Adrenal Tests

Other than taking a decent amount of exercise and following a healthy
diet, we may feel there is little we can do to help our bodies maintain
themselves. However, it is possible to boost the immune system and
encourage cell production through the use of supplements containing
nucleotides - the body’s essential cell building blocks.

The body has an ongoing demand for new cell production, and must create cells at the same rate at which its cells die.
To do this, a typical cell must double its mass and duplicate all of
its contents in order to produce the two new ‘daughter’ cells.

This multiplication of a cell starts with the doubling of the
information (inter-phase) - namely the DNA. Previously we discussed how
the DNA is formed by the five key nucleotides. A normal DNA consists of
3 billion nucleotides.
It is only after this multiplication of the DNA that the M-phase can
start.  This is where the two cell nuclei are formed and the cells
start to divide into two separate cells.

Cell proliferation is a lengthy and complicated process, dependent
mainly on energy and supply of the specific building blocks, the five
key nucleotides.

Research has shown that by providing extra dietary sources of
nucleotides, the multiplication of these new cells can be speeded up.
This applies to the following cell types:

Intestinal mucosa cells - the cells lining the gut

Bone marrow cells, namely leukocytes (especially
Lymphocytes) - more commonly termed as the white blood immune cells

Erythrocytes - Red blood cells

Certain brain cells

For years, nucleic acids and nucleotides were considered essential
nutrients.  Now these nucleotides are increasingly considered to
be limiting in certain diets and during periods of stress and illness.

It was thought that the body could synthesise sufficient nucleotides to meet its physiological demands via ‘de novo’
synthesis of nucleotides. However, research during the last several
years indicates that this is not correct.  There are certain
conditions in which the body requires dietary nucleotides to meet its
physiological requirements.

These conditions include:

Rapid growth

Limited food supply

Stress

Chronic disease

Bacterial and viral infections

In these situations, metabolic demand exceeds the capacity of the ‘de
novo’ synthesis, and therefore dietary nucleotides become conditionally
essential.

Importantly, dietary nucleotides may also spare the energetic costs of ‘de novo’ synthesis of nucleotides.

Critical point in nutrition: energy

Building nucleotides by the ‘de novo’ process requires lots of time and
energy.  Supplementing purified nucleotides to the diet reduces
the proportions required to manufacture, while accelerating all active
processes and saving energy also.

Supplementary nucleotides have been demonstrated to enhance the efficiency of a number of vital organs; these include:

Immune organs including the bone marrow

Liver

Intestines

Consequently, supplementary nucleotides have an effect on a number of vital functions:

Immunity

Production of stress hormones

Digestion and absorption of nutrients

Vitality and well-being

Focussing on Immunity

Nucleotides are an essential part of an healthy immune system, because they have been shown to support the
following:

The reversal of malnutrition or starvation-induced immunosuppression

Enhancement of T-cell maturation and function

Enhancement of natural killer cell activity

Increase of delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity

Aiding resistance to infectious agents such as Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans

Modulation of T-Cell responses toward type 1 CD4 helper lymphocytes or TH1 cells.

In layman’s terms, nucleotides help to boost the immune system by
speeding up the process of creating new defence cells, which are
essential for the body to fight infections.

Reducing the effect of an infection

In 2003 a double-blind placebo controlled trial was carried out by Dr
Isobel Davidson at Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh. This
clinical trial was carried out to test the effects of nucleotides on
reducing the severity of specific symptoms, secondary infections and
healing time after a natural infection by the cold or flu virus. The
findings showed that the specific formula of nucleotides significantly
reduced the symptoms of painful sinuses and earache.  Over the
first six days of taking the nucleotides or a placebo, the discomfort
level was on average greatly reduced for the nucleotide patients:

Dry mouth:       30% less
Sore throat:       20% less
Muscle aches: 15% less
Headache:       40% less

Salivary IgA (antibody) concentrations were similar at recruitment, but
the subsequent to this were higher in general for the nucleotide group.
For the layman, higher antibody levels indicate a greater immune
response.

Preserving a strong immunity

The positive effects of supplementary nucleotides on immunity was also
backed up with another placebo controlled trial carried out by
Professor Lars McNaughton, University of Bath, 2002. McNaughton tested
the effects of nucleotides on athletes under both short-term and high
intensity, and moderate endurance exercise.  Again these results
were significant and conclusive.  Athletes on the nucleotide
treatment showed a 25% higher IgA concentration after 90 minutes
endurance exercise, compared with the placebo group. 

The stress hormone, cortisol, was 10% reduced for the nucleotide
supplemented group.  High cortisol levels have been shown to
impede the effectiveness of disease fighting cells. Hence, the placebo
group showed a greater drop in antibodies.  High decreases in IgA
(antibodies) are thought to be a reason for increased levels of Upper
Respiratory Tract Infection (e.g. colds and flu) for athletes and
people suffering high levels of stress.

In conclusion, the body needs nucleotides to help support a healthy
immune response.  The body can normally take these from food, but
in times of stress, illness, poor diet or rapid growth, dietary
nucleotides become conditionally essential; supplementing all five
nucleotides has been shown to preserve a strong immunity, and reduce
the severity of infections.

Healthy adrenal glands…something we rarely think about, but our fast-paced lifestyles push these little organs to the limit. Overtaxed by stress, stimulants, sugar and a variety of habits, our body’s energy control centers are easily maxed-out, resulting in fatigue, depression and even weight gain. In a holistic health, wellness and fitness program, awareness one’s lifestyle and its effect on these important hormone regulators is worthy of attention.

The adrenal glands are each no bigger than a walnut and weigh less than a grape. They sit like a tiny pyramid on top of each kidney, their name ‘ad’ + ‘renal’ means ‘over’ or ‘above’ the ‘kidney’. The glands are important control centers for regulation of many of the body’s hormones, either secreting directly or controlling the release of cortisol and adrenaline, DHEA, estrogen, and testosterone, which are essential to ones health, vitality, and overall well-being. The adrenal hormones support and affect every tissue, organ, and gland in your body. Their primary purpose is to enable the body and mind to deal with various forms of stress including injury, disease, and other pressures. The adrenals largely determine the energy response of your body to every change in one’s internal and external environment, in fact, every cell in your body responds to signals from the adrenals.

An estimated 75-80% of Westerners suffer from ‘Adrenal fatigue’ at some point in their lives. Adrenal fatigue is a described as a collection of signs and symptoms classically known as a “syndrome” that results when the adrenal glands function below the necessary level. Signs and symptoms may include severe fatigue, lightheadedness upon standing, depression and irritability, lack of sex drive, exhaustion and general malaise, loss of appetite, food cravings, and dark circles around the eyes. Most commonly associated with intense or prolonged stress, various other situations contribute to adrenal fatigue including life crisis, trauma, lifestyle, and chronic illness. Other factors that contribute to the depletion of adrenal health include certain lifestyle choices such as improper diet, substance abuse, too little or irregular sleep or rest and increased or other on-going life-style pressures.

One of the essential functions of your adrenal glands is to draw all your body’s resources into “fight or flight” mode by increasing the production of adrenaline and various other hormones. When the adrenals are healthy one’s ability to respond to situations appropriately is enhanced. This renewed freedom allows for a whole host of possibilities given a stressful situation. When healthy, your adrenals can instantly increase your heart rate and blood pressure, release energy stores for immediate use, sharpen your senses, slow digestion and various other secondary functions. This function is extremely important in emergency situations - poorly functioning, overtaxed adrenal glands can lessen your ability to deal effectively with crisis situations. Another aspect of healthy adrenals is the ability to endure long periods of physical exertion such as seen in marathon running, swimming, long distance cycling, and similarly, the day to day responsibilities of parenting. When supported by healthy adrenals, one’s natural energy supply is balanced. It is your adrenal glands job to react to stress in a balanced manner so that one’s response is appropriate to the situation and not injurious.

The hormones produced by the adrenal glands closely affect the utilization of carbohydrates and fats, the conversion of fats and proteins into energy, as well as the distribution of stored adipose (fatty tissue) on the body (especially around the waist), blood sugar regulation, and healthy cardiovascular and gastrointestinal (digestive and absorptive) function. Interestingly, at mid-life (menopause in women), the adrenal glands become the primary source for sex hormones circulating throughout the body in both genders. So in essence, overworked adrenal glands pretty much put a damper on your sex life - quashing your interest and putting a spare tire around your belly. Maybe their health is worth looking into!

The following are some natural suggestions for nourishing and rejuvenating adrenal health: We’ll start with an easy one; an adequate intake of water. This is a must in all natural health, wellness and fitness programs as it helps keep the kidney flushed and cleanses the body so it has less toxins to deal with, hence less stress. I use the formula .6 x body weight = ounces of water per day for my clients. This is a number that should be moved towards over time. For example if weigh 150 pounds your daily water intake would be 90 ounces. .6 x 150 = 90 ounces. If you are currently drinking 40 ounces of water per day and your (ideal) daily ounce intake is 90 ounces, increase gently to your ideal ounces of water over the next month or two.

Next is peace and quite. Take 10 minutes of time to sit in silence at both the beginning and the end of each day. Find a quiet place in your home or outside near a tree or natural source of water. Sit in a comfortable position and gently follow the rhythm of your breath. Allow yourself this sacred quiet time each day as an opportunity to nourish and assimilate, ground and rejuvenate your energy. Adequate fresh air, deep breaths, and movement. Spend time in nature-walking along the ocean, at a park, on a well traveled trail. Take full deep breaths and inhale in the healing power of the natural world. Take time to look at the trees and flower as well as the sky and various birds and so on. Enjoy this time outside as healing and nourishing. All this will give your adrenal glands a break and let them build reserves for future needs.

As for dietary recommendations, decrease (or preferably eliminate) intake of processed sugars and increase intake of natural earth sugars from root vegetables such as yams, carrots, turnips, and beets. Processed sugars truly poison the body every time they are eaten and causing stress to the system. Sweets are a hard habit to break, but you’ll notice a significant increase in balanced energy when you’re able to reduce their intake. Next, ingest adequate amounts of essential fatty acids. Various sources include fish oils, evening primrose oil, borage oil, hemp oil, coconut oil, and flax oils. Research which sources are best for your needs. Essential fats are precursors to many hormones in the body and will support your overall well-being. Finally, do your best to cut out caffeine from all sources. Even green tea, which is wonderful for you in moderation, can upset sleep patterns and add pressure to an already stressful lifestyle. Coffee is high in other stimulant compounds which seem to truly aggravate those already in tense situations, and cola and so-called ‘energy’ drinks may be the worst contributors to adrenal fatigue of all with their combination of processed sugars and refined caffeine.

As for some soothing treatments, taking time for baths using Epsom salts or apple cider vinegar (a tablespoon of either is sufficient) will help to pull out fatigue and ‘acidity’ from the your mind and body. Light a candle and read a book or simply soak in the warm water imaging your worries and stress washing away as you renew, strengthen, and ‘purify’ your energy. Consider adding a few drops of pure Lavender essential oil to your bath and allow the relaxing aroma to help you relax and refresh. A favorite essential oil bath blend: 4 drops Lavender essential oil, 1 drop Rose essential oil. Rose oil is often used for the decreasing stress and depression, while Lavender has a calming and mood lifting effect.

The following essential oil blend used directly over the adrenals first thing in the morning and then again in the (early) evening can help to nourish, strengthen, and rejuvenate the adrenals. This is described in Advanced Aromatherapy, by Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, one of America’s leading medical aromatherapists. In a 30 ml (one ounce blue cobalt or amber glass bottle) add Black Spruce 2 ml, Pine essential oil 1 ml, Cedarwood essential oil 1 ml, and fill the remainder of the bottle with Hazelnut carrier oil (unless allergic to nuts-then choose another appropriate carrier oil). Use about 1 ml (20-30 drops) at a time and rub into the adrenal area at the bottom of your ribs on your back.

Finally, get some real deep sleep. The two hours before midnight is consider essential time for sleep for rejuvenating sleep. Start consciously moving your bedtime towards the bewitching hour of 10 pm and notice the shift in health. A couple of drops of Lavender essential oil on your pillow can help with sleep, as been show in many studies. If you need, try an herbal formula to help you rest, or a small dose of melatonin. Try finishing your last meal as early as possible, too, as going to bed on a full stomach lessens the quality of rest.

Your adrenal glands are a crucial part of your health and a positive outlook and approach to your life. By considering these few lifestyle factors and natural remedies, you can significantly improve your adrenal gland health, and perhaps remove yourself from the majority of the Adrenal Fatigue statistic!

The adrenal or “stress glands” are small, triangular shaped glands located on the top of the kidneys. Their function is to prepare the body’s resources to run or fight through the releasing of specific hormones. When this primitive, instinctive response is activated, blood is diverted from digestive system while our blood pressure, pulse, blood sugar levels increase. At the same time, our pupils dilate and the speed of reflexes increases. All of this happens as a way to ensure our survival.

In modern times, we don’t’ have to worry about becoming dinner for a hungry tiger or being trampled by a herd of buffalo. Our bodies, however, automatically respond the same way when we are under physical, emotional or mental stress. Many of us live in a state of constant stress that strains our bodies to the point of exhaustion. Over time, and through repetition, this can impact the way the adrenal glands function, causing us to experience adrenal insufficiency or “burn-out”.

If you think about it, our adrenal glands can be likened to the batteries in a flashlight. They are filled with a charge that is used to run the body and give us that extra edge in times of need. Each time we use our flashlight, we drain some of the charge from our batteries. Fortunately for us, our batteries are automatically recharged when we eat healthy and get lots of rest. If, on the other hand, we use our flashlight all of the time, and don’t recharge our batteries regularly, it is only a matter of time before the light starts to dim and eventually goes out all together.

Technically speaking, adrenal insufficiency refers to the inability of adrenal glands to produce the proper quantity of hormones needed to run the body. It should not to be confused with Addison’s disease, which is when the adrenal glands fail to produce hormones or shutdown completely. The most common symptom of adrenal insufficiency is fatigue. Other symptoms include: not feeling rested after sleep, inability to deal with life stressors, poor memory, a low sex drive, frequent infections due to a suppressed immune system, inability to concentrate, depression, mood swings, irritability, weight gain, weakness and hormonal imbalances.

There are a number of reasons why people experience adrenal insufficiency. It can be from a genetic or congenital abnormality, but the most common one is stress. Some of us force our bodies to run or fight all the time. Life challenges, financial pressures, relationship issues and unresolved emotional concerns will eventually deplete your adrenal glands. Internal stressors such as allergies, physical disease, nutritional deficiencies, food and environmental toxins can also put pressure on the body’s natural reserves. In addition, stimulants, such as sugar, white flower, caffeine, as well as constant exposure to loud music, loud noise or E M radiation can take a toll on our adrenal glands.

Recommendations For Wellness

First and foremost, stop forcing yourself to keep going and start listening to your body. It will tell you what it needs. If it is tired, try closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Taking a break, even a short one is a great way to let your body rest.

Just let it go. Allow your body to let go of any resentment, blame, guilt, worries or fears that can paralyze the adrenal glands.

Learning relaxation techniques such as biofeedback, meditation guided imagery can help you cope with stress better.

Try taking a hot bath with l avender or n eroli oil at night. These oils can help to calm frazzled nerves, promote a feeling of calmness and bring about a restful nights sleep.

Siberian ginseng is an adaptogenic herb that supports the adrenal glands making it a great tonic to help the body deal with stress.

Found in the rainforest of South America, the herb suma has been reported to help increase energy levels and rejuvenate the spirit. It has been found to be useful in restoring glandular function and balancing the endocrine system.

Licorice Root has traditionally been used to support the adrenals. This herb is very sweet and is not recommended if you are diabetic.

Pantothenic Acid, vitamin B5, is vital for adrenal hormone production and is recommended in supporting the adrenal glands.

Nature’s Sunshine’s Energy-V Capsules and Nervous Fatigue Formula are a collection of stimulating & adaptogenic herbs which can help the body adapt to stress.

DHEA is a hormone precursor produced by the adrenal glands. Leading health experts to believe that after the age of 25, the body’s ability to produce DHEA declines and supplementation can help increase energy and counteract the effects of stress.

Supplements made from bovine adrenal glands provide nutritional support for proper adrenal gland function. Only use this supplement for short periods of time as to not disrupt the normal function of the adrenal glands.

© Copyright Body, Mind & SoulHealer – www.soulhealer.com 2007. All rights reserved.

The most common complaint I hear is that people always feel tired. In fact, most people seem to think feeling tired all the time is just a normal part of modern life. I have good news. It’s not!

There are many causes of chronic tiredness. Sometimes it’s obvious, like not getting enough sleep, but other times it can be due to an underlying health issue. Chronic tiredness can be a frustrating condition. There usually isn’t a simple solution to it and any medical tests are likely to come back ‘normal’.

In this article I’m going to explore the common condition of adrenal exhaustion and how it can cause chronic tiredness.

Common symptoms and risk factors of adrenal exhaustion include:

· You feel tired and unrefreshed after waking in the morning

· You find it difficult to get going in the morning until you have had a cup of coffee

· You feel tired after exercising

· You began to feel chronically tired after a stressful event had occurred

· You experience chronic allergies, inflammation or digestive problems

· You have a high-stress, always on-the-go lifestyle. You work hard, party hard, stay up late, drink coffee and alcohol, sometimes burn the candle at both ends, but lately you’ve found you just can’t do this anymore.

The adrenals are two small glands located above each kidney. One of their roles is to secrete the stress hormones cortisol, adrenalin and nor-adrenalin. These hormones are secreted during stressful situations – either to help us calm down (cortisol) or to prepare us for battle (adrenalin and nor-adrenalin).

During chronic stress, the adrenals continually secrete these hormones and over time can become exhausted (just like the pancreas becomes exhausted pumping out insulin in response to a high sugar diet). At the beginning stages of stress, the adrenal glands pump out more cortisol to keep up with the demands being placed on your body. At this point you may find yourself feeling alert and ‘on the ball’. However over time the adrenals become exhausted, causing a decline in the amount of cortisol that they are able to pump out. If and when you reach this stage of adrenal dysfunction, a number of detrimental effects may occur including chronic tiredness (see list of symptoms above).

Our adrenals need to be cared for and supported with a healthy diet and nutrients. Certain herbal medicine, amino acids, supplements and stress-reducing lifestyle practices can help to repair exhausted adrenal glands. But remember - it’s always easier to prevent something going wrong than to fix it after its broken. When the adrenal glands become very exhausted, you can experience burnout and possibly chronic fatigue syndrome.

Do you know your body? Do you want to know your body? Have you spent a lot of money working with a practitioner or on un-needed lab tests? Well, here is simple and personal way to figure things out on your own. As well, from there you can just have a consult with us to get some direction on where to go, once you know what hormonal imbalances you have.

http://www.eastwesthealing.com

Duration : 0:8:27

weiter lesen… »

Technorati Tags: balancing, bioidentical, ch, chek, cortisol, estrogen, hormone, hormones, insulin, Paul, replacement, stress, therapy

Food allergies can effect your weight in ways you probably never thought about!

Duration : 0:0:50

weiter lesen… »

Technorati Tags: a4m, aging, allergy, Anti, cortisol, Delayed, Delgado, diet, dr, hormones, Loss, Nick, record, seratonin, testing, weight

Duration : 0:0:49

weiter lesen… »

Technorati Tags: Consider, dr, HRT, Huey, Should, When, You

Dr. Bob DeMaria is continuing a workshop for his patients on saliva testing. www.DruglessDoctor.com

Duration : 0:10:1

weiter lesen… »

Technorati Tags: "female, Bob, cortisol, dr, estrogne, health, hormones, progesterone, saliva, testing

Dr. Bob DeMaria is closing his workshop on Saliva Hormone testing. The final one is on Intestinal health. www.Druglessdoctor.com

Duration : 0:7:32

weiter lesen… »

Technorati Tags: Bob, cortisol, DeMaria, DHEA, dr, estrogen, health, saliva, testing, testosterone

Is your weight loss program missing something? How exhausted are your adrenal glands? Adrenal exhaustion may be the ROOT CAUSE of not only your weight gain, but many other chronic conditions that you may exhibit.

The only way to know is to take the test. The Functional Adrenal Stress kit is an easy-to-use saliva test that will measure:

Cortisol
DHEA
Estradiol
Estriol
Progesterone
Testosterone
Melatonin

Find the SOURCE of your health challenges and FIX them! You DO NOT have a pharmaceutical drug deficiency!

Total cost of $276 includes lab fee and 90-Days of Phone/Email Coaching with Sean to fine-tune your natural hormone/supplement program.

Contact Sean at sean@undergroundwellness.com

Personal Training available at the SDSU Aztec Rec Center
http://arc.sdsu.edu

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/undergroundwellness

Duration : 0:9:37

weiter lesen… »

Technorati Tags: "oprah, "the, adrenal, burning, diet, fat, fatigue, fitnessvip, foods, hypothyroidism, isabel, lose, Loss, solution", somers", suzanne, weight