Two Beans of God

Two Beans of God

God is great or we are great as the human body has organs in pairs to live a long and happy healthy life. We have two eyes, two ears, two nostrils (+mouth), two lungs, two kidneys, two intestines, two testicles, two breasts, two hands, two legs, two thumbs, two toes, two sets of each finger, two thoughts, two sense of likes and dislikes, etc. To make us one, God has given us one brain, one heart and one mouth/tongue. The heart is one with a pair of chambers to supply oxygenated blood to all cells. The brain is one but with two hemispheres, governs the functions of all the organs of the body. In emergencies, there is facilities of alternatives and bypasses. 

Imagine all organs would have single, what could had been our shape and appearance? But God has made the organism bilaterally symmetrical, like a mirror image. Whether it was for expression of representation of our two makers (parents) or for better mobility or for better function of the central nerve system; one may list reasons. But the most important reason is the preciousness of life. Life has to be lived fully till the last breath. The pair doesn't mean keeping a spare but to function at optimum level so that life become safe secure and comfortable.

Let us check the kidney. 

Two beans shaped Two Kidneys are one of the important pairs of vital organs for our life. On one side Liver is our Chemical Factory that removes the poisons from the blood, the Kidneys are our Filtration Plant that removes the toxins from the blood. The nephrons of the kidney perform four processes over blood plasma: filtration, reabsorption, secretion and excretion. Via one or more of these mechanisms, the kidney participates in the control of the volume of various body fluid compartments, fluid osmolality, acid base balance, various electrolyte concentrations, and removal of toxins.

But do you know, the kidneys also carry out functions independent of the nephron. It governs three important functions related to hemoglobin, blood pressure and Vitamin D. 

Nowadays, many people are anemic. Large number of people are suffering from blood pressure and though geographically we have more sunny days but many of us suffering from Vitamin D deficiency. Somewhere, the role of kidney has been overlooked. Are our kidneys getting weaker? 

Hemoglobin in simple terms, the number of red blood cells. Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. Red blood cells are produce in bone marrow. They start as immature cells in the bone marrow and after seven days of maturation are released into the bloodstream. But do you know, who controls the RBCs? The erythropoietin hormone produced by the kidney controls the RBC. Erythropoietin is released in response to hypoxia (low levels of oxygen at tissue level) in the renal circulation. It acts in bone marrow to stimulate the production of mature red blood cells, to maintain healthy oxygen levels in our tissues. 

Blood pressure in simple term, is an expansion of the extracellular fluid compartment, and that increase the blood pressure. Renin is an enzyme, also produced by the kidney, that plays an important role in the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone hormonal system, which helps to control blood pressure. With renin chemical messenger level elevated, hormones angiotensin II and aldosterone increase the kidney's absorption of sodium chloride, thereby expanding the extracellular fluid compartment and raising blood pressure. When renin levels are low, angiotensin II and aldosterone levels decrease, contracting the extracellular fluid compartment, and decreasing blood pressure.

Vitamin D is Vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol. The right amount of natural form of Vit D that our body makes from Sunlight (or one has to get it by taking Vitamin D supplements). It is a hormone rather than Vitamin. It is important for formation of new bones and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth. It also regulates calcium levels in the blood by helping the body to absorb calcium from food and by preventing calcium loss from the kidneys. It is suggested to supply a protective effect against multiple diseases and conditions such as cancer, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. 

Healthy kidneys are rich with vitamin D receptors and play a major role in turning vitamin D into its active form Calcitriol that promotes intestinal absorption of calcium and renal reabsorption of phosphate. This helps balance calcium and phosphorus in our body by controlling absorption of these minerals from the food we eat and regulates parathyroid hormone (PTH). When kidneys fail, their ability to activate vitamin D is lost. Without the activated vitamin D to control calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood, PTH will try to overcompensate and go out of range.

There is unique relation between heart and kidney; an emotional reaction of grief, joy and pain. It one gets disturbed, the another too get disturbed. God has given us auto immune system. If some foreign body attacks, the hidden army comes out. But some time the foreigner takes the shape and size of the cells of the vital organs and the immune system kills the body organs by mistake. Thyroid gland death is one of such common issues amongst the women. Similarly, sometimes, the body immune system kills the kidneys. 

In ancient India, according to the Ayurveda, the kidneys were considered the beginning of the excursion channels system, the 'head' of the Mutra Srotas, receiving from all other systems, and therefore important in determining a person's health balance and temperament by the balance and mixture of the three health elements: Vata (air), Pitta (bile) and Kapha (mucus). One can check the status of once health by checking the colour, density and smell of the urine. White or pale yellow colour of urine is normal. Yellow colour of urine demand more water intake. Red urine is a sign of jaundice. Dark urine indicates  urinary track infection. Dark brown colour indicates liver disease. Bubbled urine suggests diabetes. One must see the urine every time to check the overall health of the body. Will you?

Please take care of the important two beans gift of the God for the healthy happy and long life. 

Stay blessed.

शुभम् भवतु कल्याणम्।  

Punamchand 

12 November 2017