Adrenal health in women
by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP
We’re all familiar with stress — it’s a constant element in women’s busy lives. But what we aren’t so familiar with is the body’s response to stress and the ways in which the stress we face today goes far beyond the kind of stress we faced as we evolved — and ends up depleting our energy and health.
When faced with a stressful situation, our bodies rely on the adrenal glands sitting atop our kidneys to monitor our “fight or flight” response. For the most part, our stress response evolved from short-term events — crises that came and went. If we had to run from a predator, for example, our healthy adrenal glands responded by releasing adrenaline, which makes us more alert and focused, and cortisol, which converts protein to energy and releases our stored sugar, glycogen, so our bodies have the fuel needed to respond quickly. In concert, the adrenal response rapidly increases our heart and respiratory rates and blood pressure while releasing energy, tensing our muscles, sharpening our senses, and slowing our digestion so we are primed to escape or fight back, whichever is needed. When the threat is gone, the body returns to normal — quickly with respect to adrenaline levels, less quickly with respect to cortisol.
Tips for Personal Program Success
Timing is everything. Take your first packet of nutrients with your breakfast, when your body can best metabolize the rich ingredients and benefit from the energizing boost they provide.
But in today’s society, women are inundated with stress — stress that doesn’t let up. And when chronic stress repeatedly forces the adrenal glands to sustain high levels of cortisol, two things happen: first, the adrenals can’t attend to their broader role in hormonal regulation because the same resources they use to make hormones like estrogen are required to make cortisol, and second, cortisol starts to damage healthy tissues. Eventually, adrenal fatigue sets in, and many women experience symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, insomnia, fuzzy thinking, depression, cravings and mood swings. Once the adrenals become depleted, it can lead to adrenal exhaustion and much more serious health concerns.
The following articles will aid you in identifying symptoms of adrenal fatigue early and provide steps to restoring and supporting your adrenal glands. From finding new strategies to manage stress to learning which foods are best to eat and when — there are many ways to replenish adrenal health naturally. One thing I can promise you is that when you heal your adrenal glands, you’ll see results on every physical and emotional level, and your whole body will thank you for it!
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Adrenal fatigue — the effects of stress and high cortisol levels
Can too much stress really make you sick? Many women don’t realize how daily stress can affect the body, particularly the adrenal glands. Read about how chronic stress can lead to high cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue.
Signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue
Fatigue, weight gain, and insomnia are just some of the many symptoms women with adrenal fatigue experience. Read through the complete list to see if adrenal fatigue may be at the root of your health concerns.
Eating to support your adrenal glands
If you feel run down because of adrenal fatigue, a small change in your food choices and eating habits can really support your body’s innate ability to restore healthy adrenal function. Learn more about how to support your adrenal gland health and daily cortisol cycle naturally with these simple nutrition and eating recommendations.- DHEA and adrenal fatigue
When the adrenals are tapped and we slow production of the precursor hormone DHEA, it’s tempting to think a simple over-the-counter DHEA supplement will do the trick. But the hormonal balance DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) supports is much more complex, so it should really only be done in a therapeutic setting under medical supervision. Learn how you can support your own DHEA production — naturally.
Our Personal Program is a great place to start
The Personal Program promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritional supplements, our exclusive endocrine support formula, dietary and lifestyle guidance, and optional phone consultations with our Nurse–Educators. It is a convenient, at-home version of what we recommend to all our patients at the clinic.
Original Publication Date: 05/29/2008
Last Modified: 06/06/2008
Principal Author: Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP