Stress is recognized as the #1 proxy killer disease today. The American Medical Association has noted that stress is the basic cause of more than 60% of all human illness and disease.
Factors Leading to Adrenal Fatigue:
- Devitalized food
- Unfulfilling employment
- Junk food
- Trans Fats
- Financial stress
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Excessive exercise
- Poor eating habits- i.e. skipping meals
- Marital stress
- Workaholism
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Hormonal imbalances
- Oral contraception
- Stimulants – caffeine, tobacco, sugar, etc…
- Lack of relaxation
- Antacids
- White sugar & flour products
- Fun or enjoyment deprivation
- Repeated stresses
- Persistent negative stressors
- Lack of sleep
- Emotional stress
- Persistent fears
- Psychological stress
- Prescription or non-prescription drugs
- Death of a loved one
- Toxins
How Stress Effects the Body (Signs & Symptoms):
- Poor sleep or insomnia
- Morning or Afternoon fatigue
- Chronic fatigue
- Abrupt mood changes
- Increased craving for sugar, salt & alcohol
- Headache
- Hypo or Hyperglycemia
- Dizziness/lightheadedness
- ADD/ADHD
- Anxiety
- Irritability & anger
- Panic disorders
- Teeth grinding, jaw tension
- Increased heart rate
- Increased stroke risk
- Increased heart disease risk
- Increased hypertension risk
- Increased diabetes risk
- Arrhythmias
- Chronic infection
- Acute infection
- Poor focus & concentration
- Poor memory
- Allergies
- Depression
- Abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome
- Weight gain, loss of lean body mass
- Acne, oily skin
- Decreased libido
- Hormone imbalance
- Low thyroid
- PMS symptoms
What Can I Do?
Healthy Nutrition
- Never skip a meal again
- Eat real, unprocessed foods
- Eat balanced meals – protein, real carb and healthy fat
- Choose a protein as the main nutrient in your meal
- Add some healthy fats
- Add real carbohydrates -one that can be grown, picked, or harvested.
- Add non-starchy vegetables
- Eat snacks
- Eat solid food
- Drink enough water
- Avoid eating a carbohydrate by itself.
Stress Management
- Learn to breathe deeply.
- Find an exercise you enjoy.
- Develop a positive mental attitude.
- Do not take life too seriously.
- Pick your battles carefully.
- Get massage, acupuncture or body balancing.
- Engage in an activity that allows your brain to rest.
- Allow yourself time to sleep each night.
- Ask for help.
Taper Off of Toxic Chemicals
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
- Sugar or Artificial Sweeteners
- Avoid trans fats
- Avoid food sensitivity foods
Proper Exercise – balance
- Flexibility/calming exercises- lower your adrenaline and cortisol levels.
- Resistance/adaptive training- raise human growth hormone (HGH) levels.
- Cardiovascular/stimulating exercises- raise adrenaline and cortisol levels.
“75 percent of an individual’s health after age 40 is dependent upon what the person has done to his or her genes, not to the genes themselves.” Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D. Genetic Nutritioneering, 1999 p.65