Did you ever stop and think about why the body’s circulatory system is important? It’s not something that typically comes up in conversation, but I find it to be fascinating. It’s fascinating to me because I did not realize how much is involved in the circulatory system until I started researching the subject. Sure, I always thought it was important to get your system moving with good nutrition and exercise, but I never thought in detail what role the actual circulatory system plays in our health. Each part of the system has a specific job and each is quite intricate.
The cardiovascular system, which includes the heart, has “two circulatory paths,” which are the Pulmonary System, which encompasses the lungs, and the Systemic System, which includes the arteries, veins, and coronary and portal vessels.
This is going to shock and amaze you. There are 60,000 miles of blood vessels, which transport 2,000 gallons of blood from the heart each day! The blood carries nutrients, oxygen, and other gases to and from the cells. The pulmonary system moves depleted blood away from the heart oxygenates it through the lungs and moves it back to the heart. Then the systemic system moves the blood from the heart to the cells and then back to the heart. Everything moves in a circular motion!
So the long and short of this is the systems move together to sustain the body in its everyday functions. I was amazed when I read about the 60,000 miles of blood vessels in our bodies and the 2,000 gallons of blood that moves throughout the body! It seems inconceivable that this is possible; however, the human body is just fascinating.
It is important to take care of the body because we want it to function at full capacity all of the time. I mentioned in a previous blog post that atherosclerosis is a disease of the arteries and must be avoided at all costs, if possible, by reducing high fat foods, adding fiber and lots of fruits and vegetables to the daily diet. It is just as important that we add exercise to our daily lives too. We have to keep the system flowing well!
What would be a good motivator to stay as healthy as possible? What motivates me are my family and friends. None of us wants sludge in our veins keeping the blood from reaching all necessary points in the body. Think of it this way. If your car doesn’t have an oil change when it needs it, it can cause the oil to become dirty sludge making the car’s ability to drive efficiently to be severely hampered then that will lead to other problems with your car and none of us wants to deal with car problems (Lord knows I’ve had enough in my lifetime!)
Think of your body as if it were a car and keep your oil changed, tires rotated and filters changed regularly. After you have maintenance done on your car, have you ever noticed that your car drives better – a lot smoother and the gas doesn’t guzzle as it did before it was serviced? Your body is no different. Caring for your body helps it to function at maximum capacity and the good thing is that it makes you feel better!
Here is a checklist that I hope will be helpful going forward:
See your doctor once a year to get a full check-up.
Make it a point to eat a variety of healthy foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans. Some fruits, for example, contain soluble fiber which helps remove cholesterol from the blood stream.
Take insoluble fiber daily, like Metamucil, to help keep the colon cleansed.
Start a moderate exercise program four to five days a week for 30-45 minutes at a time.
I want to live a long healthy life, and I’m sure you do too. The way to achieve that is by making small manageable changes concerning daily diet and exercise. Start by walking and then increase to a jog if that is your desire. The important thing is to get started. Also, it is important to not beat up on yourself just because you may be getting started now. Don’t worry about yesterday. Move forward and just think about today and tomorrow. If you make small changes starting today, your circulatory system and body, as a whole, will thank you.
Live, laugh, love, and pray.
God Bless You with Good Health and Wellness,
Antoinette
Antoinette Shar’ron Johnson
“Empowering, inspiring, motivating, and uplifting your mind, body, and soul!”
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Article Sources:
Hendrickson, Kirstin, “The Effect of Diet on the Circulatory System.” livestrong.com/article/332941-the-effect-of-diet-on-the-circulatory-system/
factmonster.com/dk/science/encyclopedia/circulatory-system.html