THE SPLEEN

(Healthy spleen, healthy living; a nutritionist’s perspective)

The organ spleen can be dubbed pancreas by virtue of its functions in the body of man. Different studies conducted on the functions of the spleen besides the storage and mild conditioning of the blood in the body have also indicated that the spleen has enzymatic effects in the digestion of food and subsequent conversion into energy products identical to the release of insulin by the pancreas in the body.
The spleen is also associated with soft features, such as provision of warmth and vitality to the body, supply of the energy needed for immune functions and the mental nourishment for the coordination and tasking of the brain for productivity and creativity.
The human spleen is one of the most widely abused and ignored organs in the human body, yet critical to the survival and healthy, productive living as any fatal defect to the spleen proves fatal in more than 70 percent of all cases recorded.
The basic livelihood of the modern man has telling effects on the spleen as factors such as stress associated with the day to day life of man, poor nutrition, fasting and skipping meals, consumption of cold drinks and confectionaries, the mental overwork to meet deadlines and reach targets by professionals and the studious stress posed on the mental faculty of students as demanded of the stringent curriculum, the rigors of sports and athletics and in many cases; accidents, deprives the spleen of its comfort and stretches it to its limit and inadvertently causes damage to the spleen. Often times, the perfection of the human body when faced with disease conditions presents signs and symptoms as warnings, which the symptomatic expression of a fatigued or diseased spleen is the presentation of stooling (loose), fatigue and tiredeness, poor digestion, reduced immunity and heightened susceptibility, bloating and gassing.
Some of the recommendations for a healthy spleen and a healthy living are;
· Eating warm, cooked meals (which decreases the workload of the digestive system, soups, stews)
· Shy away from cold, fizzy drinks
· Eat lots of vegetables and fiber rich food (carrot, cabbage, cucumbers) and food rich in fast digestible vitamins and minerals
· Eat lots of spices as much as the tongue can hold without choking to cooked food , raw ginger, pepper, garlic and onions whose smells and spice help increase the digestive fire of the body.,
· Eat in small nibs and bites, mindfully chewing to ease the mechanical digestion of the food as opposed to the voracious, bolus and chunk swallowing style of many which does not only affect digestion but sometimes destroys the lining of the intestine and the throat.
· Avoid starving at best. Eat ad libitum (extemporaneously and at will). The digestive system works all through the life of man, hence secreting chemicals useful for digestion. When such chemical are released and there are scarcely enough vats of glutton in the stomach, it wears the lining of the stomach and leads to conditions as ulcers and affects the performance of the spleen.
· Stimulate the spleen with sweet sensations. In therapeutic dosage, the spleen needs jolts of the sweet impulse from time to time. N.B-Abuse of sweet products can damage the spleen.
· Protein rich food in small parts, less of dairy products, legumes, grains and non-animal protein sources can help stimulate the digestive processes of the body.
· Mild exercises
· Conscious restraint from extreme sports and contact sports that can cause direct harm to the spleen in the case of an accident
· Rest

Conclusion
The mortality ratio in the world today is alarming and the thoughts that many die from preventable illnesses us distasteful and disheartening. With good nutrition and consciousness, good health is possible.

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