Adrenal Health
Did your quiz reveal adrenal imbalances could be at the root of your health challenges? Well, if so, please do not be discouraged. We have worked with many clients, who after testing and making lifestyle adjustments have greatly improved their health.
The autonomic nervous system has two components, the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) and the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). The sympathetic nervous system functions like a gas pedal in a car. It triggers the fight-or-flight response, providing the body with a burst of energy so that it can respond to perceived dangers. (cortisol, adrenaline) The parasympathetic nervous system acts like a brake. It promotes the "rest and digest" response that calms the body down after the danger has passed.
Let’s take a deeper look at what happens when you are in a chronic state of stress.
Many people are challenged with how to put the brakes (parasympathetic nervous system) on stress. Chronic low-level stress keeps the HPA (Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Adrenal Axis) activated, much like a motor that is idling too high for too long. Persistent epinephrine surges can damage blood vessels and arteries, increasing blood pressure and raising risk of heart attacks or strokes. Elevated cortisol levels create physiological changes that help to replenish the body's energy stores that are depleted during the stress response, thus leading to adrenal burnout.
Chronic stress also inadvertently contributes to the buildup of fat tissue and to weight gain. For example, cortisol increases appetite and dysruglates blood sugar, so that people will want to eat more to obtain extra energy. It also increases storage of unused nutrients as fat, so that it (your body) is prepared for the next stressful event. Your body’s autonomic mechanisms do not know logic. It knows survival and is doing its best to allow your body to have the biological means to deal with the next stressful event. It is our thinking brain that we have to learn to break the cycle of what is real stress and perceived stress.
There are many lifestyle adjustments that can allow a shift in how your body is responding to stress. In addition, we have many approaches to help build or calm the HPA axis based on what testing reveals.
One of our favorite tests to explore your adrenal health is the DUTCH COMPLETE.
DUTCH -Adrenal/Hormone Profile. This test is a comprehensive assessment of sex and adrenal hormones and their metabolites. It also includes the daily, free cortisol pattern, organic acids, melatonin (6-OHMS), and 8-OHdG. Check out our a la cart package for this test here.
Are you ready to deep dive and really shift? We have many ways you can work with us. We offer one on one sessions or deep discounted packages.