The Body Systems

	'An understanding of how our body works' The Body in Harmony There are nine body systems that work interdependently in balance unless we neglect our health. When one system is out of balance, it affects the other systems. Like the musicians who make up an orchestra, the body systems-digestive, intestinal, circulatory, nervous, immune, respiratory, urinary, glandular and structural-must all work in harmony. When a concern in one body system arises, other systems are affected. Total health requires that all body systems be balanced.The majority of NSP’s products are categorized in nine body systems to allow you to easily select the products that will help you achieve your personal health goals. The Lifestyle Analysis at the bottom of the page will help you target your body systems most in need of nutritional supplementation.

	The Digestive System is responsible for the breakdown of our food and the assimilation of the nutrients that are essential for life. If this system is not functioning properly, even the best nutrients will do us little or no good. Various secretions of the digestive system (most notably the enzymes) provide the spark that breaks down our foods into compounds that the body can absorb and use. When the pH is too acidic or too alkaline, the cells lining the stomach and small intestines and the cells in the pancreas that are responsible for producing and releasing digestive enzymes dysfunction resulting in indigestion, gaseousness, bloating and abdominal cramping. Not enough nutrients get absorbed from the food, and the entire body can experience malnutrition, Also, undigested foods ferment in the intestines causing toxicity. Proactazyme: A key system product for the Digestive system.

	The Circulatory System is responsible for the transport of water and dissolved materials throughout the body, including oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste. The circulatory system transports oxygen from the lungs and nutrients from the digestive tract to every cell in the body, allowing for the continuation of cell metabolism. The circulatory system also transports the waste products of cell metabolism to the lungs and kidneys where they can be expelled from the body. Without this important function toxic substances would quickly build up in the body. During conditions of excessive acidity or alkalinity, bacteria and/or fungi and/or viruses can attach themselves to the inner wall of arteries, which then attracts white blood cells, clotting proteins, clotting cells, etc. This can cause a plaque to form in the artery, thus narrowing the artery and restricting the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the tissues supplied by that artery. If the coronary artery is involved, a heart attack can occur. If excess acidity is present, calcium, which was mobilized out of the bone to buffer the acid, can deposit in the arterial plaque, thus converting the plaque from soft to hard. The plaque makes the arteries stiff, which can raise blood pressure. Mega-Chel: A key product to maintain a healthy circulatory system.

	The Nervous System consists of the brain, the spinal cord, and the network of nerves throughout the rest of the body. It is sometimes called the master system, since it regulates and coordinates every other body system. The nervous system provides a rapid means for the various parts of the body to communicate with each other. It allows us to adjust to the world around us and cope with the challenges of life. It influences how we act or react to stress. The fight or flight response is a good example. This is a hormonally stimulated state to prepare the body for an upcoming threat or challenge. The nervous system is composed of two major parts; the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The central system is the brain and spinal cord, and is where most information is processed. The peripheral system is the network of nerves throughout the rest of the body. The peripheral nervous system allows signals to travel between the central nervous system and the body's sensory receptors and motor effectors, such as the muscles. When brain cells are too acidic or too alkaline, they dysfunction, resulting in inability to produce the appropriate chemicals (neurotransmitters) to communicate with adjacent brain cells. This can result in insomnia, anxiety, depression, neuroses, psychoses and impairment of memory. Since the brain is supposed to communicate through the spinal cord and other nerves to every cell in the body (heart cells, intestinal cells, muscle cells, glandular cells, etc.), every body system can dysfunction if the nervous system does due to acid/alkaline imbalance. Nutri-Calm: A key product to support a healthy Nervous system.

	The Structural System is composed of hair, skin, nails and the various other connective tissues—including bone, cartilage and fibrous tissues—that give strength, shape and support to the body. The joints and muscles of the structural system make locomotion possible. The structural system also affords protection to the delicate structures of the body. The skull and spine, for example, protect the brain and spinal chord. The ribs protect the vital organs of the chest—the heart and lungs. The calcium stored in the bones is released when serum and soft tissue calcium is used up, binding and neutralizing excess acid in the tissues. This initial calcium depletion in the muscle can cause muscle cramps. But as calcium is pulled from the bone to neutralize more acid, the bone stores of calcium become depleted causing osteoporosis, weakened and collapsed vertebrae and, often, poor back posture and back pain. The calcium mobilized from the bone gets deposited as calcium-acid salts in the joints, leading to degenerative arthritis. Skeletal Strength: A key product formulated for the Structural System.

	The Intestinal System extends from the stomach to the anus and includes both the small and large intestines. The small intestine is involved with the digestion and assimilation of food. The large intestine is primarily involved with the storage and disposal of waste material. Excessive acidity or alkalinity causes the colon cells to dysfunction, which can result in diarrhoea, irritable bowl syndrome, constipation or diverticulitis. The disturbed acid/alkaline balance in the colon can also cause unfriendly microbes to grow and thrive, which can result in colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (including Crown's) or haemorrhoids. Bowel Build: A key product to help maintain a healthy Digestive system.

	The Immune System - The reason some people are sick a lot is because they have weak immune systems. Conversely, the reason some people are more resistant is because they have strong immune systems. Our immune system is our body's natural defense against disease. It includes our lymphatic system and all the various types of white blood cells that recognize, engulf and destroy pathogenic (disease-causing) viruses, fungi, bacteria, and parasites—ideally before they have had a chance to make us sick. The Immune System - Immune cells that are too acid or too alkaline do not produce antibodies or cytokines (chemical messengers to regulate other immune cells), and they have impaired phagocytosis (the ability to engulf and destroy microbes). As a result, the affected individual becomes susceptible to viral, bacterial, fungal and other infectious microbes as well as cancer. Defence Maintenance: A key product to maintain a healthy immune system.

	The Respiratory System enables us to produce energy by supplying the body with a continuous supply of oxygen. It is also responsible for eliminating carbon dioxide, a by-product of cell metabolism. Whereas oxygen is necessary for human and animal respiration, carbon dioxide is necessary for plant respiration. Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, their waste product, and the cycle of interdependence between plants and animals continues. The Respiratory System - The binding of oxygen to the hemoglobin protein of red blood cells in the lungs operates only at a fairly narrow pH range. If the pH is too acidic or too alkaline, microbes in the airways can grow much more easily, invade human cells, cause bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, etc., and in doing so, can result in cough, bronchial spasms (asthma) and increased susceptibility to allergens (hay fever). Fenugreek & Fennel Combination: The key product for the respiratory system.

	The Urinary System consists of the two kidneys, the bladder and the adjoining tubes. Urine produced in the kidneys passes through the ureters to the bladder where it is stored until it is evacuated. It is then expelled from the body through a single tube called the urethra. The Urinary System - The urinary system helps eliminate toxic waste products from the body. Women especially (because of their short urethra connecting the urinary bladder to the exterior of the body) have some bacteria and/or fungi in their bladder. These microbes can grow rapidly if the urine's pH is not in the proper range most of the time. In acid-excess conditions, calcium, which is mobilized from the bone to buffer the acid, can form calcium crystals and stones in the kidney collecting system. When these stones dislodge and pass down the urethra towards the bladder, thy usually cause excruciating pain. Juniper & Parsley Combination: Nutritionally helps to maintain a healthy bladder and urinary system.

	The Glandular System - There are two basic types of glands in the human body: Exocrine glands [exo-, outside + crin, secrete] secrete substances through a duct or tube, usually to an outside surface. Examples are tear glands, salivary glands, and sweat glands. Endocrine glands [endo-, within + crin, secrete] are "ductless glands" which secrete substances directly into the blood stream, which carries it to target tissues or organs where it stimulates some type of action. The substances secreted by endocrine glands are called hormones, from the Greek word meaning "to urge on" or "to set in motion." Examples of endocrine glands are the pineal, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, pancreas, adrenals and the sex glands (the ovaries and testes). The pancreas is both an exocrine and an endocrine gland. Its exocrine function is to secrete pancreatic juice through the pancreatic duct into the small intestines where it plays an important role in the digestion of food. (This is covered in the lesson on the digestive system.) The endocrine function of the pancreas includes the secretion of insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream to help regulate blood sugar levels and carbohydrate metabolism. All of the endocrine glands produce hormones from enzymatic action. If the pH is too acidic or alkaline, the glandular cells cannot produce and release sufficient hormones for the body's needs. This results in mood swings, blood sugar imbalances, fatigue reproductive difficulties, etc. Master Gland Formula: A key product that provides nutritional supplementation for maintaining a healthy glandular system.

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