If you asked me to name one of the most important nutritional issues that many doctors overlook, it would without a doubt be adrenal gland dysfunction.
How can you quickly and accurately determine if you have an adrenal problem that needs to be addressed?
Use the following key questions, they don’t have to be all positive, you are just looking for a positive pattern.
Ask these questions:
1. If you go too long without eating does it bother you? Do you get headaches, nausea, irritability, weakness, etc? (An indication your adrenal hormones are not keeping the blood sugar up via gluconeogenesis).
2. How would you rate your energy level? Do you feel it is as good as it should be?
3. Do you have a sweet tooth?
4. Do you have trouble getting to or staying asleep?
5. What different type of adrenal stimulants do you consume and how much – coffee, sodas, tobacco, alcohol?
6. Do you usually wear sunglasses when outside?
7. Do you occasionally get light headed or see stars when you get up from the floor or hop out of bed quickly?
8. How much stress do you feel you are under? Are you a Type A or a perfectionist?
If you answered multiple yes answers to the above questions, suspect you may have some degree of adrenal imbalance. It could be anything from elevated cortisol levels part of the day, to all of the day or in some exhausted individuals low cortisol at all times.
When your adrenals are exhausted they no longer have the precursor ability to manufacture adequate levels of cortisol. This includes the cortical hormones like aldosterone, DHEA, estrogen precursors, and cortisol. Typically in men the DHEA and the Testosterone are out of balance, and in the ladies, the Estradiol and Progesterone have been effected downstream. Not a pretty picture.
As a result, many people experience headaches, spine pain, joint pain, or some sort of inflammatory condition.
So, what do you do?
First, you need to change your lifestyle! No more adrenal stimulants and no sugar, heavy carbs, etc. You need to graze (healthy meals and snacks) and exercise gently and regularly, as well as spending some time outside in the sunlight each day.
You can request from your physician to run a saliva hormone test, always start with the Comprehensive Hormone Panel that does 4 cortisol levels, DHEA, Testosterone, Estradiol and Progesterone.
Lastly, start supporting your adrenal gland with proper nutrition. Be sure to take a good multi-vitamin, Omega 3’s, Vitamin D3 and whatever your doctor finds low from the saliva hormone test.
To Your Health
Humble Finsand, DC
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