonal signals from the ovaries and glands in the brain.

8. Integumentary (skin, hair, nails): The skin is a protective layer and produces various chemicals - melanin for a protective tan, oil from sebaceous glands for protection, sweat glands help remove toxins and heat from our body. Electrolyte trace minerals are also lost during heavy sweating. Exocrine glands are ducted and excrete a liquid such as sweat, tears, or breast milk.

9. Digestive System: Mouth, nose, tongue, throat, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, small and large intestines, colon, sphincter; and the microbiome too? I think it would fit here for an overview, but it also affects other systems too and may deserve its own line - our symbionts. Digestive glands in the stomach, pancreas, and intestines are exocrine glands and produce digestive enzymes. The gallbladder is a storage device for bile - which contains primarily cholesterol, bilirubin, and bile salts and helps significantly with digestion of fats.

10. Urinary: Kidneys filter out urine and toxins, and the bladder stores it until ready to urinate. The cardiovascular and lymphatic systems are closely linked to urinary function and our overall health. When the kidneys or liver has problems - everything else becomes toxic quickly.

11. Respiratory: Nose, mouth, throat, lungs, and the cardiovascular system is closely linked. COVID19 respiratory symptoms turned out to be a blood chemistry problem more than a lack of lung function. Blood chemistry caused increased fluid and reduced exchange of oxygen. Blood was being pumped through the lungs but it wasn’t picking up oxygen normally. Ventilation isn’t needed, iron chelators are and antioxidants and other spike specific treatments.

12. Muscular system: Skeletal muscle is under our conscious control, smooth muscle of the GI tract is not, nor is cardiac muscle easily controlled but yogi’s and athletes may have improved their ability to slow their heart rate consciously.

13. Skeletal system: Our ankle bones are connected to our leg bones, etcetera, and our skeleton’s health and the ongoing strength of the bone matrix, is directly affected by how much weight bearing exercise that we do. Gravity and weight (of our own body even) sends signals that tell the body to keep calcium and magnesium in the bones - it is needed. The skeletal system is very closely linked to the cardiovascular system and immature blood cells are formed within the bone matrix.

14. Microbiome - our symbionts: The GI tract has a significant amount of microbes and the types vary between the different areas. The skin, eyes, eyelashes, and vagina also have unique microbiomes that help protect health or can become unhealthy. Overall, it was found that C-section births didn’t provide as good a microbiome start for babies as vaginal births. You probably don’t want to know what the solution is currently. Breast milk contains a significant amount of a type of fiber that we/or a baby can’t digest, but which beneficial microbiome species do need to survive. —-THAT indicates that Mother Nature considers humans to be symbionts, not a single organism. Lactation supports the human baby, and its gut microbes.

Functional health - is more than an aspirin or bottle of statin drugs.

More fiber slows down digestion, reduces risk of high blood sugar from the meal, and helps feed our microbiome. (Graphic by Yvette Quantz, RDN, LDN).

Cindy H. Carroll - recommends focusing on these five systems when making nutrition recommendations: GI/Digestive, Cardiovascular, Immune, Hormone/endocrine, and Nervous system - Brain/CNS. I would add the Microbiome - it is very significant for digestive health and mental and physical health, including weight maintenance.

Another practitioner’s graphic also emphasizes that trying to heal each main system may take 1-3 months, with a focus on each in turn. Healing in one area first will make healing in another system more likely to occur at a later stage: Lab tests that might be pertinent for the system are included. (Healing Hierarchy/ Copyright, Innovate Wellness) They suggest progressing in this order: 1. Glucose, inflammation, adrenals, 2. Immune balance, Food allergies, Nutrient deficiencies, 3. GI System, 4. Hepatobiliary, Renal, and Detox, 5. Hormones, 6. Brain. And the step 1 is shown in the graphic layout as all encompassing, continue to focus on it through all the stages, or it effects all the stages. (Healing Hierarchy/ Copyright, Innovate Wellness)

Spices add phytonutrients and help the microbiome and increase metabolic rate - it takes more energy to sweat from hot peppers in the meal than a meal without spicy heat. (Graphic by Yvette Quantz, RDN, LDN)

Any symptoms are good to consider for a differential diagnosis - which is basically what nutrition recommendations are based on. Some patients come with a diagnosis, but many may come with symptoms that are unresolved even with medical help - suggesting a correct diagnosis is needed, or better understanding of the individual’s areas of dysfunction. Genetic screening can help identify if specific nutrients are lacking or in excess because of lifelong differences in metabolism. Blood or urine lab tests can also help identify if there are underlying imbalances in body chemistry and which are elevated or decreased can help pinpoint what might be dysfunctional.

Elimination diets are really the simplest way to find out if a food or food group is causing inflammation. Remove it strictly for at least 3 weeks to possibly 6 months for autoimmune concerns and see if overall health has improved. If yes, simply continue on the new diet. At that point, gradually adding back one thing at a time can help to see if problems return, or if not, then that is an okay food to add back to the person’s diet. This brief Cleveland Clinic article describes elimination diets and includes a list of the most common foods that can cause intolerance symptoms in some way.

• Elimination Diet and How to Start, (Cleveland Clinic).

*Thanks to Lesli Bitel, RD for her 12 Days of Christmas give-aways - free offers from other educators. (leslibitel.com)

Exercise can help fitness and lymphatic and energy flow in our body even when it is broken up into shorter more frequent activities. Take the stairs, do leg lifts while standing in line or while doing dishes, use a standing desk for part of your work-day. Combined sitting and standing seems to be healthier for office workers than 100% use of a desk or 100% use of a standing desk.

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and the information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.