Adrenal Exhaustion In Plain English and Simple Steps To Avoid It

What is a huge common factor of the following symptoms have? * Fatigue * Allergies * Bacterial overgrowth * Chronic Infections * Depression * Insomnia * Hpoglycemia * IBS * Autoimmune diseaseIf you guessed stress, you are absolutely right. Which is probably not a surprise to you. We hear this quite often, but the challenge is having an understanding of how our bodies are affected and what to do about it. Our focus is to have a “plain-English” understanding of what our bodies do to deal with this stress and how we can support them.How does our body deal with stress?AdrenalGlandFirst, lets address how our bodies deal with stress. Are you familiar with the Adrenal Glands? If not, they are two little glands that lie on top of your kidneys, and are the primary glands responsible for creating the hormones our body needs to deal with stress. But that is not all that these glands affect, they also have an effect on other very important hormones our body needs, such as ones needed for the kidneys, liver, ovaries, and testes. So as you can imagine, the better the adrenal glands work, the better our bodies work. There are two main hormones that I will need to talk a little bit about, so that we can have a basic understanding of how our bodies deal with stress. These hormones are cortisol and DHEA, and lets see how they work together.Cortisol is the primary hormone that directs immune function and is involved in nearly all aspects of how the body functions. When cortisol and DHEA work in harmony, the body is then considered to be in a “normal” state of adaptation to stress. In other words, when these two hormones have a normal ratio between them, then the body can handle stress effectively. When we are not able to maintain this harmony then we enter a stage of maladaptation to stress. The longer we stay in this maladaptation to stress, the more we comprimise the functions of the body. This can lead to hormone, immune and metabolic systems breakdown.There is one more hormone I must briefly introduce for its importance, it is pregnenolone. This hormone is the pre-cursor to all these hormones. The most important aspect of this hormone is how evenly it is being used by the body. Namely, this hormone ideally will be distributed in harmony to create all the hormones the body needs to function properly.However, whenever we find ourselves in a longer period of maladaptation to stress, that pregnenolone harmony/balance is affected. Basically, when we are constantly stressed, the body will direct more pregnenolone to the cycle of creating more cortisol to deal with the ongoing stress, which means that the other hormones are not getting their “fair share” of this pre-cursor, and as you might already imagine, if these other hormones do not get what they need, then they are not being created in their appropriate proportions, which affect body functions. The longer this cycle continues, the more our bodies are affected and particularly the higher the adrenals are affected. Adrenal fatigue can become the outcome of prolonged stress maladaptation.What contributes to this adrenal exhaustion?There are many factors that can potentially lead in adrenal exhaustion. These include tissue damage, inflamation, pain, blood sugar dysregulation, and/or mental and emotional stressors. All of which affect our cortisol production and ultimately “steal” from the other hormones that the adrenals need to produce for our bodies. I will go a bit more into these factors as the article continues.How can we support our body to help it stay in harmony (and avoid adrenal exhaustion)?I’ll break this down into several categories trusting it will help keep it simple. * Positive Lifelyle practices - This is the things that most of us have heard about. What can you do to help your body deal with stress? Exercise, go for a walk, meditate, do yoga, Tai Chi, visualization, and/or deep breathing. Doing these things support the body becoming more relaxed and deal with daily stressors more effectively. * Nutrition - Of course, you knew we couldn’t go without mentioning this area. I promise not to go too deep into it, but I will mention some significant factors. Since sugar levels and allergies affect the adrenal function, then it stands to reason, that these are important to consider. For example, having foods or drinks that raise or blood sugar levels, will cause the adrenals to make more cortisol to deal with these stressors, throwing off the harmony of the other hormone production, thus affecting our adrenal stress. Yes, this applies to alcohol as well, as a matter of fact, it converts to sugar faster than almost any other food and it goes directly into the blood stream.Allergies to foods such as gluten, causes the body to have an inflamatory response which again asks the body to produce the cortisol to help deal with this stress. You may be starting to see a pattern, the more stress, the more cortisol gets produced, the less other hormones get produced, the less effective the body becomes, and therefore, the more symptoms we begin to have…such as fatigue, and the others mentioned at the beginning of this article. * Supplementation - In this area, I must begin by reminding you that this article is not intended to cure, diagnose nor should it be taken as such. Please connect with the appropriate professional to help you make an informed and empowered decision.That being said, here are a few supplements that may support you: 1. Adrenal Support - Helps maintain normal adrenal function. Supports the body’s ability to regulate stress. Supports a healthy biological terrain. 2. Master Gland - Provides nutritional supplementation for all of the glands of the body. Supports energy metabolism. Provides protection to the glandular system. Contains essential minerals in an easily assimilated form. 3. DHEA (for women) (for men)- Improves energy and overall health. Helps the body in its efforts to cope with stress. May help improve quality of sleep. Supports joint function and mobility. Supports proper metabolism. May improve memory and mental alertness 4. Stress J - Promotes natural calming. Supports proper stress mechanism function. Aids proper digestion. Provides help for occassional stress relief. 5. Peace %26 Calming - And if you like essential oils, this one is an excellent one I’ve used. When diffused, it helps calm tensions and uplift the spirit, promoting relaxation and a deep sense of peace. When massaged on the bottoms of the feet, it can be a wonderful prelude to a peaceful night’s rest. Peace %26 Calming may be especially calming and comforting to young children after an overactive and stressful day. 6. Natures Cortisol Formula - Cortisol is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands in response to stress. It promotes the formation of glucose, which is used as fuel during stressful situations. Nature’s Cortisol Formula contains Relora to help the body manage stress and maintain cortisol levels already within the normal range. * Mental/Emotional - In this area, there are soooooooo…. many different things that you can do. However, I will mention some of the most recent and highly effective technologies that have been quite impressive to me.1. Voice Repatterning - This is a technology that uses your own voice to identify stress patterns and their underlying mental/emotional roots, then feeds back the body a repatterning balancing frequency according to what your body is willing to receive. The result, is a diminished/eliminated stress pattern at a sub-conscious level, and the best part for me is that I didn’t even have to re-experience the stressor to address it. It is really quite an amazing technology. If you want to find out where you can experience this technology, contact us and we’ll help you find a practitioner near you. 2. Therapies - There are many emotional/mental therapies available. Any that help you reduce your stress/charge on any level can be quite useful to the body’s ability to handle overall stress, thus allowing the body to fuction in harmony. 3. Get a coach - Every professional that has been successful in their area of expertise has a coach. Why do you think that is? It helps them stay focused on what they want to accomplish and relieves them of the added stressors through the support they get from their coaches. Don’t know where to get a good one? Contact us and we’ll help you find one. (To view this article with direct links on the web visit http://www.bodymindsuccess.com/blog/adrenal-exhaustion-in-plain-english-and-simple-steps-to-avoid-it/)

Keep Your Immune System Strong With Herbs

There have been numerous improvements to our quality of life over the last century with advancements in science and medicine. Most families in America have access to healthcare and tools which promise improved health and well being. Even with the benefits and comforts that living in the modern world provides, chronic and preventable illnesses continue to occur. The fast-paced and high-stress lifestyle that many Americans live impacts their health in a variety of ways. We face more health challenges today than ever before, which makes it more crucial than ever to have a balanced immune system, something that many Americans lack. Although the US leads the world in quality of healthcare, an increasing number of people are suffering or dying from preventable health problems. The environment, lifestyle, genetics, age, and antibiotic resistance are just some of the factors that are to blame for this. Thankfully, boosting immune power can counteract the negative effects of these factors on health.Most Americans do not sleep enough, do not eat right, and do not exercise like they should. Many of the most common health problems people suffer from today are a result of lifestyle. These problems include hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, depression, and unbalanced immune function. Despite this fact, Americans continue to take part in poor health habits and then give up billions of dollars in prescriptions, doctor’s visits, and surgeries each year when they encounter an illness. A sedentary lifestyle is a major cause for disease, as inactivity and obesity are both potential risks. Exercising as little as three times a week has been proven to enhance well-being and improve health. A lack of exercise can also contribute to stress, which we all experience. However, a healthy immune system can make our bodies more capable of withstanding the effects of stress. If immune systems can be balanced, Americans may be better able to withstand the potential health problems that living in the modern world brings. We must take into account the fact that more health problems can arise as we age. Older individuals are much more susceptible to disordered immune systems, as the progressive immune system dysfunction that coincides with aging has been shown to influence an increasing number of age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, and late-life lymphoma. With this knowledge, we should want to supplement and strengthen our immune systems, especially as they get older. We can work to avoid the occurrence of autoimmune disorders and cancers that so commonly occur as we age by keeping our immune systems strong and functioning at optimum levels. A lot of the potential health problems that we are facing today can be traced back to the environment. One environmental problem is the result of toxic chemicals, as the widespread use of pesticides and increase of benzene and other pollutants in the atmosphere are leading to cancer and other reproductive health problems such as endometriosis and fertility issues. The chemical pollutants in our air, food, and water have been linked to asthma, allergies, autoimmune disorders and weakened immunity. Additionally, we are being exposed to increasing amounts of UV radiation, with occurrences of skin cancer continually rising. Researchers believe that one of the main reasons for the increasing number of melanomas may be due to people spending more time in the sun as well as artificial sources of UV radiation. There are many herbs available to help boost the immune system and detox the body to help one keep a strong immune system.

Immune Supplements Can Prevent and Cure Most of So-Called Incurable Diseases

From early 1970, existence of close relationship between the nutritional status and capabilities of immune response to pathogens has been accepted. Early work has shown that a protein-energy malnutrition, significantly affected the immune response, thereby increasing the risk of infection and the mortality rate of patients suffering from chronic diseases, cancer, influenza, tuberculosis, etc. More recently, it also appeared that obesity interfered with weak immune system. That is, people who have weakened immune system tend to gain weight more easily.The immune system is a collection of mechanisms within an organism that makes it possible to identify and kill pathogens and tumor cells. It acts as a defense mechanism against pathogens (can cause diseases), such as virus, bacteria, parasites, cancer cells, some poisonous particles. Without the immune system, the body cannot defend itself against aggression.Immunity and supplementsMany studies have confirmed that certain vitamins and supplements (immune supplements) are capable not only of boosting the immune system, but of also fighting against its aging.Malnutrition and Immune Function - It has long been known that malnourished people have a higher risk of contracting infectious diseases because of an inadequate immune response. A malnourished immune system not only cannot protect your body, but also can attacks harmless substances. It is a vicious circle. The consequences of certain diseases, including HIV, cancer and tuberculosis, are all more pejorative when your immune system is weak. A lack of protein has a negative effect on the various components of the immune system. Other nutrients and immunity - Some fatty acids (omega 3 for instance) normally found in fish oils have an effect on immune function, particularly EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), reduce inflammation by modulating the production of cytokines by T cells. The acid alpha-lipoic, an antioxidant much studied in HIV infection seems to be able to regenerate vitamins C and E, increasing their antioxidant effect. Amino acids, particularly arginine and glutamine, play an important role in immunity. The glutamine is involved in the maintenance of the intestinal wall, and thereby prevents the migration of infectious organisms in the blood stream.Vitamins and Immunity - various studies have highlighted among people living with HIV /AIDS blood low concentrations of certain vitamins, especially vitamins A, B6, B12, C, E and folate.Vitamin A - The deficit in vitamin A deteriorating function of epithelial cells, essential in maintaining the structure of tissues. On this same vitamin A depend the production of B cells and T.B Complex - It has been demonstrated that vitamin B12 improves the rate of T cells and NK cell activity in patients with a deficiency of this vitamin. Vitamin B12 and folate are both involved in the production of genetic material. The deficiency in vitamin B6 may occur following the administration of certain drugs such as isonicotinyl hydrazine (for tuberculosis). It seems to affect the function of T cells and the ability of NK cells to kill infectious agents among HIV-positive patients. The deficiency in vitamin B6 has also been associated with an increased risk of certain cancers.Vitamin C - Deficiency of vitamin C impairs phagocyte function and cellular immunity (Chandra, 1986). This includes inhibition of neutrophil mobility, which, in turn, inhibits the formation of inflammatory reactions. Studies of mega dose vitamin C supplementation in healthy individuals have found the supplement to bolster both cellular and humoral immunityVitamin E - Vitamin E plays a key role as antioxidant in cell membranes. This earned him to be regarded as a nutrient “anti-viral. The combined intake of vitamins A and E in animals has shown an improvement of the function of neutrophils to destroy infectious agents.The numerous and complex relationships between food, nutrients and specific immune system are an interesting field of study in the field of biomedical research. People with a good diet will be better prepared immunologically to fight against many modern diseases such as cancer, AIDS and tuberculosis. Several micro-nutrients have significant roles in the functions of the immune system. It is clear that maintaining a good nutritional status and adequate reserve of micronutrients in the body allows an effective immune response to opportunistic infections. However, it is very difficult to intake all those essential nutrients in a regular diet. At VitalFoodStore.com, we offer a wide variety of natural products for your health. Whether you need natural immune supplement to boost your immune system, vitamin supplements, anti aging supplements, natural herbal remedies, we can provide you with what you are looking for. Visit our immune supplements website and save 5%.

Acai Berry Juice

Acai berries and acai berry juice products are some of latest supplements to enter the health food category as a superfood. Residents and natives of Brazil are very familiar with this berry and its products. Residents have been enjoying acai fruit juice beverages and bowls for some time. Once you have tried the juice you will probably find ways to add it to you favorite smoothie or add it to recipes. Acai freeze dried powder actually goes well in yogurt. The flavor is something to be experienced and it tastes like blueberries with a touch of chocolate and is not over powering.The locals and natives of the Amazon rain forest of Brazil are familiar with acai berries and have been using them in their diet both as a staple and for making beverages. The powerful little berries grow to be about the size of a blueberry and look much like them in color, size and shape. They grow on the acai palm in swampy floodplains from where they are harvested.Acai berries have one of the highest ORAC ( Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity ) which is a measurement of antioxidant capacity of foods or supplements. Due to the benefits and its ORAC value these berries have gone up in price in a short time.Many people may see improvements by using acai berry products or acai pills including those dealing with various illnesses. Athletic trainers know the importance of antioxidants and supplements that supply protein and lasting energy.Health issues that a person has may seek relief by using acai berry products for anti inflammatory, antioxidant and improving immune function. The conditions that people may be seeking relief are, detoxing and cleansing, high blood pressure, heart issues, cholesterol reduction, losing weigh inflammation, arthritis and dry or oily skin conditions.What makes these berries so amazing. They are loaded with protein and fiber and contain minerals such as phosphorus, iron, calcium and potassium. Also contains B1, B2, B3, C and E essential fatty acids Omega 6 and Omega 9 respectively Linoleic acid and Oleic acid which research indicates helps maintain normal cholesterol levels. When you looking to buy acai berry juice look for pure organic products. Some products claim to be acai berry juice but are actually a mix of other juices such as blueberry, mango, or pomegranate juice.

Plastics are common household material for different purposes, from food storage, baby bottles and even toys. Plastic is not an inert substance as its manufacturers would like you to believe. It contains chemicals like BPA, used to strengthen some plastics and phthalates to soften others. This harmful substance has a capability to mimic hormones in your body. Here are some of the alarming effects of being exposed with this kind of substances: • Structural damage to your brain • Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, and impaired learning • Increased fat formation and risk of obesity • Altered immune function • Early puberty, stimulation of mammary gland development, disrupted reproductive cycles, and ovarian dysfunction • Changes in gender-specific behavior, and abnormal sexual behavior • Stimulation of prostate cancer cells • Increased prostate size, and decreased sperm production Knowing these effects leads us to a solution, cut down the plastic exposure. And here are some natural health tips from Dr. Mercola to reduce plastic in our lives. 1. Boycott plastic shopping bags. Use reusable canvas or cloth varieties instead. (This also applies to the plastic produce bags in the grocery store.) 2. Don’t buy bottled water. Filter your own using a reverse-osmosis filter and put it in a glass bottle. I am going to be helping you in this area soon as my team is just finishing up a glass water bottle that you can use to carry around with you. It is covered with a neoprene sleeve to protect it from breaking and has a easy lid to drink from and is wide enough so you can easily clean the bottle. I hope to have them available in the fall as they are at the factory right now being produced. 3. Avoid using plastic cups, utensils, dishware and food storage containers. If you get a beverage while on-the-go, bring your own cup with you. 4. Buy toys made of natural fabrics instead of plastic. 5. Look for products that use minimal packaging, or buy in bulk. 6. Give up plastic wrap (and never use it to cover your food while it’s heating). 7. Avoid buying canned foods and drinks (the can linings contain plastic chemicals). Try your hand at canning fresh produce at home instead.

Determine Whether Vitamin A Enhances Immune Response

Several approaches have been taken in an attempt to determine whether Vitamin A supplementation enhances immune response and resistance or recovery from infection. In some investigations, researchers have attempted to correlate plasma concentrations of beta-carotene or retinol with immune response or susceptibility to infection. One limitation of this approach is related to the fact that plasma concentrations may have depressed plasma retinol levels as a result of disease. Therefore, it is not possible to establish whether low plasma retinol levels resulted in suppressed immune response or if plasma retinol levels decreased in response to disease or infection. Another approach used is to supplement the diet with retinol precursors and examine immune response at a later time point. This approach may be useful in examining the particular aspects of immunity that may be altered by supplementation, but additional studies are necessary to determine whether these effects have clinical significance in terms of disease outcome. Vitamin A has been fairly well studied in terms of its immunomodulatory effects, and we will review the evidence from randomized controlled trials as well as potential mechanisms of action. Vitamin A supplementation may afford some protection from infection in malnourished individuals, but the potential benefits of supplementation in normal wellnourished individuals remain to be established. There is evidence from several studies that suggests that vitamin A deficiency is associated with depressed immune function and an impaired response to influenza infection. Supplementation of vitamin A is associated with a reduction of mortality and morbidity among certain populations. It appears that populations suffering from malnutrition may benefit from adequate or additional vitamin A supplementation. However, it is less clear if normal, healthy, well-nourished individuals will benefit from additional supplementation with respect to enhanced immunity. The results from several studies involving beta-carotene supplementation in the diet of healthy individuals suggest that certain aspects of innate immunity, such as NK cytotoxicity and monocyte production of the cytokine TNFcx, are enhanced. It appears that lymphocyte subsets or the lymphocyte response to mitogens are not altered. In addition, one study of healthy older individuals found that vitamin A supplementation was associated with a reduction in the number of T lymphocytes. Whether these observed changes of immune function in response to supplementation actually result in reduced susceptibility to infection in healthy individuals is not well established. The results from one study demonstrated no association between vitamin A supplementation and incidence of bacterial infection. we are not aware of any long-term, randomized clinical trials that have evaluated the incidence of viral infection in response to supplementation with vitamin A alone. However, several studies have examined the possibility that supplementation with several multivitamins and or trace elements such as zinc, may alter susceptibility to infection. In general, the findings from these studies show no protection from infection in association with vitamin intake, but a slight decrease in the incidence of infection in those individuals consuming supplemental trace elements such as zinc and selenium. At this time, the potential benefits of vitamin A supplementation for healthy well-nourished individuals regarding susceptibility to infection remain to be established. A high beta-carotene intake has also been associated with a reduced risk of cancer. Earlier epidemiological studies suggested a high natural (fruits and vegetables) intake of beta-carotene was associated with reduced risk of cancer. However, more recent studies have not observed any benefit of beta-carotene intake on incidence of cancer and two studies actually observed an increased incidence of lung cancer in those participants consuming beta-carotene supplements. The presence of other carotenoids in fruits and vegetables has been suggested to be the protective factor in regards to cancer incidence in the early epidemiological studies based on the findings from these recent studies, dietary supplementation with high doses of synthetic beta-carotene may be contraindicated for smokers. As a reminder, it has been known for some time that a high intake of vitamin A results in adverse effects (neurologic, dermatologic, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, birth defects) and the results from the most recent studies suggest a potential risk of high doses of synthetic beta-carotene in certain populations. At this time it is probably safest to follow the National Cancer Institute recommendations that suggest five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Immune Effects and Exercise We are currently aware of only one study that has examined whether vitamin A supplementation is associated with a reduced incidence of infection in athletes. Several studies have shown that the risk of upper respiratory infection is increased following competition in marathons or ultramarathons However, vitamin A supplementation before marathon competition did not reduce the incidence of infection in the postrace period. Therefore, to our knowledge, vitamin A supplementation has not been associated with enhanced resistance to infection in healthy athletes.

Diet your way to a longer life?

Lately, people are searching for the fountain of youth, but not with facelifts or Botox. They are turning to their diet to help them live longer. Research on monkeys, rodents, fish and even insects has shown that if calories are cut below what the animal would normally choose to eat, they actually live longer.A recent study at Tufts University shows that people who restrict their calories do not just live longer, they are healthier. In an animal study conducted, the animals actually aged biologically slower. Their hair has gone gray less quickly. Their hormones have stayed at their youthful profile and their immune function has stayed good.So what is the theory behind this research?With fewer calories, cells throughout the body appear to die more slowly and repair themselves more easily. Research on fruit flies and rats has shown that a 30% reduction in calories can lead to 30% longer life, according to the National Institute of Health.There are 2 simple “drug-free” ways to help you to maintain a moderate diet and keeping your weight down:1. Eat slowly. Or take a break in the middle of your meal, go outside and have a fruit juice. Theory: By the time you return to your meal, you will find that you are no longer hungry. It takes some time for the body to digest the food and send the signals to the brain that you are already satiated. Giving your body enough time to make this neural connection will prevent you from overeating.2. Wear a shapewear.Theory: Shapewear are specialized medical grade garments that compresses at a particular pressure that is optimal to blood and lymph flow.Shapewear meant for cellulite purposes may resemble a pair of undergarments or a pair of tights, and will help to reduce cellulite by improving lymphatic drainage and eliminating water retention. Shapewear that compresses around the abdomen can also act as an “appetite suppressant” as you are less likely to feel hungry.So is there really a fountain of youth in eating less? Well, there certainly appears to be a small fountain. Given the genes we have got, we can certainly do our best to have a healthier lifestyle by choosing to eat wisely. As the old saying goes, “you are what you eat”. So it is really up to us to choose to eat well and live well.

Health Benefits Of The Herb Feverfew

Feverfew is often used in the treatment of migraines and fever, but it has also long been used as an anti-inflammatory agent. It is thought to be similar to aspirin in the way it reduces inflammation. Aspirin works by blocking the production of prostaglandins, which cause inflammation in the body, among many other functions. Similar to aspiring and other anti-inflammatory drugs, feverfew works to inhibit the production of prostaglandins, which reduces inflammatory reactions that occur in the body. Not only may feverfew help with inflammation in cases of pain, but it also helps in cases of arthritis.One of the oldest diseases known to man, arthritis involves one or more of the movable joints in the body. Arthritis is a general name for a variety of diseases that are characterized by joint pain and inflammation. Striking both the young and old, it is an extremely debilitating condition with symptoms ranging from mild aching to severe pain and deformity. Inflammation can often be found along with the pain, as well as morning stiffness, swelling, and tenderness being common in most cases. Arthritis has been shown to either appear suddenly, or come on slowly over an extended period of time. Diet has been found to be a primary factor in most cases, although some types of arthritis may be inherited or the result of a viral infection. Conventional treatment of arthritis has involved the use of NSAIDs to help with inflammation and pain, but they do nothing to heal the problem. They may also inhibit the body’s own natural immune function as they temporarily eliminate symptoms. Some evidence has even shown that the use of anti-inflammatory medication for a long time may lead to further joint damage and serious side effects such as gastrointestinal, kidney, and liver problems. Because of this, many people are finding relief with natural healing. Although there are a variety of types of arthritis, the three most common forms are osteoarthritis, in which the joints wear out because of injury or normal wear and tear; rheumatoid arthritis, which is a condition that results from the immune system attacking the body tissue; and gout, which is painful inflammation that results because of excess uric acid in the blood. Rheumatoid arthritis has been found to benefit the most from the use of feverfew. Feverfew may be useful due to its ability to inhibit the formation of inflammation-promoting compounds, with properties similar to NSAIDs but with less potential complications and side effects. Along with the treatment of arthritis, feverfew has many other possible uses. Included in these uses are: fever, high blood pressure, insect repellent, psoriasis and eczema, menstrual cramps, allergies, digestion, as a sedative to relax and induce sleep, and for its antimicrobial properties to inhibit the growth of staphylococcus aureus and other bacteria. Because the parthenolide content of feverfew plants vary dramatically depending on the soil and location of cultivation, it is necessary to buy commercial products from reputable companies who have high quality control measures in place. The best preparations are ones using as little heat as possible, since parthenolide is highly unstable when in contact with high heat, such as freeze-drying. Freeze-dried capsules are extremely easy to use and can easily be found in many health food stores.

Adrenal Exhaustion In Plain English and Simple Steps To Avoid It

What is a huge common factor of the following symptoms have? * Fatigue * Allergies * Bacterial overgrowth * Chronic Infections * Depression * Insomnia * Hpoglycemia * IBS * Autoimmune diseaseIf you guessed stress, you are absolutely right. Which is probably not a surprise to you. We hear this quite often, but the challenge is having an understanding of how our bodies are affected and what to do about it. Our focus is to have a “plain-English” understanding of what our bodies do to deal with this stress and how we can support them.How does our body deal with stress?AdrenalGlandFirst, lets address how our bodies deal with stress. Are you familiar with the Adrenal Glands? If not, they are two little glands that lie on top of your kidneys, and are the primary glands responsible for creating the hormones our body needs to deal with stress. But that is not all that these glands affect, they also have an effect on other very important hormones our body needs, such as ones needed for the kidneys, liver, ovaries, and testes. So as you can imagine, the better the adrenal glands work, the better our bodies work. There are two main hormones that I will need to talk a little bit about, so that we can have a basic understanding of how our bodies deal with stress. These hormones are cortisol and DHEA, and lets see how they work together.Cortisol is the primary hormone that directs immune function and is involved in nearly all aspects of how the body functions. When cortisol and DHEA work in harmony, the body is then considered to be in a “normal” state of adaptation to stress. In other words, when these two hormones have a normal ratio between them, then the body can handle stress effectively. When we are not able to maintain this harmony then we enter a stage of maladaptation to stress. The longer we stay in this maladaptation to stress, the more we comprimise the functions of the body. This can lead to hormone, immune and metabolic systems breakdown.There is one more hormone I must briefly introduce for its importance, it is pregnenolone. This hormone is the pre-cursor to all these hormones. The most important aspect of this hormone is how evenly it is being used by the body. Namely, this hormone ideally will be distributed in harmony to create all the hormones the body needs to function properly.However, whenever we find ourselves in a longer period of maladaptation to stress, that pregnenolone harmony/balance is affected. Basically, when we are constantly stressed, the body will direct more pregnenolone to the cycle of creating more cortisol to deal with the ongoing stress, which means that the other hormones are not getting their “fair share” of this pre-cursor, and as you might already imagine, if these other hormones do not get what they need, then they are not being created in their appropriate proportions, which affect body functions. The longer this cycle continues, the more our bodies are affected and particularly the higher the adrenals are affected. Adrenal fatigue can become the outcome of prolonged stress maladaptation.What contributes to this adrenal exhaustion?There are many factors that can potentially lead in adrenal exhaustion. These include tissue damage, inflamation, pain, blood sugar dysregulation, and/or mental and emotional stressors. All of which affect our cortisol production and ultimately “steal” from the other hormones that the adrenals need to produce for our bodies. I will go a bit more into these factors as the article continues.How can we support our body to help it stay in harmony (and avoid adrenal exhaustion)?I’ll break this down into several categories trusting it will help keep it simple. * Positive Lifelyle practices - This is the things that most of us have heard about. What can you do to help your body deal with stress? Exercise, go for a walk, meditate, do yoga, Tai Chi, visualization, and/or deep breathing. Doing these things support the body becoming more relaxed and deal with daily stressors more effectively. * Nutrition - Of course, you knew we couldn’t go without mentioning this area. I promise not to go too deep into it, but I will mention some significant factors. Since sugar levels and allergies affect the adrenal function, then it stands to reason, that these are important to consider. For example, having foods or drinks that raise or blood sugar levels, will cause the adrenals to make more cortisol to deal with these stressors, throwing off the harmony of the other hormone production, thus affecting our adrenal stress. Yes, this applies to alcohol as well, as a matter of fact, it converts to sugar faster than almost any other food and it goes directly into the blood stream.Allergies to foods such as gluten, causes the body to have an inflamatory response which again asks the body to produce the cortisol to help deal with this stress. You may be starting to see a pattern, the more stress, the more cortisol gets produced, the less other hormones get produced, the less effective the body becomes, and therefore, the more symptoms we begin to have…such as fatigue, and the others mentioned at the beginning of this article. * Supplementation - In this area, I must begin by reminding you that this article is not intended to cure, diagnose nor should it be taken as such. Please connect with the appropriate professional to help you make an informed and empowered decision.That being said, here are a few supplements that may support you: 1. Adrenal Support - Helps maintain normal adrenal function. Supports the body’s ability to regulate stress. Supports a healthy biological terrain. 2. Master Gland - Provides nutritional supplementation for all of the glands of the body. Supports energy metabolism. Provides protection to the glandular system. Contains essential minerals in an easily assimilated form. 3. DHEA (for women) (for men)- Improves energy and overall health. Helps the body in its efforts to cope with stress. May help improve quality of sleep. Supports joint function and mobility. Supports proper metabolism. May improve memory and mental alertness 4. Stress J - Promotes natural calming. Supports proper stress mechanism function. Aids proper digestion. Provides help for occassional stress relief. 5. Peace %26 Calming - And if you like essential oils, this one is an excellent one I’ve used. When diffused, it helps calm tensions and uplift the spirit, promoting relaxation and a deep sense of peace. When massaged on the bottoms of the feet, it can be a wonderful prelude to a peaceful night’s rest. Peace %26 Calming may be especially calming and comforting to young children after an overactive and stressful day. 6. Natures Cortisol Formula - Cortisol is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands in response to stress. It promotes the formation of glucose, which is used as fuel during stressful situations. Nature’s Cortisol Formula contains Relora to help the body manage stress and maintain cortisol levels already within the normal range. * Mental/Emotional - In this area, there are soooooooo…. many different things that you can do. However, I will mention some of the most recent and highly effective technologies that have been quite impressive to me.1. Voice Repatterning - This is a technology that uses your own voice to identify stress patterns and their underlying mental/emotional roots, then feeds back the body a repatterning balancing frequency according to what your body is willing to receive. The result, is a diminished/eliminated stress pattern at a sub-conscious level, and the best part for me is that I didn’t even have to re-experience the stressor to address it. It is really quite an amazing technology. If you want to find out where you can experience this technology, contact us and we’ll help you find a practitioner near you. 2. Therapies - There are many emotional/mental therapies available. Any that help you reduce your stress/charge on any level can be quite useful to the body’s ability to handle overall stress, thus allowing the body to fuction in harmony. 3. Get a coach - Every professional that has been successful in their area of expertise has a coach. Why do you think that is? It helps them stay focused on what they want to accomplish and relieves them of the added stressors through the support they get from their coaches. Don’t know where to get a good one? Contact us and we’ll help you find one. (To view this article with direct links on the web visit http://www.bodymindsuccess.com/blog/adrenal-exhaustion-in-plain-english-and-simple-steps-to-avoid-it/)

Keep Your Immune System Strong With Herbs

There have been numerous improvements to our quality of life over the last century with advancements in science and medicine. Most families in America have access to healthcare and tools which promise improved health and well being. Even with the benefits and comforts that living in the modern world provides, chronic and preventable illnesses continue to occur. The fast-paced and high-stress lifestyle that many Americans live impacts their health in a variety of ways. We face more health challenges today than ever before, which makes it more crucial than ever to have a balanced immune system, something that many Americans lack. Although the US leads the world in quality of healthcare, an increasing number of people are suffering or dying from preventable health problems. The environment, lifestyle, genetics, age, and antibiotic resistance are just some of the factors that are to blame for this. Thankfully, boosting immune power can counteract the negative effects of these factors on health.Most Americans do not sleep enough, do not eat right, and do not exercise like they should. Many of the most common health problems people suffer from today are a result of lifestyle. These problems include hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, depression, and unbalanced immune function. Despite this fact, Americans continue to take part in poor health habits and then give up billions of dollars in prescriptions, doctor’s visits, and surgeries each year when they encounter an illness. A sedentary lifestyle is a major cause for disease, as inactivity and obesity are both potential risks. Exercising as little as three times a week has been proven to enhance well-being and improve health. A lack of exercise can also contribute to stress, which we all experience. However, a healthy immune system can make our bodies more capable of withstanding the effects of stress. If immune systems can be balanced, Americans may be better able to withstand the potential health problems that living in the modern world brings. We must take into account the fact that more health problems can arise as we age. Older individuals are much more susceptible to disordered immune systems, as the progressive immune system dysfunction that coincides with aging has been shown to influence an increasing number of age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, and late-life lymphoma. With this knowledge, we should want to supplement and strengthen our immune systems, especially as they get older. We can work to avoid the occurrence of autoimmune disorders and cancers that so commonly occur as we age by keeping our immune systems strong and functioning at optimum levels. A lot of the potential health problems that we are facing today can be traced back to the environment. One environmental problem is the result of toxic chemicals, as the widespread use of pesticides and increase of benzene and other pollutants in the atmosphere are leading to cancer and other reproductive health problems such as endometriosis and fertility issues. The chemical pollutants in our air, food, and water have been linked to asthma, allergies, autoimmune disorders and weakened immunity. Additionally, we are being exposed to increasing amounts of UV radiation, with occurrences of skin cancer continually rising. Researchers believe that one of the main reasons for the increasing number of melanomas may be due to people spending more time in the sun as well as artificial sources of UV radiation. There are many herbs available to help boost the immune system and detox the body to help one keep a strong immune system.