Adrenal fatigue, medically known as hypoadrenia, is often controversial; there is the debate if adrenal fatigue is its own syndrome or a symptom of another medical condition like that of Addison’s disease. Either way, Adrenal fatigue can really affect one’s health negatively when it comes to weight loss attempts. To understand the effects adrenal fatigue has on weight loss, it’s important to understand what it is.
Adrenal fatigue is associated with constant and overwhelming stress. Often people complain of being tired, feeling exhausted or run down and physically and emotionally stressed. In an attempt to address the problem, people will use excessive amounts of caffeine and sweets to keep their energy up.
What happens to the body when it’s overly stressed is fairly simple to understand. When the body is experiencing high levels of stress it produces lesser amounts of cortisol, a hormone released by the adrenal gland. Although the adrenal gland produces other hormones such as estrogen, adrenalin, and androgen; cortisol is the primary hormone of the adrenal gland with the goal of responding to stress by increasing production. Cortisol converts’ protein into energy.
Under normal circumstances when the body experiences stress or when there is a need for the “fight or flight” response, cortisol initially increases to the point of homeostasis and then decreases when the stress is relieved. However, if that stress is not relieved; cortisol continues to produce and the adrenal gland tires leading to adrenal fatigue, which in turn begins to fail in hormone production.
Adrenal Fatigue and Weight Issues
The effects on weight due to adrenal fatigue are multi-fold. First, because those suffering from adrenal fatigue seek to perk themselves up with caffeine and sugar; there is weight gain from empty calorie consumption. Of course, the big problem here is that weight will have to be lost at some point especially as we age and need to maintain better health for a longer and healthier life.
Next, because adrenal fatigue makes the body feel tired and a “sugar-high” only lasts so long there is a tendency to exercise less than what the body needs. When the body doesn’t exercise enough, stress has a tendency to build-up in the body instead of being released; this keeps the stress-adrenal fatigue cycle on a continuum.
Increased or decreased cortisol levels are unhealthy for the body; remember cortisol converts’ protein into energy. When energy is unable to be produced by the conversion of protein to energy, the body begins to feel tired. If you are already stressed and lack the needed energy to exercise properly, weight gain is inevitable. Thus, adrenal fatigue is often considered a precursor to obesity.
More often than not, adrenal fatigue associated weight gain is concentrated around the midsection of the body; the waist and abdominal areas or what is commonly referred to as the belly area. The weight gain in this area is extremely hard to lose and is extremely tiring for the body to carry.
To address weight gain in this area, there will need to be a lifestyle change. Yes, this may sound scary and overwhelming, but it’s not as drastic as it may sound. Remember, when your body isn’t able to function properly you simply won’t feel well, not in the morning, afternoon, or night.
Adrenal fatigue can lead to depression, insomnia, belly fat, poor self-esteem, constant craving for empty calories, deficient digestion, continuous stress, poor digestion, and of course overall weight gain. Use these tips and tricks to get your adrenal fatigue and weight gain in check.
Tips & Tricks
Learn to Relax.
Don’t sweat those little annoying things in everyday life. Yes, sometimes these things are far more stressful than the bigger more important issues in life; thus, you must learn to deal with them, and it will benefit your health. Use meditation, relaxation tapes or take a nap.
Exercise Often.
Exercise is important in releasing stress, balancing hormones, and losing weight. The human body is designed to keep fit and to function at its most efficient levels possible. When suffering from adrenal fatigue take it slow when starting out with exercise; let your body adjust to the changes it will go through as it heals itself from the lack of the previous exercise. Increase slowly, but be constant and consistent. Don’t give up when results aren’t seen immediately; you will start feeling less stressed and healthier before you start physically seeing results; this alone will start helping to address adrenal fatigue. I would also suggest using a sauna to flush out environmental toxins, pesticides, etc.
Eat Well.
Even though adrenal fatigue makes one crave salt and sweets and increase the use of caffeine and sugar to keep energy levels up to avoid it.
This may be hard at first, but keep up your efforts and before you know it your body will adjust to having these treats less. Next, remember, that the adrenal gland produces cortisol that converts protein into energy; thus, eat more protein and avoid starches to get that figure in shape and pep in your step.
You can help your adrenals by eating more omega fatty acids from fish such as salmon and sardines, dandelion, mustard or any other dark leafy greens as they contain vitamin A.
In addition increase your selenium intake by consuming smelt, herring, scallops and Brazil nuts. You can also use adaptogenic herbs to help in repairing the adrenal glands such as ginseng and Rhodiola. Item to avoid being gluten (get tested) and too much soy protein.
Motherhood is the biggest bliss for women. Hence every woman takes special care of her kids and wants to give the best facilities to them. Some women are so excited about the feeling of motherhood that they purchase the organic baby clothes prior to the birth of the baby. However you should be very cautious while buying clothes for your newly born baby.
Thus you should keep few things in mind before purchasing clothes for your baby. Make sure that the organic baby clothes you buy are slightly big in size because babies tend to grow very quickly. Moreover one should make sure that the clothes have soft neck opening so that they are easy to wear and remove. However you should make sure that the organic baby clothes you purchase has comfortable zippers and elastic so that they do not produce scratches on the baby skin.
organic baby clothes
If you live in cold place then make sure you buy layered clothes for your kid but the clothing must be flexible to facilitate easy addition and removal of extra layers. Therefore people purchase handmade organic cotton baby clothes that are soft and don’t have any toxics elements that can harm the kids.
However there are many local stores that sell organic baby clothes but one should prefer purchasing them through online shopping portals. The online shopping portals provide you with different range shape and colours of clothing for baby boys and baby girls. Hence you can pick and choose from the wide variety of options available online at reasonable prices. Some online shopping portals can also get them delivered at your doorstep.
So what are you waiting for Log on to an online shopping portal and provide your kids with the most happening and comfortable baby clothing.
Most of the recent work to study the microbiome has been for the purpose of treating disease and understanding its effect on human functionality. This is understandable as the microbiome is a new avenue of study and could potentially be an incredibly important part of human health that has been overlooked for so many years. However, interestingly some studies are also branching into other categories of functionality. One such study examines the effect of probiotic supplementation on chicken meat.
The study examined the flavor of the meat and measured the growth of the chickens comparatively. One group was given probiotics through the feed of Issatchenkia orientalis and Bacillus macerans, which had a significant effect on the growth of the chicken. Probiotic flora might also be a sustainable way of controlling pathogens in chicken rather than indiscrimately using antibiotics (which is being heavily used in the poultry industry to promote growth). While this study hardly seems applicable to health, it actually showed some important facts on the gut microbiome. A diversity of the gut was determined to be influenced by both the environment and by genetics. While chickens are quite an offshoot from humans, it does show how the microbiome can significantly influence certain parts of the body.
Stress is unavoidable in the world we live in today. Instead, the best option is to take steps to effectively manage stress. Your body is equipped with a self-healing system. In order to deal with stress, the adrenal glands of your body produce certain natural steroid hormones. These anti-stress hormones are vital to keeping you going. Steroids and adrenal insufficiency are interconnected.
When your adrenal glands do not secrete adequate anti-stress steroid hormones, your body’s ability to cope with stress is reduced. This can be associated with adrenal fatigue. When adrenal glands fail to produce cortisol, a medical condition known as adrenal insufficiency can surface. Adrenal insufficiency is a recognized medical condition requiring lifelong steroid replacement. Adrenal fatigue is, on the other hand, not recognized by mainstream medicine, but sufferers have many symptoms similar to adrenal insufficiency, though in different intensity. Regardless of whether it is adrenal fatigue or steroids and adrenal insufficiency, it is crucial to allow your adrenal glands to heal naturally. This, in turn, will restore and repair your adrenal glands thus helping to normalize adrenal function.
Excess stress is the main reason for adrenal fatigue. Factors that trigger stress are known as stressors. Below are some of these stressors that we face in daily life:
excess workload
tight schedules
unrealistic expectations
negative self-talk
unhealthy lifestyle
unhappy relationships
depression
grief
prolonged medication
pollutants
Poor diet, chronic disease, inadequate sleep and emotional stress are other factors that contribute to adrenal insufficiency.
Understanding Steroids and Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenal insufficiency occurs when the adrenal glands of your body do not produce adequate steroid hormones, principally cortisol and sometimes accompanied with low production of aldosterone as well. This can be documented by low cortisol level in laboratory tests. Your body has a pair of adrenal glands each situated above a kidney. Adrenal glands are the center for the production of vital anti-stress hormones. These steroid hormones also referred to as corticosteroid hormones are secreted by the adrenal cortex.
During symptoms raised due to inadequate secretions of corticosteroids, its synthetic versions are administered to alleviate the condition. Synthetic corticosteroids cause similar effects as that of the natural corticosteroids secreted by the adrenal cortex. These drugs are also used to treat various health disorders including skin irritation, immune system, inflammation and other conditions.
The adrenal gland is divided into two regions. The inner region is known as adrenal medulla which produces stress hormones noradrenaline and adrenaline. The outer region is known as adrenal cortex which secretes numerous kinds of steroid hormones. Aldosterone, cortisol, and cortisone are the main steroids.
Aldosterone maintains salt and fluid balance (potassium secretion, sodium conservation water retention) of the body whereas cortisol and cortisone maintain the body’s metabolism and inhibits inflammation.
Types of Adrenal Insufficiency
There are two types of adrenal insufficiency. They are primary adrenal insufficiency and secondary adrenal insufficiency.
Primary adrenal insufficiency is also known as Addison’s disease. It is a rare condition where the adrenal glands do not secrete adequate stress hormones. While the autoimmune disease is the common reason for primary adrenal insufficiency, it is also caused when the adrenal glands are infected or damaged. Secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs when the pituitary glands do not send a signal to the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol. An endocrinologist can diagnose adrenal insufficiency through proper tests.
Adrenal insufficiency can affect people of all ages including children and seniors. Based on the condition, the type and severity of adrenal insufficiency differ. Each person is affected differently; hence, the treatment also differs from person to person.
Why Are Cortisol and Aldosterone Hormones So Crucial?
Both cortisol and aldosterone hormones are secreted in the outer region (adrenal cortex) of the adrenal glands. Both these hormones play a crucial role in helping the body to tackle stress.
Cortisol comes under the category of glucocorticoid hormones. They affect almost all the tissues and organs in the body. The chief role of the cortisol is to help the body deal with stress.
Various other functions of cortisol include:
Maintains functioning of the heart, blood vessel, and blood pressure
Impedes inflammatory response of the immune system
Regulates metabolism
The anterior part of the pituitary gland produces adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) which regulates many hormones in the body including the level of steroid hormone cortisol, secreted by adrenal glands. The hypothalamus is a part of the pituitary gland and brain. First, the hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which trigger hormones that signal the pituitary glands to release ACTH. The released ACTH stimulates adrenal glands to secrete cortisol. After cortisol is secreted, it sends signals back to the hypothalamus and pituitary glands to reduce the trigger hormones.
Secretion of cortisol in balanced levels is important as any imbalance can cause health issues. High cortisol levels can cause diabetes, high glucose levels, obesity, weak muscles, high blood pressure, more body hair, low potassium levels, and high bicarbonate levels. Low cortisol levels can cause symptoms of high calcium levels, high potassium levels, low glucose levels, low sodium levels, low blood pressure, fatigue, weak muscles, a decrease in appetite, and weight loss.
Aldosterone comes under the category of mineralocorticoid hormones. Aldosterone plays a vital role in maintaining blood pressure and sodium-potassium level in the body. During low aldosterone secretion, your body loses more sodium and retains more potassium.
A drop in sodium levels causes a decrease in blood volume and blood pressure. It also causes hyponatremia with symptoms of feeling fatigued, confusion, as well as developing muscle seizures and twitches. When your body retains more potassium, it can cause hyperkalemia. While this condition may not have particular symptoms, hyperkalemia causes nausea, and irregular heartbeat – including slow, weak or irregular pulse.
Symptoms of Adrenal Insufficiency
Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency include:
Abrupt, penetrating pain in abdomen, legs or lower back region
Severe diarrhea or vomiting
Confusion or even coma
Low blood pressure
Loss of consciousness
Shaking & chills
Low blood pressure
Loss of appetite
High fever
Skin darkening
Joint pain
Flank pain
Nausea
Dehydration
Profound weakness
Sluggish movement
Tumors, cancer, congenital condition and several other health conditions can also affect the adrenal gland, pituitary gland or other endocrine organs. When your endocrine system does not work properly, the secretion of cortisol and sometimes aldosterone is also affected – leading to adrenal insufficiency. The condition can happen at any stage of life.
Diagnosis Of Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenal insufficiency can be diagnosed by blood test and urine test of cortisol. The cortisol level is noted before and after the patient is injected with ACTH and CRH to stimulate the adrenal glands for production of cortisol. During the treatment process, natural hormones – which are to be secreted by the adrenal glands – are replaced with synthetic hormones, to mimic the natural version.
In certain cases, despite presenting with many adrenal insufficiency symptoms, lab tests do not show any positive result. This is often the case in adrenal fatigue.
Clinical Study Demonstrating Effects of Steroids and Adrenal Insufficiency
Studies demonstrate the effect of synthetic corticosteroids on adrenal insufficiency. Researchers conducted a study to know the effect of fluticasone propionate and budesonide on the cortisol level. The study revealed that fluticasone propionate produced greater adrenal suppression in both plasma and urinary cortisol than budesonide.
During the research, 12 adult asthmatic patients were given chronic doses of inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) and budesonide (B) through a metered dose inhaler. The dose was given twice a day in a quantity of 250 mg, 500 mg and 1,000 mg at 8 hours and 22 hours for four consecutive days. After the completion of the eighth dose, the patients were then examined for overnight urinary cortisol excretion and plasma cortisol level at 8 hours and 10 hours respectively.
Results showed that when compared to budesonide, fluticasone propionate had a greater effect on overnight urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio.
Since synthetic corticosteroids suppress adrenals, they are dosed in lower quantities to prevent an adrenal crash. However, according to research published on April 2015 in the online edition of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, patients who use nasal sprays and asthma steroid inhalers for common allergies are at risk of developing adrenal insufficiency.
During February 2014, an online survey was conducted on corticosteroids and adrenal insufficiency. The survey aimed to estimate the percentage of patients having adrenal insufficiency after undergoing treatment with corticosteroids for various health conditions. Further, the survey also aimed to stratify the result based on disease, treatment, treatment dose, route of corticosteroid administration, and duration see more article here.
The survey covered 74 articles with 3,753 asthmatic participants. At the end of the survey, the result showed that:
Stratified by administration form
For patients who received corticosteroids in administration form, the adrenal insufficiency percentage ranged from 4.2 percent for nasal administration to 52.2 percent for intra-articular administration
Stratified by disease
For asthma patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids, the percentage of adrenal insufficiency ranged from 6.8 percent to 60.0 percent for hematological malignancies
Stratified by dose
In asthma patients, the risk varied according to the dose from 2.4 percent (low dose) to up to 21.5 percent (high dose). This indicated that higher the dose, more the risk of adrenal insufficiency.
Stratified by treatment duration
Based on treatment duration, the risk of adrenal insufficiency varied from 1.4 percent to 27.4 percent showing that the percentage of adrenal insufficiency increased with the increase in treatment duration.
The survey concluded that:
Discontinuation of glucocorticoid can trigger adrenal insufficiency
There is no treatment duration, administration form, or dosing that can certainly exclude adrenal insufficiency, although longer use and higher doses increase the risk level
A threshold of tests for adrenal insufficiency in corticosteroid users should be less in the clinical practice, particularly for patients who have nonspecific symptoms post cessation
Synthetic corticosteroids are used to minimize symptoms of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, multiple sclerosis, and COPD. They are taken in the form of skin creams, nasal sprays, pills, liquid, shots, and inhalers. Depending on the dose and duration, synthetic corticosteroids can cause side effects.
Short-term effects include weight gain, insomnia, unusual growth in body hair, nausea, as well as spikes in blood pressure and blood sugar.
Long-term use of synthetic corticosteroids can lead to serious side effects which include impeding growth in children, osteoporosis, cataracts, weak muscles, diabetes, and heart attack. Owing to its serious side effects, synthetic steroids are always to be taken under a doctor’s supervision.
The term “functional training” is a buzzword that is thrown around often in the fitness world yet is rarely properly defined. Contrary to popular belief, functional training is not simply surface training, balance training, or personal trainer Scottsdale with the use of stability balls. It is actually an integrated approach using multiple planes of movement and body positioning that is relative to the sport an athlete is training for with the objective being to move more efficiently. In a nutshell, functional training is about reducing the risk of injury, personal trainer Scottsdale training the body to perform efficiently, and meeting the demands of everyday life and specific sports.
Experts in our field have different ways of describing exactly what the term, functional training, means. According to Michael Boyle, author of Advances in Functional Training, functional training focuses on injury reduction through the use of progressively more demanding exercises that also enhance performance. Function means purpose; thus functional Scottsdale personal trainer training, Boyle explains, can be described as purposeful training.
Vern Gambetta, considered the founding father of functional sports training, states that functional training is actually a misleading term, because ALL movement is functional. However, functional movement really means “the functionality of the exercise or drill relative to movements in the sport.” One must train the kinetic chain (the whole system) and understand the relationships and interdependency of the links throughout the entire body. This is what function is all about— being free-flowing, not segmented, and rhythmic, not jumpy. (Gambetta, 2007.)
Gray Cook explains, “Functional movement for all sport is built on the foundation of the ability to simply move without restriction or limitation. Great athletes develop efficiency through mobility, stability, and motor programs that use the least amount of energy with the greatest possible result.”
Some people believe that if you feel your muscles burn, you must be doing a ”functional” because you can feel your body working hard. This could not be further from the truth. Gray Cook uses the example of crunches to explain why. Some athletes feel they have accomplished something when they feel their abs burn while doing crunches. However, “an abdominal exercise that makes your abs burn does not necessarily train your core.” The deepest layers of the abdominal muscles run at the reflex level. Cook explains that these inner core muscles cannot be called into play and isolated like the biceps and quads, but kick in automatically as a result of movement and resistance. (Cook, 2003)
So what makes movement functional? The movement is functional if it relates to a targeted activity. For example, picking up a box off the floor requires one to squat; therefore, squats are very functional exercises. However, an personal trainer Scottsdale exercise like squatting on a stability ball is not functional, as you would probably not need to perform it in a sport or real life. Putting your pants on in the morning requires you to stand on one leg. Thus single leg stability training is functional. In my professional opinion, single leg training probably has the greatest transfer from the gym to the field with respect to function. With the exception of rowers, how many sports can you name in which two feet are on the ground at the same time? Even when you run, you only have one foot on the ground at a time.
It is important to realize that it is not about the exercise, it’s about the exercise’s application. For instance, thoracic mobility is a very important component of the golf swing. Thus, exercises that advocate thoracic spine (middle-upper back) rotation and hip mobility in multiple planes of motion are of greater value than just traditional sit-ups.
A common mistake I have seen over and over again is valuing an exercise merely based on its level of difficulty. Just because an exercise is difficult doesn’t necessarily mean it’s useful or functional. J.C. Santana, owner of the Institute Human Performance once said, “Standing on a rocker board catching a 7lb medicine ball doesn’t functionally train anyone unless you are a surfer who needs to catch a bowling ball!”
In short, functional training is considered to be personal trainer Scottsdale training that attempts to mimic the specific physiological demands of real-life activities with precision and ease. From my perspective, functional training is intelligent training.
Understanding Plays An Important Role In Adrenal Fatigue Treatment
Adrenal fatigue is a hormone-imbalance problem that affects many people all around the world. If it remains untreated for an extended period of time it can lead to fatal side effects. This is why it’s important that you understand your adrenal fatigue treatment options so that you don’t end up waiting until it’s too late to get a handle on the problem.
There Are 2 Main Ways to Seek Adrenal Fatigue Treatment
In order to sum this up as simply as possible, you can break your options down into two categories. They’ve been featured below for your convenience.
The Natural Way
This consisting of natural herbs, natural supplements, and positive lifestyle changes that reduce the effect of certain symptoms. It’s a way of treating adrenal fatigue without having to be exposed to unhealthy pharmaceuticals that come with a long list of nasty side effects that nobody really wants to experience.
The studies on natural treatment options for this condition have been pretty significant when it comes to proving that this is an effective option.
The Medical Route for Adrenal Fatigue Treatment
There are many modern medical treatments that are available to those suffering from adrenal fatigue. Many of these treatment methods have been proven to produce great results in stopping this condition in its tracks and assuring that it isn’t a long-term issue for one to have to deal with.
Search online for the options that are available medically. This can include using steroids or undergoing more intense procedures. You could also speak with your physician to see if they can help in developing the most effective treatment plan that takes into account the current state of your adrenal fatigue.
Which way is the Best?
To be honest, this really depends upon your personal preferences. Some go the natural route and only go the medical route if their first attempt fails. Others will put their trust in the hands of their doctor. Both have been effective in certain cases and it really just depends on your body and the stage that your adrenal fatigue is in.
To learn more about adrenal fatigue, check out the many medical websites as they provide some pretty detailed information. You can also check out our other posts that cover certain adrenal fatigue treatment methods in details to help people like you become educated enough to make a decision that they can actually trust in the long run.
It’s that time again: The new savings coupons from McDonalds’ are here! With the vouchers you can save up to 50% again! Of course, there are again the classics, with which you get a Big Mac or Chicken nuggets for half price at Drive Thru Fast Food Restaurants.
New is but for example a mini-menu with double, chicken nuggets, fries and drink for or menu vouchers with the chicken or Filet-o-Fish. And there are also new things in the mccafé: Vouchers for a Vanilla Frappe, for example. And brand new: mccafé now also has bubble tea! With the vouchers you can try one of over 250 combinations of the new Trend drink for just Even at breakfast there’s news. With the McDonalds’ vouchers you get a French Drive Thru Open Late for a classic breakfast for or a scrambled egg breakfast for The vouchers are valid as always in all participating restaurants until July 1.
Drive Thru Fast Food
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