Stress, everybody has it, and your stress is not as bad as my stress! Just ask anyone. It is almost a contest when we start talking about the STRESS in our lives. So who is the winner? The one with the most stress or the least stress?
I like to say, it’s not stress but how we choose to respond to the stress! (Which is a blog for another day)
What effect does stress have on the body? We know that stress can cause the blood pressure to rise, can tighten muscles, and can increase urination and/or bowel movement. Stress uses up the nutrition in the body, and you feel like your “on” switch is always on. We call that sympathetic dominance. And we can get stuck as the exhausted person who is always on the go. The nervous system is always going, the brain will not shut off. We have found that minerals will help that person to calm down – to put the brakes on.
Stress also depletes the adrenal glands. Adrenal glands are the stress glands, meaning they respond to the stressful situations and when the adrenals get depleted there are many signs to alert us. Unfortunately, we have been well trained to ignore these signs until total exhaustion and breakdown occurs. Adrenal depletion happens over time but may start out with: tired but can’t fall asleep, high blood pressure, asthma and allergy issues, fatigue, and loss of libido. Dizziness when you go from a lying or sitting position to standing. Women may notice changes in menstrual cycles as well.
Then, there are physical signs like knee pain, heel pain, plantar fasciitis, and low back pain. We may even get physical therapy that seems to make it worse, or Chiropractic adjustments may help but only for a short time and the pains just keep coming back. And of course, the sign nobody likes…weight gain around the waist. Adrenal gland issues can complicate severe conditions like Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.
The adrenal glands are located on the top of the kidneys, and they are part of the endocrine system. The outer part of the adrenal gland is called the cortex and produces steroid hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone, and testosterone. The inner part of the adrenal gland is called the medulla and produces epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are commonly called adrenaline and noradrenaline”
The adrenals help with water regulation, blood sugar balance, inflammation and immune system activity and hormonal regulation.
To keep your adrenal glands healthy you need foods high in vitamin C (not ascorbic acid since that is not truly vitamin C), you need vitamin B complex and sodium. People with low adrenals will crave salt! Give me a margarita with EXTRA salt and hold the margarita!
Almost everyone in today’s world has excessive stress, and signs of adrenal depletion.
There are a few simple tests to determine adrenal exhaustion, one common test is Ragland’s Hypotension test where you take your blood pressure laying down then again immediately when standing. Blood pressure needs to go up by about 10 millimeters of mercury, if not you may have adrenal fatigue.
There are nutritional supplements, from Standard Process, and herbs that will feed and nourish the adrenals. An example is Drenamin – contains Cataplex C, Cataplex G and Drenatrophin PMG.
Herbs from MediHerb will help tonify and help your body adapt to stress such as Licorice Root, Rehmannia, Eleuthero, Korean ginseng and Ashwagandha.