Fight Stress and Adrenal Fatigue Naturally

Summer is here! Even for folks living in more seasonal climates, the sun is finally shinning down warm and plentiful. So it's time to get out there and make some vitamin D3 that can be lacking during winter. By soaking in the sunshine safely, we also support overall health, stronger bones and a stronger immune system, as well as boosting energy as vitamin D3 is known to do. But is your excitement to enjoy the outdoors still tempered by a lack of energy, feeling washed out and tired?

What is Adrenal Fatigue?
Do you recognize any of these symptoms:  feeling tired but can’t fall asleep at night, feel bloated, , lack drive, feel stressed out, scatter brained, can’t focus, have little interest in sex, gain weight easily? You might be experiencing symptoms of adrenal fatigue.

Many health professionals including Dr. Christiane Northrup call this condition “adrenal exhaustion”. Some call it “adrenal fatigue”. The condition is caused when the body over produces the stress hormone cortisol on an ongoing basis, and does not produce enough DHEA to counterbalance the negative effects of cortisol.

Especially prevalent in adults between the ages of 35-65, adrenal fatigue can be a chronic condition that gets worse and worse as we get older; and it requires more than just a cup of coffee or an energy drink to fix it. Consider taking Dr. JamesWilson’s Adrenal Fatigue Questionnaire  from his book Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome, to recognize the possible presence and degree of adrenal fatigue you may have.

If you want to learn more about adrenal fatigue and the many benefits of using a properly made bioidentical DHEA cream, check out 'The Kat James Show’ radio episode on this topic. Hugh Woodward, President of Health2Go, the source of Twist 25 DHEA Cream, was invited by Kat James, the show host, to share research that’s been done on adrenal fatigue and why a bioidentical DHEA cream called Twist 25 can have “dramatically-transforming head-to-toe rejuvenating effects”.

As always, it is important to see a physician to be sure you’re thyroid and iron levels are O.K., and that nothing else is going on that may need attention. Have your hormone levels checked. Often people discover their DHEA levels are low.

Be Sure to Drink Plenty of Water

About 60% of the human body is water. If you are not drinking enough water, you will probably feel thirsty; but by the time thirst is noticed, which is an obvious sign you need water, there are usually lots of other effects happening like feeling tired or dizzy, foggy thinking, lack of concentration headache, very yellow urine, bad breath, or muscle cramps.  Amy Goodson, a sports dietician, says that “2% dehydration in your body causes a 10% decrease in your athletic performance; and the more dehydrated you get the worse performance gets.”

A good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily. So, for example, if you weigh 160 lbs. then you need to drink about 80 oz. of water per day. An easy way to tell if you’re drinking enough water is you should drink enough so that your urine is light colored yellow, not dark yellow. If plain water doesn’t appeal to you, remember it’s a much better way to stay hydrated than drinking sodas or fruit juices that are unfortunately usually loaded with high fructose corn syrup and other chemicals.  A better option is to drink coconut water as an alternative. Coconut water is an electrolyte-balancing beverage that has fewer calories, less sodium, and more potassium than a sports drinks. Or you might like to experiment with infusions …

Infusions – A Refreshing and Healthy Recipe for Summer Hydration
Sometimes it’s nice to add a healthy zing of flavor to drinking water. What you can do is add a few slices of lemon, lime, or orange to the water to give it some flavor.  Some other tasty and healthy options are slices of cucumber, apple or celery; or a sprig of mint, cilantro or basil … In short, you can ‘infuse’ water with a single flavor or any combination that turns you on. Feeling adventurous? How about adding some watermelon and kiwi? …or pineapple and basil? What’s your favorite flavor ?

A simple search will turn up myriad recipes, but really all you need is a glass jug, some fresh healthy filtered or bottled water and one or more of the delicious fruit or herbal options listed above. Allow some time for the flavor to get into the water and enjoy the summer freshness that’s good for you.  Stay well hydrated because drinking plenty of water is key for good health! 

From Health2Go, the makers of Twist 25 DHEA cream, we wish you a healthy, happy summer of looking and feeling your best!

Feeling Right again with DHEA

To maintain optimal health and well-being, humans need adequate levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, known as DHEA. DHEA is the most abundant naturally occurring pro-hormone in the human body. DHEA levels gradually increase from birth to about age 25, when we are in our “reproductive prime” as humans. But after age 25, DHEA levels begin to decrease by about 2% per year. As an important prohormone, or building block for hormones, DHEA plays a crucial role in many body functions. Therefore, as levels of DHEA decline people notice they have trouble sleeping, lack energy or focus during the day, gain weight more easily, lose muscle tone, sharpness of mind and muscle tone. Low levels of DHEA are associated with “diseases of aging” such as greater risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression and insomnia to name but a few.
Cortisol Increases while DHEA Decreases as We Get Older
Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. Cortisol is released in response to stressful situations. It is the “fight or flight” hormone released to protect the body with an inflammatory response. The problem with this inflammatory response, is that over time too much cortisol has many detrimental effects on the body. As mentioned above, we gradually make less and less DHEA after age 25. One the otherhand, we gradually make more and more cortisol as we get older. Humans are at their healthiest, feel best and are at lowest risk of disease – cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and cancer, when the DHEA to cortisol is at a ratio of 10:1.
Everything from driving in rush-hour traffic to dealing with an upset friend or co-worker, can cause stress in our lives, and production of more cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels over time can lead to impaired immune response, feeling bloated, lacking energy, weight gain and feeling washed out. Cortisol can also adversely affect cardiovascular health, blood glucose levels, and bone strength. High cortisol levels can lead to the development of Metabolic Syndrome, which has been shown to lead to obesity, high blood pressure, and increases in cholesterol and triglyceride levels. DHEA counterbalances the negative effects of cortisol.
DHEA and Cortisol
DHEA is the only thing in the body that counterbalances the negative effects of cortisol. There is a great article about “Adrenal Exhaustion” written by Dr. Christiane Northrup, MD. The article describes the common high cortisol with low DHEA life scenario so common in the U.S.A. Given the gradual declines in DHEA and the gradual increases in cortisol that occur as we get older and cope with more and more stress, using Twist 25 DHEA cream daily make sense.
You, Cortisol and DHEA Cream
Do you wake up feeling groggy and have difficulty getting going? Do you crave sweet snacks in the middle of the afternoon? Is your thinking foggy? Are you forgetful? Do you get recurrent colds, headaches and feel depressed? At night, though you’re tired, do you have trouble falling asleep? You wonder what happened to your interest in sex? If this description fits you, you probably have a high cortisol level and a low DHEA level. What Dr. Northrup describes in her work as “adrenal exhaustion” So you should try using a pharmaceutical grade bioidentical DHEA cream called Twist 25 every morning and evening for at least a few weeks. It is available without a prescription; and can do great good safely. You feel the benefits.
Visit your doctor and have your cortisol, DHEA and thyroid levels checked. You can test your DHEA levels from home using a home DHEA test. Twist 25 DHEA cream is safe, and has no dangerous side effects. If you’re 35 or up, increasing DHEA is good for health, happiness and looking and feeling your best. So get some Twist 25 DHEA cream today and notice the difference! Make your own hormones.