Your glandular system plays an essential role in keeping you happy and healthy.
It regulates your hormone levels which, in turn, control almost all your other body functions. As well as supporting better physical health, your hormonal balance also has a significant impact on your mental and emotional wellbeing.Maintaining a healthy glandular system can be a challenge.
A hormonal imbalance, with either too much or too little of any individual hormone in the body at any given time, can have major health implications if left unchecked for too long. Eating well can go a long way to supporting healthy glandular function. So, too, can getting plenty of exercise and sleep and reducing stress. Here, we take a closer look at the glandular system, the role it plays in keeping you healthy, and how you can look after it.
Why Is Your Glandular System Important?
Your glandular – or endocrine – system comprises a network of glands that create hormones, the chemical messengers that carry information and instructions between your cells. Your hormones play a vital role in keeping every single cell in your body healthy. They contain the chemical code that each cell needs to repair itself and grow. They influence just about every system, cell, organ and function in the body, helping to control your mood, metabolism, reproduction, growth and development, and how your organs work.
When your glandular system is working as it should, your body has the best chance of functioning normally. However, stress, infection and sudden changes in lifestyle or diet can affect your delicate hormonal balance. If it falls out of alignment, with too much or too little of any given hormone, it can lead to a range of health complications, some of which can be severe or significant if left unchecked.
How To Support Your Glandular System?
As with all things health-related, a combination of eating well, exercising and getting plenty of rest and relaxation will support good glandular system function.
Several lifestyle factors will also play their part.
Guilty pleasures like alcohol, smoking, caffeine, processed sugar, fast food, and artificial additives can all trigger hormonal imbalances if you over-indulge. So, trying to live as cleanly and healthily as possible and limiting yourself to the occasional treat, rather than making it a regular occurrence, is the way to go. When it comes to your diet, there are a few simple rules to follow.
Protein is the building block for your cells. It helps your tissues repair themselves after exercise or injury and is vital for maintaining a healthy immune system. So, eating good quality protein with each meal is essential. Lean chicken or red meat, fish, eggs and quality protein powder can ensure you get your daily intake. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, plant-based sources of protein include tofu and legumes.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are also important. Try to eat a wide variety of types and colours, as they all contain health-boosting vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which help keep your body’s delicate hormonal balance in check. Natural anti-inflammatories like ginger, turmeric, chilli or cayenne can add a bit of flavour and zing to your meals and fire up your metabolism in the process.
And when it comes to fat, make sure you eat the right kind. Essential unsaturated fats from nuts, seeds, avocados, olives and plant-based oils will help boost your immunity and keep your cell membranes healthy. Other vital nutrients to incorporate into your diet include Iron, folic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Selenium.
