Hoodia and Dangerous Alternatives – Are You Playing Russian Roulette?

How does a nice game of Russian roulette sound to you? Here’s how we will play our little game. We will put a couple of bullets in the gun, one of the bullets will be a blank (completely harmless), and the other will be a regular bullet. Next we will point it to our head, give the chamber a spin and keep pulling the trigger until we hear a bang (or part of a bang). Now doesn’t that sound fun? Now would anybody with a smidgen of smarts want to play this game? No they wouldn’t, however, millions of intelligent people play this game with their diet pill choices.

These people purchase appetite suppressants without finding out what’s, well, in the chamber. The results can be disastrous.

phentermine–Is It A Bullet?

Here is the Wikipedia definition of phentermine:

“It is approved as an appetite suppressant to help reduce weight in obese patients when used short-term and combined with exercise, diet, and behavioral modification. It is typically prescribed for individuals who are at increased medical risk because of their weight and works by helping to release certain chemicals in the brain that control appetite.”

Phentermine was first sold under the name of “Fastin”, but was removed from the market in 1998 due to questioanable side effects.

However, pharmaceutical companies don’t give up easily. To its shame, a company combined phentermine with fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine and begin selling it as Fen-Phen. Phentermine and fenfluamine turned out to be a dangerous combination and so the problems really began.

In 1997, after 24 cases of heart valve problems in Fen-Phen users, fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine were voluntarily removed from the market. This was done at the request of the FDA. Findings later proved that nearly 30% of those who were using fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine had developed abnormal valves. This has given phentermine a bad name, although it was the fenfluramine/phentermine combination that caused this serious problem.

However, phentermine is effective as an appetite suppressant and is still sold today. The various brands that are sold today are fairly well tolerated, but do have side effects, such as:

Neverousness
Irritability
Insomnia
Increased energy level
Increased blood pressure

The above are the more common side effects. Phentermine does have some more serious, rare side effects, but the worst comes from overdose.

If you do decide to try phentermine, be sure you take it under a doctor’s care.

Now How About Hoodia?

This diet pill does not affect a patient’s heart rate, mental state or even blood pressure. It simply and safely fools the body into thinking that it’s already had a lot of glucose and thus shuts off hunger signals. The natives in South Africa have been using it for thousands of years to suppress hunger with no side effects.

Now, when it comes to comparing hoodia and phentermine for side effects, there really is no comparison. So what should you do if you want to use an appetite suppressant? Simply put, be wise in your choices. Way the pros and cons…and please, do not forget, for maximum weight loss and good health, be sure to exercise and eat right.

Some Great Options

I have personally reviewed multitudes of weight loss programs in search for the very best. For some great programs that will help you Lose Weight Fast, go to this fast weight loss page now!

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Different Types of Vaginitis Explained

The medical term “Vaginitis” is used to describe many disorders that can cause inflammation and/or infection in the vagina. Vaginitis can be caused by an infection from organisms such as a virus, bacteria or yeast and can also be caused from using such products as sprays, soaps, laundry soap found in your clothes. There have also been cases where women pass it on to sexual partners.

Since there are many forms of vaginitis, it goes without saying that the symptoms of vaginitis can vary. There are even some women who show no signs or symptoms at all. Below is a list of symptoms that are commonly seen in most cases of vaginitis:

• An unpleasant odor coupled with an abnormal vaginal discharge

• The outside of the vagina may itch

• Urination accompanied by burning

• Pain or discomfort while having intercourse

There are a total of six common types of vaginitis each with there own and some similar symptoms:

• Bacterial vaginosis- This is the most common of vaginal infections in women of the childbearing years. This infection will usually have a milky discharge that has a bad fishy odor. Most women with this infection have little to no symptoms at all. This infection is NOT one to have redness or itching.

• Yeast infections or Candida – This type of infection comes with a discharge that is the consistency of cottage cheese being white in color. The discharge is odorless but can cause the outside of the vagina to become itchy and red.

• Viral vaginitis- Viruses such as these may called herpes simplex virus and is most noticeable by the sores that are present in the genital area. These sores are very painful and can sometimes spread just inside the vagina. Human papillomavirus (HPV) also know as genital warts, is another viral vaginitis and can be very painful as well.

• Trichomoniasis vaginitis- this infection comes with a greenish- yellowish discharge as well as the burning and itching mentioned above. This infection usually comes with a bad or foul smell. Women also complain of their abdomens hurting as well as pain when having intercourse. These symptoms can be worse after a woman gets her period.

• Non-infectious vaginitis –This is usually caused by an irritation rather then an infection. This can be an allergic reaction to a new soap, laundry detergent, spray or even a douche. Symptoms can be itching, burning and maybe a rash and discharge but usually clears up fast when the culprit causing the reaction is removed.

• Chlamydia- Sadly most women infected with this often have no symptoms at all and that can make getting diagnoses very difficult. As a sexually transmitted disease, there are preventions you can take to be sure you do not get Chlamydia such as the use of a condom.

If you suffer with any of the above symptoms, seek the advice and treatment of your physician. Do not let the symptoms go as they can cause serious problems if left untreated.

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Recurring Candida Could Be A Sign Of Diabetes

We are going to concern ourselves with Candida in terms of Vaginal Yeast Infections. We have found that there is relationship to Diabetes, as women suffering from Diabetes are generally more prone to recurring Candida infections. Bearing this in mind, the opposite may also be true, a woman suffering from recurring Candida infections could be unaware that she might be suffering from diabetes. Candida in the form of vaginal yeast infections is also the most common form of this illness.

Symptoms of Vaginal Yeast Infection:

- Vaginal soreness and or itch

- Vaginal discharge, generally thick with a cottage cheese-like texture

- Discomfort or burning around the vaginal opening

- Discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse

Symptoms of Diabetes:

- Increased thirst

- Frequent urination

- Increase in appetite

- Unexplained tiredness and irritability

What Causes Candida Infections In Diabetic Patients?

One of the main causes of recurring Candida in diabetic patients is the fact that the immune system is weaker than in healthy patients. This is not a sexually transmitted disease! It is also common in adult male diabetics, although not the vaginal type. The illness may affect older people more often, but virtually every woman has experienced at least one episode of Candida. It is caused by the Candida fungi that is organically present in the body and is generally controlled by naturally occurring bacteria.

What to Do If You Are Suffering from Recurring Candida Infections

Firstly, don’t jump to conclusions and think you are suffering from Diabetes. If you have been suffering from recurring vaginal yeast infections, we recommend that you visit your medical professional and ask him to test your blood sugar. If he finds that you are suffering from diabetes, he will prescribe a treatment for both conditions. Once the blood sugar problem is properly under control it will be easier to treat the Candida infections. We have found that poorly controlled diabetes does lead to more chance of vaginal yeast infections.

Treatment for Diabetes

Both diabetes and vaginal yeast infections are not life threatening and can be controlled very simply. Your doctor will prescribe insulin and teach you how to test your own blood and measure the sugar levels. Once these sugar levels are under control you will be able to lead a normal healthy life.

Treatment for Vaginal Yeast Infection in Diabetic Women

In our opinion it is really just as simple to treat a diabetic woman for vaginal yeast infection, as it is a normal healthy woman. Of course, in the case of a diabetic woman, rather than self-medicate it is advisable to see a medical professional. For yeast infections it is advisable to stay on the anti-fungal treatment for a longer period than with other woman, but usually no more than fourteen days will ensure that the problem is cleared up.

Please consider participating in our free Diabetes Community. A lot of people put a lot of hard work into this site. You can meet new friends and talk about your experiences at our Diabetes Day Forum or you can learn more about what causes diabetes [http://www.squidoo.com/what-causes-diabetes].

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Weight Loss Pills Types That Are Most Effective In Your Slimming Efforts

If you are suffering from excess weight, you have probably asked a question “How can I lose weight with help of weight loss pills, and what pills are the most effective?”

The most effective weight loss practices include changing your diet ration and increase in physical activity. But on initial stages of weight loss diet pills can give you necessary push and speed up your weight loss substantially.

In this article I will tell you which weight loss pills are the most effective as a means of quick and healthy weight loss.

Among the enormous variety of different weight loss pills brands there are several basic types that differs by the way they affect our body.

Appetite suppressants

This is the most widespread means of weight loss. Appetite suppressants emerged since 1950s of the last century.

As a rule, the components in appetite suppressants restrain activity of sections in our brain, responsible for the rise of appetite. Appetite suppressants are quite effective as a method of struggle against excess weight, and they helped lose weight to many people during decades.

But the majority of appetite suppressants are prescription based anorectics that are prescribed by doctor. They also contain chemical components, and you can face side effects while using them. The most known brands are phentermine, Meridia. Among the natural appetite suppressants Hoodia Gordonii became famous, but you should better avoid buying it, as you can get a fraud and see no appetite suppressant effect at all.

You will see the effect from taking appetite suppressants if combining them with physical activity and obeying proper diet.

Fat burners

Well, the most popular group of weight loss pills. Fat burners doesn’t actually burn your fat, rather they contribute to the launch of special processes responsible for fat splitting in your body. This is usually achieved by thermogenesis and lypolisis.

Some fat burners are truly effective, and help you reach your weight loss faster than usually, but the effect of fat burners action is short-lived, so taking fat burners for long-term weight loss is not necessary, because over time their effect weakens.

Besides, there is a danger that fat burners utilize potentially dangerous components that lead to serious damages to your nervous system, heart rate and blood pressure.

Once popular ephedra and ma-huand found in fat burners, were eventually banned by FDA after several lethal outcomes connected to their usage.

Fat blockers

Nowadays fat blockers are considered as the most neutral pills with efficacy approved by serious clinical studies as well as many weight loss success stories.

The components in fat blockers prevent the lipase action, which is responsible for fats assimilation by your body. So, part of fats from the meals you’ve eaten passes through your body indigested, and is lead out naturally.

You can eat fatty food and don’t be afraid of gaining weight, as the part of fats is blocked by fat blockers. More, fat blockers do not affect your nervous system, and medical professionals advise using fat blockers for long term and substantial weight loss.

The most known chemically based fat blockers are Xenical and its over-the-counter analog Alli. Due to unnatural origin, these weight loss pills have side effects, such as loose stool and oily leakage on your underwear.

The most known and popular natural fat blocker is Proactol, which binds fats into vicious solution and therefore having no side effects. It is recommended by the leading fitness and weight loss professionals. More to say, many overweight people used Proactol for long-term weight loss and noticed remarkable results.

Conclusion

I hope the information provided will help you to orient yourself in the weight loss pills types, and to make right decision. Most effective weight loss pills are the pills that will help you to support your efforts without affecting your health.

Appetite suppressants and fat burners can be a good solution for short term weight loss, if you want to get rid of just several pounds prior to a holidays or some important event. Just make sure they don’t contain any harmful components.

Fat blockers are a great solution if you are interested in long term weight loss and you need more serious yet safe support to your weight loss efforts.

Anyway, weight loss pills are just one of the elements of successful weight loss, and your own efforts are the guarantee of fast and long-term success.

Anthony Voronoff is an expert making reviews and comparisons of proven natural weight loss pills from reputable brands. If you want to discover top natural weight loss pills proven for efficacy and positively rated by customers, visit Best weight loss pills now.

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Bee Pollen Recipes – Revolutionary Ways of Taking Your Bee Pollen Daily Supplements

Are you getting tired of the same old routine of taking your bee supplements? Fret no more because there are some bee pollen recipes that could add a spark in your daily nutrition. These recipes are fun to make as well as delicious to consume. These recipes are especially designed and formulated to maintain and keep the vital components of bee pollen supplements.

What are the vital components of these pollens that are so important anyway? These pollens actually contain your complete nutrition needs for healthy living. These tiny pollen granules possess highly enriched essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes and coenzymes, proteins and amino acids, antibiotic components as well as antihistamine and antioxidant properties in valuable proportions. These nutrients are responsible for keeping your body in tiptop shape and health as well as restore vitality and vigor.

The health benefits are very beneficial because it aids in a cell regeneration processes in the body, revitalizes your various organs and glands to maintain their proper functionality, delays and may even reverse the natural aging process for youthfulness, as well as provides natural energy to keep you on the go. This particular pollen also increases both red blood cell and white blood cell levels in the body, and significantly decreases the bad high density lipoproteins or HDL and increases the good low density lipoproteins or LDL, which brings about the lessening of bad cholesterol levels in your bloodstream.

There are also certain claims of medical miracles from this type of pollen like curing and preventing prostate problems in men as well as increasing their sperm count levels, eliminating possible cancer and tumor development as well as certain heart problems. There are so much more benefits we can get from these supplements and all of them are valuable for one’s health because it brings about longer life.

The pollen from the bee will not be called Nature’s most perfect and complete food if not because of its priceless contribution to man’s health. Bee pollen recipes are now constantly being invented and revolutionized to help you enjoy nutrition more. These can also bring your whole family’s healthy lifestyle to a new level, especially if you have kids who do not want to take bee pollen products like you do. You can always covertly add bee granules in their meals and drinks but somehow you get tired of the same old routine.

The first recipe involves cooking some of the ingredients excluding the pollen of course because as we all – know heat processing bee pollens will lose its potency, that’s a big no no.

The complete ingredients are fresh liquid royal jelly, wholegrain bee granules, unprocessed honey, cayenne pepper, ginger root, mixed all-spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, fresh lemons, fresh limes, fresh oranges, and carrots. First, you have to peel the carrots and boil it until it is almost tender and mix it with cayenne pepper, ginger root, mixed all-spice, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Set it aside and let it cool down. Next is to grate the lemon peel, squeeze out the juices of the limes and oranges. Put the mixed juices, royal jelly, bee granules, honey, and the lemon peel in a blender and blend well. When the heated ingredients are cool enough, you can blend them in with the rest of the ingredients and what you get is an invigorating fruit punch packed with nutrients which really tastes great. This is a flexible recipe so you can add or subtract any ingredients that will suit your personal tastes.

The next bee pollen recipe on the list is the Hall of Fame Smoothie which has an earthy flavor. The main ingredients which include eight young carrots, one small beet, one half turnip, one half parsnip, three large celery stalks, one large Fuji apple, one large Comice pear, and 2 inches of Burdock root, all needed to be juiced before putting everything in a blender. Next, is to add one teaspoon of bee pollen granules, two tablespoons of barley green, and one scoop of vanilla powder in the blender. Put on the puree setting of your blender for 2 minutes and you will have the most delightful drink you could ever imagine.

Sometimes, in the morning when you are in a rush and need some sustaining energy to last through the day this drink provides a long term solution. One of the bee pollen recipes is a drink called Strawberry-Banana Wheat Wonder that is a blend of milk and fruit with some special additives that makes the difference from an average drink to a pure taste delight drink packing more energy for you.

The ingredients include two cups of whole milk, one banana, one egg, three strawberries, one tablespoon of colloidal minerals, a teaspoon of bee granules, one tablespoon of acidophilus, half cup raw wheat germ, ten drops of pure orange oil, a half teaspoon rose water and finally, one scoop of vanilla powder. Just blend all the ingredients until smooth.

Micheal Thomas is an editor for a series of health related websites. Learn about the best bee pollen supplement that we ourselves use daily after extensive product comparisons and research over at http://www.bee-pollen-supplement-guide.com

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Losing Weight with Phentermine

To be healthy is the ultimate desire of the young generation. A healthy body is defined as a proper ratio of height and weight of an individual and it is called mass index. If mass index exceeds the body ratio then it is treated as an obesity case. There are mainly two advantages of healthy body; increase in resistive power to fight back the disease, and improve self-confidence level of the individual. Keeping body fit helps the individual to progress in all the walks of life.

To overcome obesity is the primary requirement of an individual and to overcome this, strong will power and patience play an important role. But in most of the cases, people are unable to cope up with these factors; thus some of the medicine experts introduced weight loss tablets in the market. These pills help in reducing the excess weight and keep the individual fit and healthy. One of such pill is the phentermine, which acts as an agent in suppressing the diet and appetite. When diet and appetite is in control, body automatically responds to the mass index of the individual. The phentermine is one of the best diet suppressant medicines available in the recent market. It has a certificate approved by the FDA and it is working in this field since 1953. It helps in reducing weight in just two to three months. The proper ratio of metabolic rate and the calorie ratios are properly maintained with the help of phentermine. Another reason for Phentermine to be popular world wide is the cost of the pills as compared to other weight loss pills. Phentermine pills are cheap and fulfill the desire of being healthy and fit.

As we know that the Phentermine is a medicine that controls the appetite, it is also an Anorectics class of drug. The main job of these pills is to affect the serotonin conditions of the brain and in turn reduce the quantity of intake. Due to this the individual is less attracted towards the fatty foodstuffs and gains control over the excess calories. Every medicine takes time to show actual effects and the same is the case with Phentermine, so people taking Phentermine pills should have patience and will power.

Phentermine does not boast about its popularity neither it is a magic pill because Phentermine work for those people who are ready to carry out daily workouts nor stick to the balanced diet. It is a two way process. Once you are ready to follow the system then only Phentermine will work for you otherwise the result will not be achieved as per your anticipation. The Phentermine pills are recommended to those patients who are suffering from obesity and other illness related to over-weight. People with heart problems should not go for Phentermine. Pregnant women are advised to stay away from Phentermine and in case they are already taking Phentermine, should consult their doctor for the right kind of doses; otherwise the new born baby may lead to abnormalities. Brest feeding mothers are not recommended to take Phentermine pills.

There are various formulae available in case of Phentermine pills, one of them is quick release formula that provides fast impact on the blood stream and helps in controlling the appetite and reduces the weight enormously. The second formula works with time frame, in which the medicine mixes in blood stream after 12 hours and after this period only, the actions start for controlling the appetite. The obesity patients who are undergoing treatment with Phentermine are advised not to engage in activities such as driving and working on heavy machineries.

Individuals have to follow Phentermine pills for three to four months and during this period they have to carry out regular exercise and follow correct dose of the pills.

Learn more about Phentermine and how it can be part of your weight loss toolbox at PhenForum.com. This site offers discussion forums, a weight loss support group, weight loss tips, and much more – all for free!

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Houston Weight Loss Doctor

If you are an overweight Houston resident, you may want to consider seeking the services of a slim-down doctor. A Houston weight loss doctor can give you options regarding diet and exercise. Also, they can give your assistance in achieving your ideal weight and weight management goals.

Skilled professional

A Houston weight loss doctor has the expertise and experience to create suitable programs for you. doctors would schedule a consultation first. There will physical exams and body analysis that would be done. Also, your dietary history will be asked.

All these procedures would provide your with correct measurements – water weight, fat pounds, muscle pounds, among others. Plus, your ideal calorie intake and body fat amount will be calculated. When measuring all these, your body type will be considered.

Program recommendation

The consultation would provide your doctor how to make a suitable program. Then, a program would be recommended to you. Sometimes, doctors may provide you with different options for medication. They may even suggest giving you booster shots to increase your energy level and slim-down rate. Also, surgery may even be recommended.

There are different options for surgery that a Houston weight loss doctor can recommend. These include stomach stapling and gastric bypass surgery. Stomach stapling, or vertical banded gastroplasty, entails stapling a stomach part to regulate food intake. Gastric bypass surgery, on the other hand, involves having a new stomach that is planted on the small intestine.

dietary supplements and prescription medications are recommended to those who need other approaches aside from controlled diet and physical regimen. However, these supplements and medications need to be regulated. Surgery is recommended to those persons whose health conditions are gravely affected. Obesity poses health risks, so weight problems should be properly addressed. A Houston doctor can certainly address your problems and provide you with effective options.

Phillip England is a weight loss expert and Author of the popular report “The Ultimate Weight Loss Secret”. To receive your free information on the secret that doctors, and health companies either don’t know, or don’t want you to know, please see [http://www.theultimateweightlosssecret.com/secret]

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Phentermine 37.5mg Tablets

phentermine is available in three dosages; 15mg capsules, 30mg capsules and 37.5 mg tablets. Because phentermine is a generic drug, it is also available from numerous manufacturers. You can find out which company manufactured your phentermine using the imprints on the pill.

Phentermine 37.5 mg tablets come in the form of white tablets with small blue speckles on them. The exception is Purepac phentermine 37.5 mg, which has no specks on it. If you’ve received Mutual Labs phentermine and you’re worried because the specks look painted on, you can relax now because that’s how they are manufactured. Just like Purepac phentermine 37.5 mg pills, Mutual Labs’ tablets contain all the medication in the white compound. So, the specks are just for looks and all the phentermine is still there.

The majority of people choose Phentermine 37.5 mg over the other doses because they want to ensure they don’t get hungry or tired. The people who take 37.5mg are generally those who will post in their weight loss journals about how they took the kids to school, cleaned out the house and reorganized their furniture, and made a fabulous dinner all in time to take a nice shower and relax in front of the tv before bed.

Now, that sounds nice in theory but when you’re taking Phentermine 37.5 mg you need to make sure you don’t starve yourself. Don’t get me wrong – you WILL lose weight if you don’t eat. But the problem is that when you don’t eat enough, your body purposely slows down your metabolism to nearly a hault. So, when you stop taking Phentermine and start getting hungry again, when you eat you’ll automatically store most of the calories you eat because your body is trying to store food to live on.

You CAN definitely lose weight with Phentermine 37.5 mg. Just make sure you get at least 4 medium sized meals or 6 small meals daily; and you need to eat the right foods to ensure that you don’t yo-yo back up after your weight loss.

Get the tools you need to lose weight with Phentermine 37.5 mg tablets permanently. If you’re serious about your health and wouldn’t mind losing more weight, why not pick up some quick tips on how to succeed with your diet this time around? Click here to get your free diet tips newsletter.

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Adding More Phytonutrients To Your Diet Provides Big Benefits

Adding more phytonutrients to your diet might just seem like a prescription for more food, more confusion, more to worry about. But in reality, making sure you get enough of the phytonutrient benefit is as easy as adding color, freshness and variety.

Phytonutrients are found naturally in a variety of foods, such as legumes, nuts, teas, fruits, vegetables and grains, but are not considered necessary to sustain life (as are fats, protein, vitamins and minerals). Many people choose to increase phytonutrients in their diet by improved diet as well as nutritional supplementation.

Phytonutrients are thought to have a variety of beneficial and significant benefits to our health. Eating more whole foods in the form of fruits and vegetables and the like can benefit you by protecting you from cancer and certain diseases. In addition, it’s believed that phytonutrients can improve cell-to-cell communication within the body, possibly repair DNA damage from smoking and other toxic substances, and strengthen the immune system.

So how do you add more phytonutrients to your diet? It’s as easy as adding color, variety and freshness.

Color – When you think of phytonutrients, think color. Think of the bright red of a perfectly ripe tomato, or the rich redness of a summer grape. Although fruits and vegetables are the best source of nutrient-dense phytonutrients, most Americans get woefully low amounts of fresh produce in their diets. According to the USDA, while it’s recommended we get at least 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, most Americans get little more than 3 servings. Of that, deep yellow and dark green vegetables account for only 0.2 daily servings on average.

Yet it’s the richly colored vegetables and fruits that provide the best sources of phytonutrients. If your grocery cart isn’t full of color (and that doesn’t include colored Goldfish crackers), add some next time you’re shopping.

Variety — Although fruits and vegetables are the best sources of phytonutrients, they aren’t the only source. So while you want to add a lot of color to your diet in the form of nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables like berries, grapes, tomatoes, peppers, spinach and the like, think about adding other sources of phytonutrients as well. Consider adding a glass of tea at lunch or dinner or some chopped pecans or slivered almonds to your oatmeal in the morning.

Freshness – There is much debate on the value of fresh vegetables versus frozen. It’s fair to say everyone agrees that canned holds little nutritional content, so adding can of veggies to your cart isn’t the best plan (this excludes canned tomatoes which retain the freshness and nutrient value of fresh). But in a pinch, or in the off season, frozen vegetables can certainly be included in your daily diet. Frozen fruits are always fine, as long as they are whole, unprocessed and without added sugar.

Adrenal Fatigue And How To Beat It.

Your adrenal glands are two tiny pyramid-shaped pieces of tissue situated right above each kidney. Their job is to produce and release, when appropriate, certain regulatory hormones and chemical messengers. Adrenaline is manufactured in the interior of the adrenal gland, called the adrenal medulla. Cortisol, the other chemical from the adrenal gland, is made in the exterior portion of the gland, called the adrenal cortex. The cortex also secretes androgens, estrogens, and progestins. Cortisol, commonly called hydrocortisone, is the most abundant — and one of the most important — of many adrenal cortex hormones. Cortisol helps you handle longer-term stress situations. In addition to helping you handle stress, these two primary adrenal hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, along with others similarly produced, help control body fluid balance, blood pressure, blood sugar, and other central metabolic functions. In the heightened nervous state of adrenal burnout, the body overproduces adrenaline, cortisol and other stress hormones. Constant stress and poor nutrition can weaken the adrenal glands. Eventually, this causes the adrenal glands, the front line in the stress reaction, to show wear and tear and become depleted. This frequently leads to impairment in the thyroid gland, which can cause a further decline in energy level and mood and is one of the reasons why many people have thyroid glands that don’t work well. When stress continues over prolonged periods of time, the adrenal glands can deplete the body’s hormonal and energy reserves, and the glands may either shrink in size or hypertrophy (enlarge). The overproduction of adrenal hormones caused by prolonged stress can weaken the immune system and inhibit the production of white blood cells that protect the body against foreign invaders (in particular lymphocytes and lymph node function). Adrenal dysfunction can disrupt the body’s blood sugar metabolism, causing weakness, fatigue, and a feeling of being run down. It can also interfere with normal sleep rhythms and produce a wakeful, unrelaxing sleep state, making a person feel worn out even after a full night’s sleep. Common Causes of Adrenal Stress • Anger • Fear / Worry /Anxiety • Depression • Guilt • Overwork/ physical or mental strain • Excessive exercise • Sleep deprivation • Light-cycle disruption • Going to sleep late • Surgery • Trauma/injury • Chronic inflammation • Chronic infection • Chronic pain • Temperature extremes • Toxic exposure • Malabsorption • Maldigestion • Chronic illness • Chronic-severe allergies • Hypogycemia • Nutritional deficiencies Testing for Adrenal Health In order to determine the health of your adrenal glands you need to have a simple blood, urine, or saliva test such as the Adrenal Stress Index performed through your practitioner. Cortisol levels can be checked by blood in the morning or throughout the day by a saliva test. DHEA, and Epinephrine, are some other indicators of adrenal function.The information provided by testing can help to determine the most appropriate type of treatment. Associated Symptoms and Consequences of Impaired Adrenal Functioning • Low body temperature • Weakness • Unexplained hair loss • Nervousness • Difficulty building muscle • Irritability • Mental depression • Difficulty gaining weight • Apprehension • Hypoglycemia • Inability to concentrate • Excessive hunger • Tendency towards inflammation • Moments of confusion • Indigestion • Poor memory • Feelings of frustration • Alternating diarrhea and constipation • Osteoporosis • auto-immune diseases/hepatitis • Lightheadedness • Palpitations [heart fluttering] • Dizziness that occurs upon standing • Poor resistance to infections • Low blood pressure • Insomnia • Food and/or inhalant allergies • PMS • Craving for sweets • Dry and thin skin • Headaches • Scanty perspiration • Alcohol intolerance Treatment Lifestyle changes such as: Eating steadily, all day long. Skipping meals is one of the worst things you can do for your body. When you’re hungry, your blood sugar drops, stressing your adrenal glands and triggering your sympathetic nervous system. That causes light-headedness, cravings, anxiety and fatigue. Another drawback to skipping meals: The resulting low blood sugar can affect your ability to think clearly and shorten your attention span. Skipping breakfast is particularly bad, as it is a sure fire way to gain, not lose, weight. If you start each morning with a good breakfast and “graze” healthfully every two to four hours, your blood sugar will remain steady throughout the day. You’ll feel more rested and energetic. Eat protein with every meal. Eat Complex carbohydrates such as brown rice. Avoid sugar, junk food, white pasta, white rice, white bread. Absolutely NO Caffeine. Coffee/Sodas over stimulates your adrenals and they deplete important B vitamins. Coffee does not give you energy; coffee gives you the illusion of energy. Coffee actually drains the body of energy and makes you more tired, because of vitamin and adrenal depletion. Exercise to relax. Walking, Yoga, deep breathing, meditation, or stretching. No vigorous or aerobic exercise, which depletes the adrenals. Avoid alcohol, processed foods, and tobacco. Nicotine in tobacco initially raises cortisol levels, but chronic use results in low DHEA, testosterone, and progesterone levels. Reduce stress; learn relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, progressive muscle relaxation. Helpful Supplements The use of small amounts of natural adrenal hormone (hydrocortisone) to bring slightly low adrenal function up to its proper normal daily range is often helpful. Take a daily multivitamin to provide nutritional support to the adrenal gland. Vitamin C 1,000-3,000 mg a day L-Theanine 100-400 mg a day Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) 300 mg a day Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), no more than 1000 mg of glycyrrhizin