TheAdrenalGlandsWomansHealthIssuespart2ofa5partseries

TodaysarticleisabouttheAdrenalglands.Iwilldiscusswhattheydo,howtheywork,whatgoeswrong
withthem,andwhatyoucandotoimprovetheirfunctionandyourhealth.
Thesehardworkingglandshavemanyimportantfunctionsandareoftenexhaustedoroverstimulated.The
glandproducesthefollowinghormones:Cortisol,Corticosterone,DHEA,Aldosterone,Pregnenolone,
Estrogen,Progesterone,Testosterone,Androstenedione,EpinephrineandNorepinephrine
ThefollowingconditionsareverycommonandareoftenduetoAdrenalGlanddysfunction.
1InsomniaYoucannotfallasleepduetohighCortisoloryoucannotstayasleepduetolowCortisol.High
CortisolatnightisanindicationofadysregualtedcommunicationbetweentheHypathalmusandthe
Adrenals.Cortisolshouldbelowatnight,anditisverystimulating.Thisispartofwhysomepeopleare
nightowls.LowCortisolcausesustowakeupinthemiddleofthenight.WeuseCortisolwhilesleepingto
convertstoredsugar(glycogen)tousablesugar(glucose).OurbrainsneedCortisolwhilewesleep,because
thebrainneversleeps.IfwerunoutofCortisol,wecanusealternativeAdrenalhormoneslike
Epinephrine/Adrenaline.Theproblemisthealternativehormonesareverystimulating,andtheywakeus
up,orcauselightsleepthatisnotasrestfulasdeepsleepstates.Thisiswhysomepeoplewakeupandfeel
liketheydidnotgetagoodnightssleep.
2LowBloodSugar/HypoglycemiaLowcortisolcancauselowbloodsugar,becausecortisolconvertsstored
bloodsugartousablebloodsugar.Betweenmeals,ifyourCortisolislow,theconversiondoesnottake
place,andlowbloodsugarsymptomsoccur:fatigue,feelinglightheadedoraggravated,cravingsweets,
afternoonfatigue,gettingdizzywhenyoustandup.Aftersleeping,whichisafast,itisamistaketomiss
breakfastandrestorebloodsugar.Ifyoumissbreakfast,andyouhavelowCortisol,youwillexperience
hypoglycemicsymptoms.Ifyoueatahighcarbohydratesnackwithcoffee,youwilloverstimulatethe
Adrenals,andcausesbloodsugartospikeandthenbequicklyreduced,whichleadstohypoglycemic
symptoms:fatigue,cravingsweets,feelingcranky,andfunctioningatalowlevelmentally.Someofourco
workersorteachersarehypoglycemicandtheirmoodandeffectivenessifdeterminedbythisphenomena.
3InflamationCortisolcanreduceinflammationduetoinjuryorinfections,byreducingthebodys
productionofinflammatorycytokines.Weproducecortisolwhenwegetinjuriesandinfections,forshort
termrelief.Chronicinfectionsandinjurycanwearouttheadrenals.ChronicArthritiscanexhaustthe
Adrenalsduetotheconstantpain.Arthritisisatreatablecondition,andisoftentheresultofallergiesand
toxicdepositsmadeintothejoints.SometimeArthritisisundiagnosedLymedisease.LowCortisolcannot
dealwithchronicinflammation,andchronicinflammationleadstolowCortisol.
4High/LowBloodPressureAldosteroneisamineralcorticoidhormonewhichhelpsregulate
Sodium/Potasiumlevels.AldosteroneworkswiththeKidneysandlungstoregulatebloodpressure.
Aldosteroneincreasessodiumretention,increasespotsassiumexcretion,increaseswaterrentention,
increasesextracellularvolume,enhancesthesodium/potassiumpumpactivityinthecells,andhelpsbring
onlinethesodiumandpotassiumchannelsintheluminalmembraneinthekidneys.Allthesefunctions
raisesbloodvolumeandthereforeincreasesbloodprsssure.LowbloodpressurecanbeduetoAldosterone
deficiency,andhighbloodpressurecanbeduetoexcessAldosterone.Aldosteronealoshasaneffectonthe
constrictionanddilationofsmallarteries,whichalsoaffectsbloodpressure.Constrictedarteriesraises

bloodpressure,anddilatedbloodvessleslowersbloodpressure.Today,ithasbeenestimatedthatblood
pressuredisordersaffect30%ofthepolulation,andisrising.
Edemacanresultfromexcessfluid,andDehydrationcanresultfromdeficientfluid.Fluidlevelsare
directlyrelatedtosodium/potassiumlevelsandAldosteronelevels.
LowbloodPressureisagrowinghiddenproblem.Aldosteronepreventsthelossofsodiumintotheurine,
andhelpsmaintainbloodvolumeandbloodpressure.Lowbloodpressureisexperiencedlike:fatigue,low
motivation,lowresistancetoillness,poorstamina,slowtohealforminjury.Lowsodiumcanleadtolow
bloodpressure.Aldosteroneisdirectlyandindirectlyrelatedtolowbloodpressure.
5MenopauseSymptoms(Hotflashes,nightsweats,racingheart,dryskin,fatigue,lowlibido)Theadrenals
canmakehormoneslikePregnenoloneandDHEAthatgetconvertedtoEstrogen,Progesteroneand
Testosteroneiftheyarehealthy.DuringMenopause,OvarianSexhormone(Estrogen/Progesgteorne)
decline.TheAdrenalscanmakesexhormonesandyoucanavoidmanysymptomsofMenopausedueto
sharpdeclinesinsexhormones.ManywomanhavedepletedtheirAdrenalsduetochronicstressandpoor
bloodsugarmanagement(highcarbdiet,inadequateprotein,lackofsleep,overwork).WhenMenopuase
starts,youmighthavehavepooradrenalfunctionanddecliningOvarianfunction.Thatcombinationis
severeandcancausesignificantdiscomfort.Sharplyloweredestrogenisalsoafactoriscardiacriskfor
woman.Menopausesymptomsarepreventableandtreatable.
6DehydrationIsaffectedbysodium/potassiumlevels.AsIstatedin#4,Aldosteroneincreasessodium
levelsandincreasespotassiumexcretionviathekidneys.Ifthereisexcesssodiumintheblood,fluidscanbe
pulledfromthecells,andthatiscellulardehydration.Itcanshowupintheskinturgor,andmakeyoulook
olderandlessvibrant.Dehydrationcanweakencellfunction,andinterferewiththeexchangeofimportant
substancesthroughthecellwallslikeminerals,sugar,hormones,gaseslikeOxygen,toxins,andImmune
substances.
7InsulinResistanceThisisaconditionthatoccurswhenthecellsarechronicallysubjectedtohighlevelsof
bloodsugar.ThecellwallsbecomeresistanttoInsulinenteringthecells.InsulinescortsGlucoseintothe
cell,andthecellscannotgetGlucosewithoutInsulin.Insulinismadebythebetacellsofthepancreas,and
issecretedinresponsetoglucoseenteringtheblood(aftereatinganddigestingfood).Ifyoueatahighcarb
meal,abarrageofglucosewillbeproducedandmoveintothebloodfromthesmallintestines.Thisleads
tohighlevelsofInsulinbeingsecreted.IfthisoccurschronicallyitleadstoInsulinresistance.
Glucoseisneededforallcellstofunction.Itisthesourceofallenergyinthebody.Glucoseisconvertedto
ATPinthecells,inaverycomplexmetabolicprocesscalledthekrebscycle.Ifglucosedoesnotgetintothe
cells,theysufferfromlowsugarnotlowbloodsugar,butlowcellsugar.Theproblemisoftenthatthe
glucose/sugarisinthebloodandisnotgettingintothecells.ThatispreDiabetes.
ThehighbloodsugarcausesthepancreastokeepsecretingInsulin,whilethecellsarestarvingforglucose.
Thisisaprocessthatcontinuestogetworse,onceitstarts.Youlabswillshowhighglucosereadingsandlow
insulin.Thesugarinthebloodgetsconvertedtofatandtriglycerides.Thatishowweightgainoccurs.
Insulinisalsoveryinflammatory,andisoftenthecauseofotherhealthproblems,likeHaishimotosdisease,
andotherthyroidproblems.

TheAdrenalsalsoplayapartinInsulinResistance.ElevatedCortisol(oftenduetostress)generateshigh
productionofInsulin,becauseCortisolconvertsstoredsugarintobloodsugar,whichagaincausesmore
Insulintobeproduced.IfyoualreadyhaveInsulinresistancefrominappropriatecarbohydrate
consumption,theadditionalinsulinthatisproducedduetoelevatedcortisol/elevatedglucoseaggravates
InsulinResistancefurther.
ElevatedInsulinalsocauseselevatedCortisol,becauseelevatedInsulinisinflammatory,andCortisolwillbe
producedtoreduceinflammation.ThisisaviciouscycleofelevatedCortislolcausingelevatedInsulinand
elevatedInsulincausingelevatedCortisol.ThispatternsdepletestheAdrenalsandthePancreas.Usuallythe
adrenalswillgetfatiguedlongbeforethePancreas.
InsulinResistanceisPreDiabetesandhasmanysymptoms:weightgain,fatigue,headaches,poor
circulation,cravingsweets,gettingsleepyaftermeals,poorcirculation,visionproblems,cardiacproblems,
braindysfunction.
8WeightGainattheAbdomenThisisoneofthemostembarrassingsymptomsofexcessCortisol.Cortisol
isastresshormone.Itgiveustheabilitytorespondtoanemergency.However,chronicstressina
commonoperatingstate,andthisdrivestheAdrenalstokeepproducingCortisolcontinuously.Ourbodies
starttoaddadipose(fat)tissueforemergencyenergy,inresponsetoconstantlyusingourreservesfor
stressresponses.Fatintheabdomenishighlycorrelatedtocardiacproblems.Theabdominalfatalsostores
toxins,hormonesandmetalswhichcanleechbackintothebloodandcausemanyhiddenproblems.
9AllergiesCortisolhelpstomitigateallergicreactions.IfourCortisolislow,ourabilitytodealwithallergic
reactionsiscompromised.Today,weareprocessingmoreallergicsubstancesthaneverbefore.Weare
processingunprecedentedlevelsofdrugs,chemicals,pesticides,foodcoloring,antibiotics,airborne
allergins,andhormones.Weareseeingmoreallergicpatternsateveryage,evennewborns,asourImmune
systemandAdrenalglandsgetworndown.
10ThyroidRegulationExcessCortisolsuppressesTSHthyroidstimulatinghormoneahormoneproduced
bythePituitary,whichstimulatesthethyroidtoproducethyroxin.Evenifthehypothalamussenses
Thyroxinislow,andsendsTRHtothePituitarytosecreteTSH,sothatthyroxinisproduced,highcortisolwill
surpressthewholesystemandcausehypothyroidism.Thisisabigsubject,whichIamgoingtodevotea
wholearticle.Thesymptomsofhypothyroidismare:coldhands/feet,weightgain,depression,constipation,
infertility,unstablepregnancy,fatigue,lowmentalfunction,andlowmetabolism.
LowcortisolcausestheThyroidtoworkhardertocompensateforlowbloodsugarandlowenergy.This
leadstoahyperfunctioningthyroid.Symptomsofhyperthyroidismare:palpitations,headaches,feeling
heatinthehead,irritability,feelingaggravated,weightloss,increasedmetabolism,dehydration.Chronic
overcompensationbythethyroidtomakeupforlowCortisolandlowadrenalfunctionwillwearoutthe
thyroidandcauseittobecomeunderfunctioningandthisleadstohypothyroidism
11DepressionNorepinephrineandEpinephrineareAdrenalhormones.Cortisolandnorepinephrineare
bothcorrelatedtotheonsetofdepression.Neurotransmitterphysiologyiscomplexandnotwell
understood.However,dysregulatedbloodsugar,andinappropriatelevelsofepinephrineandnor
epinehrinecanbepartofthecauseofdepression.Partofthetreatmentfordepressioncanbethe
restorationofadrenalhormonelevelsandbloodsugarbalance.

12DigestiveandGIsymptomsElevatedCortisol(oftenduetochronicstress)caninducegastriculcers,and
hypochlorhydria.Hypochlorhydria(lowstomachacid)canbethebeginningofagreatmanyproblems.HCL
(hydrochloricacid)isneededtobreakdownprotein.Ifitislow,proteindoesnotbreakdown,andremains
inthestomach,andbecomesmoreacidic,producesgas,andgetregurgitated(acidreflux).Epinephrine
causestheproductionofHCLtostopaspartofthestressresponse.Chronicstressleadstochroniclow
levelsofHCL.
AnotherproblemistheChyme,theliquidthatleavesthestomachandmovesintothesmallintestines,isfar
tooacidic,ifHCLislowandproteinisundigested.Thesmallintestinesaredesignedtobemuchmore
alkalinethanthestomach,andifitisfloodedwithhighlyacidicChyme,thedelicatedigestiveenzymes
producedinthepancreasaredamagedordestroyed.Lowlevelsofpancreaticenzymesdonotallowthe
foodtobefurtherdigestedandabsorbed.Theresultofpoordigestionispoorabsorptionandpoor
nutrition.Thecontentsofthesmallintestinesnowmovesintothelargeintestine,largelyundigested.This
setsthestageforthegrowthoffungus,bacteria,andageneraldysbiosis(imbalancedfriendlybacteriaand
unfriendlybacteria)
HPyloriisacommonbacteriathatgrowsinthestomach,andiscommonlyfoundinpatientsthathave
chronicelevatedcortisol.ItisthoughtthatHCLissuesbegintowearouttheliningofthestomach,allowing
HPyloritogetafoothold.HPyloriproducesallkindsofdiscomfortanddistress.
13BoneDensity(OsteopeniaandOsteoporosis)
OneofthefunctionsofCortisolthatisnotwellknownisthemaintenanceofbonedensityviacalcium
absorption.OsteoporosisandfracturescanresultifCortisolischronicallylow,duetolowcalcium
absorption.LowCortisolisoftenduetochronicstressandchronicbloodsugardysfunction.
14PCOSPolyCysticOvarianSyndrome
Chronicelevatedbloodsugarnotonlycancausediabetes,itisaprimarycauseofthemostcommon
endocrinesystemdisorderforwomanPCOSaconditionthatismarkedbyelevatedTestosterone,
proliferationofcystsandothergrowths,andnumerousothersymptoms.ElevatedtestosteroneandPCOS
aremajorcausesofinfertility,fibroids,cysts,andmenstrualirregularities.
WhatcanwedotoimproveourAdrenalfunction?Well,quiteabit.Herearesomesimpleactionsanyone
cantakethatsupportAdrenalfunctionthatinvolvelifestylechangesanddietchanges:
1Eatbreakfastlowglycemicfoodsandsomeproteintrytominimizecoffeeeithernoneorreduce
amount
2Eatproteinwitheverymealthiskeepsglucosespikingandsugarcravingstoaminimum
3Eatproteinsnacksbetweenmealsthishelpsmaintainbloodsugarlevels
4Gotosleepbefore11:00pmanddonotengageinstimulatingactivitiesbeforesleep.
5Treatinfectionsaggressivelyespeciallydentalinfections,fungal,viralthatmeansseeyourdentist
regularly,andfindawaytotreatchronicconditions.

6Getallergiesidentifiedandavoidallergicfoodsespeciallysubtleallergiesthatcausedigestiveproblems.If
youhavesomeofthefollowingsymptoms,youprobablyhaveallergies:gas,bloating,diarrhea,
constipation,acidreflux,stuffedupsinuses,chronicheadaches,unresolvedskinproblems,stomachpain,
asthma.Autoimmunediseaseareexacerbatedbyallergies,especiallytoglutenandcasein.
7Learnwhatlowglycemicfoodsareandeatmoreofthemandavoidhighglycemicfoods.This
informationisontheinternet.GoogleGlycemicIndexandyouwillgetalotofinfo.Therearealsomany
goodbooksonthesubject.
8Startexercisingmoderatelyitreducestheeffectsofstressandhelpsreduceexcessweight.
IncorporatestressreducingactivitieslikeYoga,TaiChi,Pilates,weightliftingandaerobicmovementsoall
formsofexerciseareutilized.
9Donoteatlateatnighteatdinnerby7:00pmasoftenaspossible.Eatinglateinterfereswithgoodsleep
andthestomachfunctionsatalowlevellateatnight.Lackofsleepinaformofstressandsoisindigestion.
10Takedigestiveenzymestheyhelpdigestfoodandminimizeallergies.Enzymesbreakdownfoodintoits
constituentparts(aminoacids,fattyacids,glucose).Allergiesarereducedbecausemanyallergicreactions
areduetothelargermorecomplexfood,andnottoitscomponents.
11Takeprobioticstheyhelprestorefriendlybacteriawhichreducesinternalstress.Donot
underestimatethefarreachingeffectsofdysbiosis,anamefordepletedfriendlybacteria.Thisiscausedby
antibioticoveruse.Antibioticskillallbacteria,friendlyandunfriendly.Thereareantibioticsinourfood.This
isanotherreasontobuyfoodthatisnottamperedwith
12TakeEssentialfattyacidstheyimprovebloodsugarmetabolism.Ourcellwallsaremadeupofessential
fattyacids,iftheyareavailable.Wewillusepoorqualityfattyacidsifwelackessentialfattyacidsandthis
createsproblemsatthecellwalllevel.Avoidtransfattyacidstheycauseinflammationanddigestivestress
14Avoidexcessstimulants(coffee,soda,redbull,alcohol)theyalloverstimulatetheAdrenals,especially
whentheAdrenalsarealreadydepleted.Ofcourse,youmaywantstimulantsthemostbecauseyour
Adrenalsarealreadydepleted.Anyonewhocannotgetthroughthedaywithoutcaffeineissufferingfrom
Adrenaldepletion.AllformsorcaffeinearedepletingtotheAdrenals
15Drinkatleast1quartandhopefully2quartsofqualitywateraday.Donotdrinktapwaterthatisfullof
chlorine,fluorineandotherchemicals.
Supplementsareavailabletohelptheadrenalsrecoverandstayhealthy.Aprofessionalpractitionerwith
goodtrainingcanoffermanyqualityproductstorestorepropercircadianrhythmtoyourCortisol
production,aswellasnourishtheadrenalfunction.TakinghormonesmaybenecessaryuntiltheAdrenals
canmakethem(DHEA,pregnenolone,progesterone,estrogen,testerone).
IamgoingtolistafewsupplementsthatsupporttheAdrenalsthataprofessionalshouldprovidefor
optimaldosageandcoordinationwithothermedicationandsupplements:
IAdaptogenicHerbsfortheadrenals:PanaxGinseng,SiberianGinseng,Ashwaganda,HolybasilLeafExtract,
Rhodiola,BoerhaavieDiffusa,LicoriceRoot,Panthenine,Phosphatidylcholine

IIInsulinResistancebotanicalsandmineralsChromium,Vanadium,GymnemaSylvestre,AlphaLipoic
Acid,MixedTocopherols,Magnesium,Biotin,Zinc,Inositol
IIIEssentialFattyAcidsOmegaIIIfattyacids(DHAandEPA
IVProbioticsfriendlybacterialikeBifidus,Acidopholus,Lactobacillus
VDigestiveEnzymesLipase,protease,amylase,
VIElevatedCortisolPhosphatidylSerine,Bvitamins,Valerian,LemonBalm,MilkThistle,Juniper
VIIDeficinentCortisolLtyrosine,licoriceroot,Pregnenolone,DHEA,SiberianGinseng
Stressreductionisparamount.AllformsofstressdepletetheAdrenals.
Internalstresscanbedueto:1emotionalcauses:worries,fears,2biochemically:anemia,vitamin,
mineral,neurotransmitter,bloodsugar,proteindeficiencies3infections:Viral,bacterial,fungal,parasitic
4painandinflammation5lackofsleep6toxicity(metals,chemicals,neurotoxins)7allergies
Externalstresscanbedueto:1excesswork2lackofexercise3financialproblems4relationshipissues
withavarietyofpeople,5timemanagementissues6lackofjoy7exposuretoenvironmentalhazards
likecold,heat,humidity,pollen,airpollution,8emergencies9lossoflovedones
Ifitiscausedbyinternalconditionsorexternalconditions,intheend,stressisstress.Someformsofstress
areeasiertomanagethanothers.Overeatingofhighglycemicfoodsisrelativelyeasytochange.Working
lesshoursandspendingtimeenjoyingyourlifecanbeabigchange.Ifyoudonothaveadayoffthisisan
issuethatmustbeaddressed.Dealwithanythingthatinterfereswithgoodsleep.Gototherapyifyou
cannotdealwitharelationshipthatistroublingandisdrainingyourenergy.Learntomanageyourmoney
somoneyisnotaformofstress.Improveyourjobskillsandworkskillsifthatwillchangeyourlifeforthe
better.
Getacupuncture,massages,Reiki,Chiropracticadjustments,Rolfing,orhireatrainer.Theseareexcellent
waystoreducetheimpactofAdrenaldysfunction.
Getlabtests(blood,saliva,stool)togetclearaboutyourstatus.Ifyouhaveamajorissue,youcannot
handleityourself.Majorissuesare:autoimmunedisease,prediabetes,diabetes,highbloodpressure,an
EpsteinBarrVirus,HPyloribacteria,CMVvirus,Celiacsdisease,anemia,elevatedCReactiveProtein,
elevatedHomocysteine,elevatedliverenzymes,elevatedCholesterol,etc
Getprofessionalguidanceregardingfoodandsupplements.Mostpeopledonotknowwhattodoontheir
own.Ifthepractitioneruseslabtests,evenbetter.
AsfaraslabtestsgoIliketheAdrenalStressIndexSalivatesttodetermineAdrenalfatigue.Itcostsabout
$100andmeasuresCortisolandDHEAandInsulin.Foranextra$50youcantest:Ovarianhormonelevels
(estrogen,progesterone,testosterone),andPituitaryhormones(FSH&LH)

Ilikeacomprehensivebloodtestthatmeasures:bloodsugar,Kidneyfunction,Liverenzymes,thyroid
function,Cholesterol,RedbloodCells,WhitebloodCells,Creactiveproteintriglycerides,basicminerals.
Thistestcostapproximately$115
Ifnecessary,IgetaGIpaneltodetermineparasites,intestinalinfections,fungus.Thistestcosts
approximately$150.Thisisonlydoneoftherearegoodreasonstosuspectpathogens
Lastly,nutureyourspirit.Whenthespiritiswell,thebodyfollows.Donotdespair.Ifyouaredepressed,get
supplementsormedicationthatliftsyourdepression.Ifyouarediscouraged,getsupportandreachoutto
peoplethatcanbehelpful.Ifyouarestuck,findawaytogetmoving.Ifyouareexhaustedandconfused,
improveyouradrenalfunction.Iquoteanoldpoemwithallitssham,drudgeryandbrokendreams,itis
stillabeautifulworld