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!

Laughter: Rx for stress

When is the last time you had a good belly laugh? You may have heard that laughter is the best medicine; know why? Laughter releases endorphins—hormones that help to reduce pain and relieve stress. Laughter also works muscles throughout our face and body; we breathe faster and our heart rate goes up which delivers more oxygen to cells throughout the body and burns calories.

Let’s talk stress.

When we’re stressed out, it shows up in our emotions, sleeping and eating patterns, and even social interactions. Sometimes the stressors are on the scene temporarily; and some stressors are just things we have to get used to, like traffic we just can’t avoid. Over time, these things that “stress us out” can lead to potentially severe and chronic byproducts of stress like anxiety, depression or high blood pressure.  Some call the symptoms of chronic stress, “adrenal fatigue.” Speaking of adrenal fatigue, we recently talked with Kelly Cappasola on the Forever Young radio show about adrenal fatigue and how DHEA cream Twist 25 can help. You can listen to that show here.

Medical science shows that when the body experiences stress, cortisol (also known as the stress hormone) increases to protect the body with an inflammatory response, a defense mechanism which could be good. But when cortisol levels remain high over days, weeks or months, it can cause us to gain weight, lose energy and drive, and seemingly steal our joy.

If you’re middle age, lacking energy and drive and notice you’re just not the go-getter you were in your twenties, you may be feeling the effects of adrenal fatigue.  Ask your doctor to test your cortisol, DHEA and thyroid levels. But if a manageable level of stress just has you down for a spell, try these natural self-help solutions first!

Find Happiness in the Little Things - Laugh

Don’t let the stress take over. Turn stress off.  Happy thoughts release endorphins with “blissful moments that can also give your well-being a boost.” We love the 5 steps to more joy from W.H. Auden of United Healthcare Services, Inc. Sometimes it’s the little things like laughter that make a big difference.

Breathe In, Stress Out

When too much energy is being exerted on the body’s response to stress, stop what you’re doing and take a breath. In fact, take several. Focusing on taking deep breaths can help take your mind off the stressors. Try some of these breathing exercises offered by Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D.

Stretch-Away Stressors

Studies have shown that practicing yoga or meditation can have great  antidepressant effects. Not only excellent for practicing breath control, yoga also helps focus the mind on various muscle groups, improves blood flow and oxygenates cells throughout the body. Stretching also clears toxins from muscle tissue. So if you’re feeling stressed-out, tell your excess cortisol to hit the road with a yoga posture, or just move around and stretch.

Find Balance with DHEA

The body’s most abundant naturally occurring pro-hormone, DHEA, is crucial to counterbalance cortisol levels. Unfortunately, DHEA gradually decreases after age 25, while cortisol levels steadily increase as we age. When the DHEA to cortisol ratio is 10:1, a healthier balance is found. DHEA is the only thing that counterbalances the negative effects of cortisol. Think of Twist 25 DHEA cream as yet another natural stress management solution. So maintain DHEA levels to feel and look your best and help reduce the negative effects cortisol can have.

More Natural Solutions

Erin Chamerlik, of Get Better Wellness Inc., offers some great ideas about stress management on her blog, noting, “the body can perceive stress from food and environmental toxins, nutrient deficiencies, and lack of appropriate sleep ...” She supports the idea of using bioidentical DHEA cream, and also suggests vitamin supplements, and herbal oils that can soothe the soul, relax you, and bring joy to your senses.

So how do you de-stress? Can you share a funny video or photo ? We love to hear from you!