By Elizabeth NobleStress is a well-known factor in suppressing immunity and activating the Epstein Barr virus that causes mononucleosis. Mono treatment needs to address stress and adrenal fatigue in order for you to make a full and complete recovery from this illness.
Your adrenal glands produce hormones like cortisol and DHEA to help your body cope with stress. Measuring the levels of these hormones during mono treatment is a good way to assess your progress and how well your adrenal glands are functioning. Saliva testing of these hormones appears to be more accurate than blood tests.
In the early stages of adrenal fatigue there is normally high levels of cortisol and low levels of DHEA. Physically you may still feel OK.
Stage 2 of adrenal fatigue is marked by low DHEA and decreasing cortisol levels as the adrenals become exhausted. Feelings of tiredness and stress overload start to appear.
Stage 3 of adrenal exhaustion is indicated by low levels of both cortisol and DHEA. Physical symptoms may include low energy, poor immunity, headaches, brain fog, hormonal imbalances like PMT and low sex drive, unrefreshing sleep and cravings for sugar, salt and stimulants like coffee and alcohol.
If you suspect your adrenals are exhausted or if your tests come back showing that your adrenals are fatigued then there are a number of strategies you should include in your mono treatment plan to help them recover.
- Firstly quality sleep is a priority in repairing your adrenals, particularly during mono treatment. Aim for 8-10 hours a night of unbroken sleep, plus an afternoon nap if you need one.
- Nourish your adrenals with nutrients including vitamin C, the B complex, magnesium and the Omega 3 fats like those found in fish oils.
- Herbs like ginseng and licorice are traditionally used to strengthen the adrenals and help you cope with stress.
- Your diet during mono treatment and for adrenal repair should revolve around small, frequent meals. Focus on quality proteins like free range chicken, fish, lean red meat, eggs, legumes and cheese. Each meal should include plenty of fresh vegetables or low carb fruit plus some natural oils either through nuts, seeds, avocado or a cold pressed oil. Try and cut down your intake of stimulants like coffee and alcohol plus eliminate sugar and refined white flour products.
- Gentle exercise like walking, swimming, cycling, yoga and tai chi are recommended to help you cope with stress during mono treatment. Start off gently and build up to at least half an hour five times a week.
Lastly remember that it is how you respond to stress that counts. If you learn to go with the flow, maintain a positive attitude and look after yourself with the above strategies, then you should find that your stress can be managed.
For more details on adrenal repair during mono treatment please refer to the e-bookNature's Mononucleosis Cures by qualified naturopath Elizabeth Noble. If you are feeling, tired, rundown or stressed then this is a good place to start.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Noble
By Nigel LeeChronic fatigue is a serious medical condition that affects thousands of people all around the world. The exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is unknown, although many experts argue about the exact causes.
The adrenal gland is a gland within the body that is responsible for secreting hormones into the bloodstream. This gland is in control of cortisone and dhea. These hormones control a wide variety of different systems within the body, these include the immune system, energy, and stress.
Chronic fatigue syndrome often causes the adrenal gland to become overworked, and so levels of these hormones are depleted. This can affect the body's natural hormone balance.
There is a complicated system known as the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). If you paid attention in your biology classes then some of those names may already be familiar with you. Basically, all of these are different gland and these glands affect one another. If one of the glands is not functioning correctly then the others will also start to function incorrectly.
In many chronic fatigue sufferers there is a problem that affects the hypothalamus. It's not clear why the HPA axis is affected in patients.
There are some things that you can do to relieve the symptoms caused by the overworking of the adrenal gland. Patients can take supplements made out of animal glands to take some of the heat off the adrenal gland. Pantothenic acid is another product which can help to relieve the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.
We already mentioned the hormone dhea, this is important in fatigue patients. Dhea is the base product for hormones such as testosterone and cortisol, vitamin supplements normally go some of the way to reduce any fatigue and also reduce any confusion experienced by patients.
Patients that suffer from CFS often have a week immune system, so these vitamin supplements also help to boost the immune system, they can help your body to defend itself from any bacterial and viral infections.
So, in conclusion, there is a link in some patients between the adrenal gland functions and chronic fatigue. Many CFS sufferers have a reduced adrenal gland function. If you are experiencing excessive tiredness then you should go to visit your doctor to get checked out for adrenal fatigue.
There are a number of diseases such as Addison's disease that could be causing the reduced functions of the adrenal gland, therefore a test is required so you can rule this out.
Nigel was always tired, using various techniques he stopped being tired and he has recently started his his own website called http://www.AlwaysFeelingTired.com to help others who arealways tired.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nigel_Lee
By Alex S HowardThe adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys, and produce a number of hormones such as adrenalin, noradrenalin, cortisol and DHEA. These hormones make us feel motivated, alive, and enable us to do the things we want to do and to deal with any stress we have in our lives. Unfortunately, modern day living often puts the adrenal glands under constant stress that must be regularly counteracted.
When we are put into a stressful position, the body releases adrenalin and nor-adrenalin to deal with the physical danger. This is also called the 'fight or flight' response. Once the danger is over, the body should naturally go back to a relaxed state and the adrenal gland returns hormone levels back to normal.
Unfortunately in modern life we are continuously experiencing all sorts of stress for extended periods of time. This in turn causes the adrenal glands to continually pump out stress hormones. In the initial stages they will produce abnormally high levels of adrenaline, nor-adrenalin, cortisol and DHEA. Eventually, the adrenals will become fatigued if they are continually stimulated. This is the exhaustion stage of stress where eventually the adrenals will produce abnormally low levels of stress hormones; in this state, the body fails to adapt to a particular stress and we are tired, anxious and exhausted.
The Adrenals and Blood Sugar Balance
The adrenal glands and blood sugar levels go hand in hand. Our body must maintain blood sugar levels within a fairly narrow band. When we are stressed, our adrenalin causes stored glucose in our liver and muscles to be released, raising blood sugar levels, in order to feed cells, so they can respond with either 'flight or fight.' If the glucose is not used up by cells, the body will have to release insulin to reduce blood sugar levels again. This in turn can cause them to fall too low. Low blood sugar can then stress the adrenals again, forcing them to release adrenalin which raises blood sugar levels back to normal again.
Blood sugar imbalances cause energy dips during the day, low energy, dizziness and irritability when not eating frequently, afternoon drowsiness, excess thirst and sugar cravings. More importantly, it stresses the adrenals and can lead to adrenal fatigue.
Common symptoms of low cortisol:
*Symptoms associated with Blood sugar imbalances (hungry all the time, the need to snack,
light-headed-jittery without food and so on)
*Digestive problems
*Poor immune system leading to frequent infections, and inflammatory symptoms.
*Hormonal problems such as PMS, lack of sex drive, prostate problems.
*Mental and physical fatigue
*Depression
*Sleep problems and insomnia
*Headaches
*Low blood pressure
*Waking too early in the morning
Specific symptoms of DHEA deficiency include:
*Persisting fatigue
*Depression
*Anxiety
*Hypersensitivity to noise
*Loss of libido
*Dry eyes
*Dry skin and hair
*Loss of head hair, axial (armpit) hair, and pubic hair.
Cut out the following foods:
*Sugar and all refined carbohydrates in food and drinks, as they create blood
sugar imbalances which contribute to adrenal stress
*processed and refined foods as they can contain chemicals which
can deplete the body of nutrients which are vital for health and well being.
*Cut down or cut out alcohol and caffeine as both can stimulate
and stress the adrenals.
Increase the following foods:
*Plenty of vegetables, beans and pulses for fibre, as this can
help balance blood sugar and are full of nutrients
*Protein to balance blood sugar levels and produce adrenalin. Health protein can include nuts, seeds, and quinoa.
*Plenty of fruit and vegetables that contain bioflavonoids which are
anti-inflammatory and boost the immune system, which can become compromised
by stress. They also contain vitamin C which is vital for adrenal health
*Large amounts of the essential fatty acids as they support blood sugar balance
and are anti-inflammatory. These foods include oily fish, linseeds, chia seeds, Brazil nuts walnuts, and green lipped mussels.
Lifestyle Suggestions Include:
*Deal with stress. Reduce it as much as possible and find ways to work with it. These
stresses could be mental, physical, emotional or environmental.
*Sufficient rest is also very important, not only sleep but relaxation and
enjoyment of life.
* It is important to sit down to eat and view this as a relaxation time, eat
food you enjoy and chew well.
*Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, tai chi, massage and walking
in the fresh air are very important
*More vigorous exercise may be useful to release tension, but when adrenals
are fatigued you are better doing low and moderately low intensity
exercise which is enjoyable and does not stress the
adrenals.
Massage can bring the body into a more relaxed state.
*Learn to have a good laugh!
Alex Howard is author of "WHY ME? My Journey from M.E. to Health and Happiness" and founder of The Optimum Health Clinic, an award winning clinic specialising in M.E./Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia based in Harley Street Clinic, London, UK. The clinic has treated over 5,000 patients with M.E./C.F.S./Fibromyalgia in over twenty-five countries around the world, and is currently running a two year clinical trial in conjunction with two top universities. A free information pack, including a 75 documentary about the clinic and its work, can be ordered from http://www.FreedomFromME.co.uk
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_S_Howard
By Elizabeth NobleMono is a common trigger for adrenal exhaustion. During mononucleosis treatment it is vital that the adrenal glands are considered as part of the plan.
After an illness like the Epstein Barr virus that causes mononucleosis or glandular fever, the body needs time to recover. Plenty of sleep, rest, pure healthy food, sunshine and graded exercise are essential. If these conditions are not met, then the adrenal glands become fatigued or "exhausted". They are then unable to produce adequate amounts of hormones like adrenaline, cortisol and DHEA. The job of these adrenal hormones is to help the body cope with stress.
So what are the symptoms of exhausted adrenals? Well the primary symptom is low energy, lethargy and ongoing fatigue. You may also notice dark circles under your eyes, lowered immunity, a poor sex drive, premenstrual tension, sugar cravings, headaches, poor concentration, unrefreshing sleep and a general loss of interest in life.
If you are looking into mononucleosis treatments, then here are some tips on how to treat adrenal exhaustion and get you feeling better fast!
- You should aim to get adequate sleep. At least 8-10 hours of deep, unbroken sleep a night is required. An afternoon nap can also be very beneficial, but don't leave it too late in the day.
- Regular meditation, yoga or deep breathing can help your body cope with the stress of having mono and make you more resilient to whatever life throws at you.
- Your diet should be low in sugar, white flour, coffee, alcohol, processed foods, smoking and drugs. These vices can make you feel better in the short term but they will drain your adrenals and prolong your recovery if consumed regularly.
- Supplements like vitamin C, the B complex and magnesium, can help repair the adrenal glands and assist in mononucleosis treatment. The omega 3 fatty acids from deep sea fish oils or flaxseed oil can help with fatigue. If you are anemic then taking some iron is important.
- Herbs like licorice and ginseng can boost adrenal function and help with mononucleosis treatment. These herbs can be taken as teas, capsules or liquid tinctures.
- Gentle physical exercise will build up your adrenal strength and stamina. If you are not used to exercise, then please start slowly and build up gently over time. If you are in the early acute stages of mono, then please rest until your body is up to it. If you do too much too soon, you will end up back at square one.
- Make time for laughter, fun and joy in your life. These are great ways to lower your stress levels when treating mononucleosis.
- Be gentle on yourself - don't strive to always be perfect. You can reduce stress simply by learning to go with the flow.
- Celebrate the achievements and victories in your life. During mononucleosis treatment it may only be little things like enjoying a 10 minute stroll, finishing a good book or cooking up a new healthy meal that you can celebrate - that's a good start! Acknowledging your progress will help keep a positive attitude that helps you cope with stress and keeps your adrenals strong.
For more information on adrenal exhaustion and natural mononucleosis treatment then please refer to the e-book Nature's Amazing Mononucleosis Cures by qualified naturopath Elizabeth Noble. Elizabeth has recovered from chronic mono herself, and has treated thousands of patients through her clinics and support groups.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Noble
By Rosanna CommissoHow to use this Dairy
If you like me, have been diagnosed with severe adrenal fatigue you need to really start taking care of yourself and become aware of every decision you may. Everything you do affects your adrenal health and therefore your overall health in either a positive or negative way so it's important to know what impact your lifestyle is having on your health.
The most important things affecting your adrenal health are:
* The amount and quality of sleep that you get
* The food that you eat
* The physical activities that you participate in
* The amount of stress - both positive and negative in your life
I developed the Adrenal Care Daily Checklist and Diary (you can download the diary from the ChiYo Life website) to help keep me on track. As it is so easy when you are having a good day to forget that you have a serious health condition and to go back to your normal way of living which unfortunately means that when you relapse you will feel worse than ever before.
The Adrenal Care Daily Checklist and Diary helps remind you what you need to do each day to take care of your adrenals. It also allows you to record what you have and haven't done and then rate your overall wellbeing based on your behaviour. By keeping a track of what you do on a daily basis and rating your overall energy you can pinpoint what factors effect your adrenal health the most. The diary helps give you a picture of what is happening with your adrenal health and how the choices you make regarding food, exercise and sleep affect you.
The Diary also gives you the opportunity to jot down your thoughts, feelings and important incidences that occur each day.
My hope is that this diary will help you take control of your life and your adrenal health.
MEAL IDEAS
Breakfast ideas
* homemade porridge with milk, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, lecithin, linseed, amaranth, cinnamon and apple
* scrambled eggs with tomato and soy & linseed toast
Lunch ideas
* Hot brown rice salad with mixed veggies and protein
* Soy & linseed sandwich with avocado, protein and salad
Snack ideas
* 2 wholewheat soy and linseed crackers with cheese or nut spread
* handful of nuts with a piece of fruit
Dinner ideas
* Fish/lean meat/chicken with brown rice and veggies
* Lentil and pearl barley vegetable soup
* Chicken and vegetable soup
FOODS THAT SUPPORT YOUR ADRENALS
Protein
Seeds & Nuts: sunflower, pumpkin, sesame seeds, chestnuts, walnuts, pine nuts, almonds
free-range, chemical + hormone-free poultry, eggs, yoghurt, goat's milk, beef, lamb, natural cheeses such as ricotta, fetta & cottage cheese shrimp, mussels, fatty fish such as wild-caught salmon or trout
Legumes: adzuki, black, kidney, mung beans, lentils, chickpeas
Grains
Brown rice, oats, spelt, quinoa, corn, buckwheat, pearl barley, rye, millet
Vegetables
Chinese yam, Chinese cabbage, parsnip, winter squash, sweet potato, kale, leek, scallion, mustard greens and carrots, pumpkin, celery, beetroot, green vegetables, sea vegetables, sweet potatoes, turnips, onions, olives, avocado
Herbs & Spices
Chives, garlic, cloves, basil, rosemary, angelica root, parsley, fennel, dill, anise, caraway, carob pod, cumin, cinnamon bark, ginger, nutmeg
Fruit
Avoid fruits high in sugar such as grapes, oranges, dates etc. In winter you my feel better eating stewed fruits e.g. 2 stewed apples with a pinch of sea salt added to balance the effect of their sugar content
Chocolate
I know everyone loves chocolate so as a weekly treat you can enjoy one square of any 85% or higher dark chocolate eg Lindt. If you do get constant chocolate cravings it could be that your body needs magnesium, so start taking a magnesium citrate or amino acid chelate supplement daily. You can increase the dose of magnesium until you reach 400mg daily. Magnesium is great for relaxing the body and helping it create energy, so if you are taking magnesium supplements take one in the morning and one at night.
Salt
Always use Celtic or sea salt in your cooking
Water
Experiment drinking room or warm water and see how you feel compared to drinking chilled water
Temperature of Foods
As the cold aggravates the water element and the kidneys, it is important when it is cold or when your energy is low to eat more warm and cooked foods instead of cold or raw foods.
Include the Taz adrenal support recovery soup into your diet. This soup, from Dolores S. Downey, has been proven to increase energy in adrenal fatigue sufferers.
Combine one medium onion, one sliced zucchini, one cup chopped celery, one cup chicken broth, one cup tomato juice, one pound green beans, one cup spring water, two tablespoons raw honey and one teaspoon paprika in a large pot. Simmer the soup for one hour or until vegetables are tender. You can season the soup with pepper, if desired.
EXERCISE
Though it may feel like the last thing you want to do, exercise is very beneficial to the adrenal glands. It will also help you sleep better. Begin with light exercise, such as a 10-minute walk, and work your way up to more moderate physical activity. Just remember to listen to you body.
If you find that you have night sweats it's a good idea to go for a 15 minute power walk about 1-2 hours before you go to bed. Night sweats are thought to be a kidney yang deficiency and due to low night cortisol levels. Rapid walking will increase your cortisol levels and make your body more yang. But it's important not to over do it as if you push your body too far rather than creating yang energy you will be creating more yin energy. If you are new to yin and yang energy, I recommend that you read my article 'How to Make the Most of Yin/Yang Energy in Your Life', this can also be found at my ChiYo Life website.
You can download this diary for free from http://www.chiyolife.com.au/articles.html
Rosanna Commisso is the Founder of ChiYo Life. ChiYo is Feng Shui for your body. It is a gentle holistic practice that combines the healing and regenerative techniques of specific yogic breathing, standing meditation, flowing Chi energy movements with acu-massage to increase internal Chi, healing body, mind and spirit. http://www.chiyolife.com.au
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosanna_Commisso
By Tim BrunsonOccasionally I'll encounter 40-ish or older male patients who are encountering learning, memory, and motivation problems. During their intake and subsequent discussions I often detect similar patterns. They are individuals who are successful in their professional lives. Yet, they tend to be over controlling workaholics who equate effort with results. I've even heard more than one of them using the phrase "no pain, no gain." Indeed, too often they equate personal sacrifice with results. This leads to an unbalanced life which will eventually affect their effectiveness. In short, trying too hard will lead to ineffectiveness, a loss of control of their temper, and health problems. To merely treat the presenting memory and motivation problem blindly with hypnosis or allopathic remedies would be unfruitful and potentially harmfully.
While medical doctors looking into learning, memory, and motivation may uncover a plethora of maladies such as thyroid problems and neurological disorders resulting from trauma and abuse, these may not be the most obvious causes. The answer may just lie in the inability of the basil ganglia to continue to supply the required dopamine.
Our two basil ganglia sit laterally astride our two thalami. Their major overt function is to facilitate repetitive motor activities. Think of typing as an example. The caudate nucleus is one of its three major substructures of the basil ganglia. It plays the role of signally the anterior cingulate cortex, our brain's thought switchboard, to slow down once a problem or situation is adequately resolved. (Failure to do so results in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or recurrent anxiety.)
The basil ganglia fulfill their primary functions by producing and transmitting the inhibitory neurotransmitter dopamine to the appropriate substrate. The existence of increased levels of dopamine is related to feelings of excitement and stimulation. Hence, the absence of adequate levels could be the cause of a general feeling of lethargy or the lack of motivation. Along with acetylcholine and brain derived neural growth factor, adequate dopamine, is also vital to the encoding of new memories. Therefore, without it, learning and motivation become problematic.
With a high stress, "can do", testosterone dominated lifestyle, the basil ganglia is forced to continually produce increased amounts of dopamine. When certain sensations are increasingly habituated, the brain demands more and more dopamine in order to produce the same results. Even though this is frequently accomplished during our early years, as we get older the ability for the basil ganglia to continue to keep up the demand diminishes. Therefore, memory begins to be an issue, it becomes more difficult for an "old dog to learn new tricks", and we develop the recurring desire to recharge. (Note that this is concomitant with what is now being discusses as adrenal fatigue.)
What role does hypnosis play in correcting this problem? First of all, I warn many of my colleagues who may lack medical licensure that they must not diagnose basil ganglia fatigue. However, this does not stop such clinicians from accepting a medical referral for learning and motivation issues or recognizing that this may be an underlying problem for which their hypnotic protocols must be adapted. It should suffice for you to understand that the person sitting before you has a pretty unbalanced life of continued efforts to over achieve at their mind and body's expense.
Basil ganglia fatigue, which is the same as dopamine fatigue, is normally the result of a dysfunctional neuro-physiological behavior pattern. Hypnosis is uniquely suited for rectifying this problem as it is the best technique suited to bypass a subject's resistance to change and install a stronger countervailing pattern.
One approach that I take is to have the patient discuss lifestyle changes which they believe will help facilitate the change. What I normally hear is words like acceptance, tolerance, compassion, and patience. I have never experienced a case where improved relationships with their significant others, family, co-workers, and even pets were not mentioned. Then, using a hypnotic intervention I endeavor to bypass their resistance (e.g., critical factor or facility, which is synonymous with the function of the left prefrontal cortex). Once I feel that this has been adequately accomplished, I will use guided imagery to allow them to experience the heightened affective quality of the alternate reality. The experience almost always amazes even the most hardened Type A personality. My goal is to "install" a new more dominant pattern to effectively crowd out the dysfunctional one. The session is typically ended by teaching the subject self-hypnosis skills so that they can reinforce this pattern through rehearsal.
Even though many hypnotherapists may feel that this procedure should be obvious, failure to select the right imagery during the therapy phase will most likely backfire. As many dopamanergic issues are the result of excessive prolonged energizing stimuli, the clinician must find and employ imagery which empowers change without representing additional excitement. The goal is to install a pattern which reinforces calmness and regeneration as part of their new lifestyle. This should be done in a way that assures them that by struggling less they actually will not only produce more results, but also will encounter a more satisfying life and experience appreciation from those they care about the most. Unfortunately, too many therapists would err by trying to use imagery which would tend to seek motivation by inserting more excitement and thrills. By understanding the organic fatigue that stimulation has caused, they should find imagery which is more appropriate and with less potential to do further harm.
Like the related adrenal fatigue, dopamine fatigue gets worse over time and takes maintaining a significantly different lifestyle over a prolonged period to reverse. However, like any significant change, resistance will be difficult to overcome. Learned advice from a competent and respected allopathic medical doctor too often fails to garner requisite patient compliance. Therefore, the adjunctive intervention from a hypnotherapist is indicated as the most likely avenue to produce the desired outcome.
Tim Brunson, PhD
The International Hypnosis Research Institute is a member supported project involving integrative health care specialists from around the world. We provide information and educational resources to clinicians. Dr. Brunson is the author of over 150 self-help and clinical CD's and MP3's.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Brunson
By Misty Rae CechSuffering from burnout, or a lengthy bout of exhaustion you can't seem to pull out of, but no obvious symptoms? You may be suffering from adrenal fatigue. Here's a little primer on these very important glands and how to treat them right. 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 any natural health, wellness and fitness program, support for the adrenal glands is crucial.
The adrenal glands are small pyramid shaped organs that sit atop each kidney in the lower back. The adrenals release their own 'stress hormones' in response to certain situations or environmental conditions, and control the release of many other important hormones in the body such as DHEA, estrogen and testosterone. Their primary function is to prime the system to deal with life-threatening, stressful, or pressure-filled circumstances. They largely determine the energy level available for the necessary response.
In our fast paced western culture, an estimated 75% of individuals suffer from adrenal fatigue some time in their lives. This occurs when the glands can no longer keep up with the pace of outputting stress hormones, or when they no longer respond to repeated demands that they've heard too many times before. Signs and symptoms may include severe fatigue, lightheadedness upon standing, depression and irritability, lack of sex drive, exhaustion and general malaise. Adrenal fatigue is often associated with intense or prolonged stress, life crisis, trauma, and chronic illness. Other factors include certain lifestyle choices such as improper diet, substance abuse, and too little or irregular sleep.
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! It is your adrenal glands job to react to stress in a balanced manner so that one's response is appropriate to the situation.
The adrenal glands signal the storage and/or release of carbohydrates and fats, the conversion of fats and proteins into energy, along with the distribution of stored fat on the body. They are involved in blood sugar regulation, cardiovascular function, gastrointestinal function, and in controlling blood pressure. The adrenals are further involved by playing a part in sexual interest and response - so poorly functioning adrenals can really put a damper on things by increasing fat storage on your belly while making you disinterested in the whole process altogether!
Here are a few simple steps to supporting adrenal gland health. Many of these will support your overall wellbeing as well, relieving your body of undue stress, and in turn allowing your adrenals to replenish their stores. First, get an adequate intake of pure, clean water. You needn't drown yourself with it, but always having a bottle around to sip on can really make a difference. So many body processes require adequate amounts of water - and this is likely more than you think. Through continued stress, and simple aging, our thirst sense diminishes, so even though you may not feel thirsty, your fatigue level is telling you something different. Try it!
Next is slowing down the pace of things at least a few minutes a day. It's so easy to get wound up in all the day's work, errands and other pressures that we rarely take a moment to sit quietly without distraction and simply release these things from our mind. Take a walk if you can; moderate exercise can be a supportive factor in lowering stress levels. But while doing so, try to 'be present', rather than letting your mind drift to all those tasks ahead of you - this will allow the greatest regeneration.
Diet plays a huge role in any natural health, wellness and fitness program, and is crucial in proper adrenal gland function. You've heard it before, but I'll say it again! Reduce your sugar intake - sugar is a poison to the system, inducing stress whenever eaten. Cut out stimulants to the best of your ability. If you have a caffeine addiction, take it moment to moment, Do you really need that next cup? Will it make you feel better? Often after the first one or two in the morning, the answer is no. And cutting them out all together will give you more energy than you thought possible in a week to 10 days.
Nutritional support for the adrenal glands can be provided in supplement form. Most easily, a multivitamin with a complete vitamin B important, as it supports the manufacture of adrenal hormones from precursors in the body. The list of herbs you may consider as part of your adrenal support program is lengthy; you should investigate further to see which may be applicable to your specific condition. These herbs include Siberian Ginseng, Licorice Root (folks with blood pressure issues should proceed with caution), astragalus, Fo-ti, Triphala, and Black Cohosh root. Finally, the hormone precursors DHEA and pregnenolone may also be of use. Again, to incorporate these, do some further research and see which suit your particular conditions and needs.
For a soothing, regenerating treatment, take an Epsom salt bath pull out fatigue and acidity from body. Again, let your mind go and release the worries of the day, and try to incorporate this into your regular routine. 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. These oils are well known for their uplifting and relaxing qualities.
You may also use an essential oil blend that is said to replenish the adrenal glands without stimulation. Mix one ounce hazelnut oil plus 50 drops each of Black Spruce and Pine essential oils. Apply regularly to the kidney/adrenal area for a week or two to help support glandular function - and you'll smell great too!
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, do what you can to improve your sleep routine. Getting to bed before 10pm is crucial - the hours between 10 and 12 are thought to be extremely important in rejuvenation. Try finishing your last meal as early as possible in the evening to get better rest, so the body is not spending as much effort digesting your dinner as it is replenishing all your other vital resources. Herbal sleep formulas are effective for many people, and are non-habit forming as some prescription medicines can be. Also, studies have shown that the aroma of certain essential oils in the room can have a dramatic effect on sleep quality - an easy way to experiment is to sprinkle a few drops of lavender essential oil on your comforter before retiring (be sparing, too much can actually be stimulating!)
Taking care of your adrenal glands is an important consideration in any health, wellness and fitness program when you want to feel your best and be prepared for any situation. Allowing them to replenish will help brighten your outlook on life and give you the energy you need for the things you love to do.
Misty Rae Cech ND is a practicing naturopath and iridologist in Boulder, Colorado. She is dedicated to supporting the health of others through natural means. Misty is a specialty in women's health. She is also the wellness director for The Ananda Apothecary and Ananda Aromatherapy, sources for therapeutic grade aromatherapy essential oils and blends and organic essential oils from around the world.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Misty_Rae_Cech
By Russell SymondsChronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a controversial condition with no precise definition or single known cause. Various things can cause it and the only way known to diagnose it is through a diagnosis of exclusion of all other pathologies known to cause chronic fatigue such diabetes, depression, anemia, leukemia, malnutrition, etc. However there are some specific terms or conditions associated with CFS such as encephalomyelitis, post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS), Epstein-Barr virus, adrenal fatigue, etc. The condition must also be present for more than 6 months for it to match most diagnostic criteria.
More women than men are said to have this disorder and it has been more commonly diagnosed in young children and especially teenagers. Many other symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening such as cardiac problems, asthma, muscle fatigue, pain, spacey feelings, digestive problems, depression, immune weakness, and oversensitivity have been reported by those suffering from CFS but are not officially a part of this ailment. Some get better over a period of time and some cases do respond to various treatments.
The main symptom of CFS is an unrelenting tiredness not relieved by rest and greatly exaggerated through even the smallest amounts of exertion. One often feels like one is walking through molasses with weights tied to every part of one's body. Some days are so bad that one may need to stay in bed and sleep all day. Also not only physical body is affected, the mind and emotions are equally thwarted. CFS is an extremely serious and very frustrating condition to deal with as all aspects of one's life are seriously compromised if not ruined. It may take four times as much effort to accomplish one tenth of what the average person can achieve.
I suffered periods of what seemed to be CFS throughout most of my life starting at very early age. I was considered "lazy" and inattentive at school and used to "daydream" during class. I was actually going into deep meditative states even though no one, not even myself, realized it at the time. After a long day at high school I would often feel so exhausted that I would immediately go to sleep the moment I entered my room at 3:00 in the afternoon (school usually started at 8:00 AM and finished around 2:35 PM). I had a tough time finding enough mental energy to get any homework done and needed 14 hours of sleep!
My symptoms were quite worrisome and this problem continued in various degrees of severity throughout my life and had very little sympathy, only accusations of being "lazy" which really upset me. I never was able to overcome this problem until I regularly took the correct amounts of the right combination of certain herbs, vitamins and antioxidants. Like I said in so many other articles I have written on health, drinking loads of alkalized water also seemed to help. Not surprised because alkalized (negatively ionized) water acts as a buffer to neutralize acidic toxins of metabolism. Quercetin helps because it protects the potency of adrenalin in the body, therefore increasing overall energy efficiency.
If you or someone you care about appears to be suffering from CFS, you are going to have to get a thorough diagnosis to rule out all kinds of possible causes. I was checked and double-checked and it turned out my anxiety-disorder was to blame. I found out that my CFS would tend to get much worse after very stressful days. Depression also greatly effected it. Therefore even though I had definite symptoms of fatigue, they may not been the official, bona fide form of CFS. Instead, my chronic fatigue was most likely a "spinoff" of other problems I was presently suffering from such as my anxiety disorder and depression while developing agoraphobia. But none of this knowledge satisfied my main concern as to how to really get rid of this devastating problem, which alone was making my life miserable.
I proved to myself it was a part of my depression by noticing that when my moods would swing back toward anxiety, I would seem to have more energy. After all, even though high anxiety is not at all a positive energy, at least it was some form of energy nevertheless forcing me to get things done to distract me from the sheer terror of the highly undesirable thoughts and feelings I would often suffer from.
It was not until much later that I came across two books by Patrick Holford: Natural Highs: Feel Good All the Time and Optimum Nutrition for the Mind that I found out I was pyroluric and suffering from a common metabolic disorder known as pyroluria. There is actually a one in ten chance that you, the reader of this article could actually have at least a trace of this condition, however, not everyone reacts to it the same way. Strangely enough, some may actually have no depression, anxiety, or fatigue whatsoever, just a greater tendency toward contracting lung cancer. Anyway, I saw my entire life story written all over the symptoms related to pyroluria. After taking the zinc, B6, niacin, and many antioxidants regularly things got somewhat better. Now I feel much more emotionally balanced, however, it did take a few months and I'm still not 100% perfect. Trying to find complete wellness and maintain it is very tricky business.
My search never really comes to an end, there always seems to be something more I need to learn and use to improve my condition even further. I recently learned that chronic fatigue syndrome can also be a symptom of one or several endocrine gland disorders involving mainly the adrenal glands, sometimes the thyroid and even the pituitary and hypothalamus. Recent saliva and blood tests revealed that indeed I have adrenal and thyroid insufficiency which is a result of massive emotional stress starting from very early in life.
More information and movies related to the above article can be found here ==> Chronic Fatigue
Russell Symonds (Shaktivirya) has dedicated his life to finding wholeness and is living the "wholeness" lifestyle. His website, Science of Wholeness is a spiritual and nutritional information and research center dedicated to helping you find your keys to wholeness (everlasting joy, love, bliss, rejuvenation, and much, much more). Wholeness can be many things and his website not only discusses all the different aspects of wholeness but also all the different ways toward wholeness. There is no greater thing of beauty, value and joy as wholeness!
The rest of his original articles and his free online book, Science of Wholeness I & II can be found here ==> Wholeness Site Map
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By Denise NewmanTo Exercise Or Not To Exercise That Is The Question? Many people think why exercise? I'm not overweight, and I don't seem to have any physical health problems why should I worry about exercising. Well, it is true that as a whole we normally connect the benefits of exercise with physical health, but studies are teaching us that physical exercise has not only holistic health benefits, it also goes a long way to offer benefits to our mind as well. We all know it can be really difficult to get motivated to exercise, and being motivated is a big key to staying the course when it comes to an exercise routine.
Is Being Too Tired An Excuse Not To Exercise?
You're not alone if you are feeling mentally taxed from work, or family life and you are having a difficult time getting your mind wrapped around starting an exercise program. It does not help that a recent study showed that mental fatigue does limit your exercise endurance, and most of us have some form of mental fatigue on a regular basis. After a hard day on the job or taking care of the kids no one wants to grab their gym bag, and no it's not all in your head that lifting those heavy weights, riding your bike, jogging or walking on the treadmill seems a more difficult task after an exhausting day. A study done by physiologist S. M. Marcora at the University in Whales, documented that it is true that mental fatigue limits exercise tolerance. In the study volunteers who rode to the peak of exhaustion on days when they were mentally fatigued by computer work stated feeling more tired, and drained on the days they exercised vigorously. As an end result fifteen percent of the exercise group stopped their exercise routine sooner than on days when they were clear headed.
Why Exercise, What Are The Benefits Of Exercise?
Isn't it easier to question the complicated, time consuming, and rather burdensome activity of exercise rather than following through with it? It sure seem that way when it comes to the benefits of exercise. Exercise is not that enjoyable for many people, so of course you want to know if the benefits of exercise are worth really worth your time and effort. The answer is a resounding yes, exercise is full of benefits, but what if you are feeling too tired or too stressed to exercise?
Research shows that staying sedentary or inactive on days when you are feeling stressed and maxed out emotionally may not be the right response. When working out is the last thing on your mind, stop and consider that people who regularly exercise decreased their fatigue, and increased their energy and decreased their overall fatigue by upwards of 65 percent. So, on days when you are feeling mentally exhausted light to moderate exercise is advised over vigorous exercise to help relieve stress, sharpen your mental focus, and help you relax your body and mind naturally without the need of stimulants.
There is a scientific basis and studies that compare the benefits of exercise to products such as energy drinks and those that contain ingredients such as caffeine. So instead of grabbing that cup of coffee or a can of red bull on your lunch hour take a brisk walk, or pump some weights to increase your energy, and clear your mental fog and fatigue. You'll feel better all around as well, as gaining all the benefits of exercise such as lowering your blood pressure, help maintain your waist line, strengthening your muscles, improving cardiovascular health, as well as sleeping better too!
Adrenal Fatigue Do You Have It?
Extreme fatigue brought on by stress, anxiety, poor eating habits, hormonal imbalance and other factors can result in a condition known as adrenal fatigue. If you believe that your stress is beyond what is considered normal you may be experiencing a disorder known as adrenal fatigue. You may be suffering from adrenal fatigue if you are experiencing abnormal hair loss, fatigue, body aches, fatigue, nervousness, sleep disturbances, loss of sexual libido, exercise fatigue, and digestive problems. Adrenal fatigue and GABA supplements also known as Gamma-aminobutyric acid supplements have been used to help correct adrenal fatigue symptoms, and may help you feel better without resorting to a prescription with harmful side effects.
Source for this article can be found at: jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/106/3/857
Denise Newman is a registered nurse who believes in exercise and treating health conditions holistically. You can find more information on GABA supplenments also known as Gamma-aminobutyric acid supplements that correct imbalances in amino acids naturally and safely. Understanding Adrenal fatigue Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Learn more about GABA for Adrenal Fatigue or Learn more about how GABA Fat Loss Product works to increase your metabolism naturally without harmful stimulates.
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By Eva RingoldYour body is protecting you.
You have two small pyramid shaped glands that sit on top of your kidneys called the adrenals. Your adrenals are nicknamed your stress glands or your stress organs. The hormones they release can be triggered by emotional stress, chemical stress, or even physical trauma. The adrenals are a part of a feedback loop that helps control and respond to various functions of your body's hormonal and nervous systems.
These tiny adrenal glands are responsible for the funny feeling you get when you are scared by something. Just imagine the last time you were driving or riding in the car, when suddenly another car cuts in front of you. The brakes are slammed to avoid an accident and hopefully the near accident was avoided. That "wave" of fear and funny adrenaline rush you get is called your "fight or flight response". This is an instinctive reaction by your body for your protection. This reaction is designed to either get you out of a dangerous situation or allow you to deal with a dangerous situation for your ultimate survival.
There are an amazing number of hormones being released to prepare you for stressful scenarios whenever the body deems it necessary. The problem occurs when this protective mechanism that is designed for promoting survival is fooled into being active when no true stressful event is present. When you get scared by something there are certain physiological functions that occur such as an increased heart rate to pump more blood to your extremities in case you need to flee, your digestive system stops breaking down food to allow more energy for other areas of the body and you become more focused. All of these responses occur during the excited state of the nervous system.
Stress and belly fat explained...stay with me I'm going somewhere with this.
The true problem occurs when your nervous system is functioning in the excited state during a relaxed scenario. Here's a brief example. If you are like millions of people in this country and enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea to start your day or get you through a mid afternoon meeting, to battle your chronic fatigue, you are causing this false scenario to occur. Caffeine is a researched and known stimulant that triggers the same functions that are triggered when you are scared. The problem is after you ingest the caffeine your body is left in the excited state during a relaxed scenario.
Some of the physiological effects are an increased heart rate, changes to the digestive system and better mental focus. This is great to avoid being caught sleeping in a boring meeting but not so great for your body. You have just sent the signals to your adrenals and nervous system that some dangerous scenario is occurring. The body is very smart but also very dumb. It will do what it's told just like a computer. When the user tells a computer to delete something, that's exactly what the computer will do. The body can't differentiate between right and wrong when it comes to releasing hormones and reactions to stress. Physiologically the body cannot tell whether you were almost in a car accident or sitting in the weekly board room meeting.
I'm often asked, what is the best way to lose belly fat?
While you will increase abdominal strength doing exercises, doing them is not the best way to lose fat. The quickest way to lose is through stress management. Stress and belly fat have a very intimate relationship that you can easily abolish. You must eliminate or decrease the stressful influences on the body so the adrenals don't release stress related hormones on a continual basis. When these hormones are released they travel through the blood stream in search of problems to fix. When no true problem is discovered your body will begin to prepare itself for some impending stressful scenario that the body assumes must be on the way. After all why would there be a stress response if no stress were coming?
A hormone that you may be familiar with is called cortisol. Cortisol is released when the body gets information that it is in danger. Cortisol is responsible for controlling inflammation and swelling when there is a physical stress on the body. Once the adrenals release the cortisol because of increased stress, the hormone does not just disappear if no trauma is discovered.
When there is no dangerous situation the one protective mechanism is to use the cortisol to store fat around internal organs to protect them from a future risk. This is where the unwanted belly fat comes from. When this hormone is triggered with other protective hormones it will appear that the exercise and dieting you have so intensely committed yourself to are in vain. The problem stems from another source and that is the reason for the poor results with your weight loss protocol.
How can you decrease the emotional, chemical and environmental stress?
Obviously we all have things that concern us. The best way to deal with emotional stress is by using avenues like prayer or meditation to help balance your mental well being. Exercising is a great way to promote adrenal health. This can be doing something as simple as walking, yoga, swimming or more intense types of exercise. The emotional component of stress is extremely common in our society and can be the most damaging. This is because we can potentially think "bad" thoughts constantly and constantly keep our system in a position to release fat storing hormones.
The chemical and environmental stressors are somewhat easier to handle because we can all make better choices of the products we consume and use. Are you on a diet? I recommend avoiding diets and just adopt better habits and lifestyle changes over a period of time. You have higher chance of sticking with it if you're not overwhelmed by the sudden changes in your routine.
The easiest changes to make are centered at the foods you eat. Avoid foods made with preservatives, additives and other synthetic chemicals that trigger stress responses. Substances like alcohol, nicotine and caffeine all cause the adrenals to become active. Sugars and artificial sweeteners also contribute to causing elevated adrenal stress. Weight loss pills will only make your problem worse when the bottle is finished and should be avoided at all cost. A great and simple way to start is to decrease the amount of liquids you consume that contain caffeine and excess sugars. Then choose a time frame to start reducing certain foods from your diet that lead to adrenal stress.
Environmental stress can be reduced by making better choices around the home and using more "green" products. Using more organic friendly cleaning products and personal hygiene products is not only better for your body but may also help you with your weight loss protocol. It has been researched for over half a century that certain types of chemicals will cause your hormonal system to function less than optimum. Research has been performed by the FDA, EPA, CDC, major pharmaceutical companies and medical universities showing the effects of certain chemicals on your body. The fancy name for these problems is "endocrine disruptors". I suggest you just search the term on Google and read the information for yourself.
Belly fat is only one of the symptoms that you will experience when the adrenals are compromised or fatigued. The adrenals are also responsible for a few other key functions in your body. The adrenals do not only control inflammation and swelling.
You may have adrenal fatigue if you notice any of the following symptoms:
chronic fatigue, osteoporosis, trouble falling asleep or difficulty sleeping through the entire night, anxiety, constant worrying, high blood pressure, cravings, arthritis, difficult menstrual cycles, low sex drive, allergies and asthma.
One of the best ways to know if your adrenals are compromised is to have an Adrenal Stress Index performed. This is a saliva test that will measure your hormonal levels over a period of time. The test is non-invasive & can be performed wherever you are. Saliva is collected under real life conditions and there are no stressful blood draws and no gallon sized urine containers to carry around for 24 hours. With blood and urine testing, a number of borderline adrenal conditions are missed due to lack of sensitivity.
This is not the case with the Adrenal Stress Index because samples are taken within one circadian cycle and the more definitive free fraction is measured. Treatment options are expanded by 400-500% over blood test and urine test results.
Once you understand the mechanisms for many of the symptoms that are causing your difficulty, it becomes much easier to handle the battle of the bulge. Good luck to you and I trust this information will serve you well.
Dr. Evans practices in Marietta, GA Please visit his website: http://www.dtoxdoc.com for more information.
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