Archive for the ‘Prevention information’ Category

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What you Need to Know About BPA

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Bisphenol A is a compound tin_can250that is used to coat the inside of almost all food and beverage cans, including soft drinks. It is also used to make plastics, including baby and water bottles and sports equipment. It has been shown to leach into our food and drinks. What may come as a surprise is that it has been suspected of being hazardous since the 1930’s, yet is still found in a multitude of products today.

Increased research has been conducted over the past few years and alarming health concerns have surfaced. BPA has been found to be an endocrine disruptor, meaning that it mimics the action of hormones in your body causing several negative health effects. It has been shown to interfere with fetal and infant brain development, disruption of thyroid functioning, increased prostate cancer susceptibility, heart disease and diabetes. The FDA raised further concerns regarding exposure of fetuses, infants, and young children in a 2010 report.

A few weeks ago, the Washington Post (2/23, Layton) reported that ““Major US foodmakers are quietly investigating how to rid their containers of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical under scrutiny by federal regulators concerned about links to a range of health problems,” but the companies “are discovering how complicated it is to remove the chemical, which is in the epoxy linings of nearly every metal can on supermarket shelves and leaches into foods such as soup, liquid baby formula and soda.”

In addition, it reported that the “FDA does not know which companies use BPA, how much they use or how it is applied, because manufacturers are not required to disclose that information.“

If you’d like to reduce your exposure to this harmful compound, stay away from food and drinks in metal cans, and plastic bottles (labeled with #3 or #7 on the bottom of the bottle), avoid heating plastic in the microwave or dishwasher, and choose to store food in glass instead.

If you would like to learn more about how food, lifestyle and even cosmetic products can negatively affect your health by disrupting you hormone balance, contact us for a complimentary consultation or join us for our Hormone Health Seminar coming April 5th in Los Gatos.

Dorothy Lizak

Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

 

 

 

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A

photo: thank you: www.recyclethis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/tin_can250.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20060609/how-can-i-reuse-or-recycle-food-cans&usg=__PYfFWjneGXbzTJHuNOoKwcijdP8=&h=197&w=250&sz=24&hl=en&start=37&sig2=qM82gMsGuGbMa6l4J_jKng&itbs=1&tbnid=UyWKqT0hF93ycM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtin%2Bcan%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=UiKVS8jwO5vMswPb59j8Aw

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Benefits of Cod Liver Oil

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Omega-3 for youCod liver oil is beneficial  as a dietary supplement for many reasons:

  • It promotes heart health and normal cholesterol balance
  • Supports immune system health, mood, memory, joint health, blood sugar health and helps to relieve stress
  • Helps to increase energy level and promote cognitive function
  • Provides immune system support
  • Aids in regulating cell growth
  • Supports a strong skeletal system
  • Supports a healthy inflammatory response

Cod liver oil is able to provide all of these great health benefits because it contains Omega 3 oils.  Omega 3 fatty acids also contain DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and ALA (Alpha-Linolenic Acid).  All are important and therefore when purchasing Cod Liver oil make sure what you are purchasing contains all of the above.

Essential fatty acids are essential to your health and one important item to understand is that your body does not make them on its own and therefore supplementation is recommended.  There are many brands on the market and  each distributor manufactures  fish oil differently, some better than others.  Therefore, when purchasing brands you should look for the following:

  • Make sure your brand is free of mercury, PCBs and other contaminants.
  • Confirm low oxidation levels in the fish or cod liver oil.
  • Check that your fish or cod liver oil contains vitamin E.
  • The taste test - lemon flavoring adds a fresh taste.

Fish oil is very safe to take however contraindications are below:

  • If you have been diagnosed with the relatively uncommon condition of sarcoidosis, you should rigidly avoid sunshine and vitamin D.
  • If you are allergic to shellfish, have a blood coagulation condition, or are taking anticoagulants such as Warfarin (Coumadin®), do not use fish oil.
  • Cod liver oil contains both Vitamin A and D and over consumption of any supplement is never a good thing. Therefore, you many want to get your levels checked before taking fish oil as a supplement.

 

Lori Metroka, Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

Reference:  www.mercola.com/cod-liver-oil.htm

Los Gatos nutrition coaching, San Francisco nutrition coaching, Los Gatos Personal Training,

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Curb Hunger by Eating Right

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

We often have clients coming to us woman-eating-appleasking for ways to curb hunger. Some report feeling full after they finish a meal only to feel hungry again an hour or so later. Others say they feel o.k. in the morning, but find themselves getting hungry before or after lunch. Many times, just by making a few changes in what and when they eat can make a big difference in how they feel throughout the day. If you are finding yourself hungry outside of mealtime, try the following tips to find the real cause of  your hunger and learn how to improve how you feel throughout the day.

1. Eat Breakfast (and every other meal): Eating breakfast kick starts your metabolism and provides you with the energy you need to begin your day. Eating breakfast has also been shown to help promote weight loss and improve mood and concentration.

(As a side note, it is NEVER o.k. to skip meals. Your body needs fuel throughout the day to function properly, and by skipping meals you are throwing your hormonal system off balance which will impair how your body uses and stores calories, causing a multitude of problems, including the storage of calories as fat.) 

2. Drink Enough Water: Did you know that hunger is sometimes a sign of dehydration? Be mindful of how much water you are drinking throughout the day. A good rule of thumb: Your urine should be clear enough to be able to read through it (if there were a hypothetical piece of literature in your bowl).

3. Eat Protein: Many times too many carbohydrates in our diets are the culprits for increased hunger and decreased energy and mood. Carbohydrates are great for providing us energy, but our bodies burn through these fairly quickly. Protein takes longer to digest, keeping you feeling full until your next meal. Good sources of protein include lean meat, fish, nuts, beans, legumes, eggs and dairy.

4. Don’t Forget About Fiber: Most of us do not get enough fiber in our diets. Because it is undigestible, fiber moves through the digestive tract slowly, so it makes you feel full and has been shown to help reduce overeating, control blood sugar, reduce cholesterol and your risk of colon cancer. Fiber can be found in whole grains, nuts, seeds, and in the skins of fruits and vegetables. Don’t peel that apple!

5. Know Your Metabolic Type: Just as our bodies look different on the outside, they are also functioning differently on the inside. Knowing your metabolic type, or how quickly your body turns food into energy, is extremely helpful in knowing what ratio of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats you should be eating at every meal. Common symptoms when not eating for your metabolic type include: getting hungry quickly, fatigue, nervous energy, depression, headaches, mental sluggishness and cravings for sweets or coffee. Contact us if you would like to learn what your metabolic type is.

 

As always, we appreciate your comments and feedback on how these changes are impacting your life. If you are interested in learning more about how to restore health and vitality in your body, feel free to contact us for a complimentary consultation. We provide nutrition and lifestyle coaching in Los Gatos and San Francisco as well as over the phone.

 

Dorothy Lizak

Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

 

Photo: thank you to: http://women4hope.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/woman-eating-apple.jpg

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Tips for making good cholesterol (HDL)

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

 

Today we are made to believe that saturated fat is bad for us. Eating Steak

Fact

  • - Today CAD (coronary artery disease) causes 40% of deaths in the USA and we have been told that this is because of saturated fat. Therefore, one would expect to see a direct correlation between increase in CAD and increase in saturated fat consumption. Actually, the opposite is true. During 1910-1970 the proportion of animal fat in the American diet decreased from 83% to 62% and butter plummeted from 18lbs per person per year to 4lbs. Over the past 80 years cholesterol intake only rose 1%. During this same time the percentage of dietary vegetable oils in the form of margarines, shortenings and refined oils increased about 400% and sugar and processed foods increased about 60%. - How to Eat Move and Be Healthy, Paul Chek

We are taught that we need to watch fat intake in order to control cholesterol levels but how can saturated fat be the culprit when saturated fat consumption has gone down and sugar and trans-fatty acids have gone up?    It is true, we do need to watch fat intake, however, we are not taught what type of fats should be avoided nor are we taught how carbohydrates also contribute to bad cholesterol levels (LDL). 

Cholesterol is important to our bodies’ it is needed to create bile acids, which are needed for digestion of fats and vitamin D as well as aid in hormone production. So when we are not eating correctly to make healthy cholesterol we are not able to contribute to good cholesterol (HDL) levels.  Below is a list of tips for how to improve your good cholesterol (HDL) and how to lower your bad cholesterol (LDL).

  • 1. Eat healthy fats such as egg yolks, nuts, green leafy vegetables and wild fish such as salmon. These fats are high in Omega 3’s and contribute to HDL.

 

  • 2. Eliminate processed foods. Processed foods are high in carbohydrates and typically are supplemented with unhealthy fats (transfats). These are foods that have a shelf life and are typically found in the center of the grocery store. These items contribute to bad cholesterol (HDL)

 

  • 3. Minimize alcohol consumption. Alcohol is high in sugar which means it’s high in carbohydrates which will lead to bad cholesterol levels (LDL).

 

  • 4. Exercise. Exercising helps to burn unused sugars for energy. So rather than the sugar getting stored as bad cholesterol it can get eliminated through exercise.

 

  • 5. Rotate your protein. Eat chicken one day, red meat the next, fish the next day and so on. This way you are getting a variety of nutrients as well as getting fat from a variety of sources.

 

If you just start to become aware of what you are putting into your body and just start with the tips we have listed above you are one step closer to a healthier body.  If you would like more information of how to eat or what you should be eating join us for one of our Wellness lectures, visit www.replenishingsoul.com/our-events.com

 

 Lori Metroka, Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

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Break and Breathe: Simple Relaxation Techniques to Reduce Stress FAST

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

Many of us are constantly on the go, stress0multi-tasking our way through our day and finding ourselves feeling stressed out. If you are like so many others, your mind may be racing, your heart rate and breathing may quicken and you may have trouble concentrating and getting your work done. This probably starts making you feel badly about yourself and negative thoughts start swirling in your mind which just causes you to be more stressed. As we’ve mentioned in other blogs, stress doesn’t just affect you mind, it also negatively affects the way your body functions. It causes hormone imbalances, disrupts sleep, digestion, your immune system and has a strong correlation with medical conditions such as heart disease and depression. 

 

The next time you are feeling stressed, I want you to remember the two B’s: “Break and Breathe” and do the following.

 

1. Take a Break:

You are given breaks at work for a reason, so take them. So often we get caught up in the mindset of “I don’t have time” and work through our breaks and lunch which only leaves us burnt out, more stressed and less productive. Instead, take a time out, do some of the breathing exercises below, and you’ll probably be more productive when you get back. It’s best to leave your workspace, but if you can’t you can easily do these at your desk.

2. Breathe:

One of the easiest ways to change how your body is physically reacting to stress is through your breath. By focusing on your breathing, you are forcing your heart rate to slow down which will calm your body and mind. Here are a few breathing exercises to choose from.

     1. Close your eyes and inhale as slowly as you can and silently count “1″. Then exhale slowly and silently count “2″. On your next inhale, silently count “3″ and so on. The goal is to reach the number “20″. By this point you should notice that your breathing will be fuller and deeper, and you will be more relaxed.

     2. Close your eyes and inhale as slowly as you can. Try to prolong your inhale to the silent count of 4 seconds. When you finish inhaling, gently hold you breath for 2 seconds and slowly exhale to the silent count of 8 seconds. Repeat for a minute or longer. If you can’t control your breathing for that long, its ok to shorten the duration of inhale and exhale, just make sure your exhale is twice as long as your inhale.

   3. Close your eyes. As you slowly inhale through your nose, visualize pure white cleansing air entering and filling your entire body. As you exhale, picture the gray negative, stressed air exiting your body through your nose. Continue this process as you inhale and exhaling, replacing your stressed out body with clean, fresh air and energy.

It’s also important to remember that mental/emotional stress isn’t the only way to stress out your body. Eating the wrong kinds of foods, going to bed late, not drinking enough water, having unbalanced hormones, can induce stress on your body and cause a multitude of symptoms including low back and neck pain, PMS, irritable bowel syndrome, frequent illness, migraines, and many others. We provide nutrition and lifestyle coaching in Los Gatos and San Francisco as well as over the phone. Give us a call to learn how to get your body back in balance.

If you try these stress techniques, let us know your experience, we’d love to hear from you.

 

 

Dorothy Lizak

Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

 

References:

photo thank you to: http://www.stressrelatedillness.com/stress-management.html

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Repair, Aging & Degeneration

Saturday, December 5th, 2009

red-blood-cellsDamage to the body is unavoidable.  Damage to your body comes in many forms: biochemical, electromagnetic, pathogenic, physiological, or toxic.  Even though damage to your body is unavoidable there are still ways to slow down the aging and degenerative processes.  Our practice at Replenishing Soul is not about helping people live longer lives, this is something we feel is not in our hands.  However, we are about teaching our clients how they can have a better quality of life.

Your body is working everyday to keep itself in balance.  This process of keeping balance is called homeostasis and is a word that will be used frequently throughout this blog entry.  Once homeostasis in a particular pathway is lost, for whatever reason, compensations in other pathways will occur.  Your body will naturally shift from the weakened pathway to a stronger pathway in order to keep balance and to either minimize or eliminate symptomatology.  When your body switches over to use stronger pathways these changes may go unknown to you, meaning that metabolic changes are taking place within your body that you are unaware of and cannot necessarily feel taking place.

There are five stages to disorder progression.  The first phase of disorder is the deviation from homeostasis.  If the body cannot do so compensation will progress to the second phase of disorder: pathophysiology.  Once in this phase the body will still attempt to return to the previous phase.  Should the pathophysiology continue then the third phase of progress will take place: pathomorphology.  Pathomorphology is where the body’s tissues undergo change.  Again, the body will try to return to the previous state of disorder.  If the progression continues and goes unnoticed the forth stage of progression will happen which is symtomatology. Should symtomatology continue and the body is unable to go back to the previous stage more systems will go into dysfunction.  It is at this point that the fifth and final stage will take place, stage five being death.  At any point along this progression the transition from acute disorder to chronic disorder may take place.  The further one gets within this progression the harder it is to return to the state of homeostasis.  One point I would like to make here is that these five stages can take place over a course of a few hours to years.

Even though the aging and degenerative process are inevitable there are a few items that you can do to slow them down and have a quality of life that is pain free, full of energy, stable mood and ideal weight:

  • 1. Eat balanced meals. Each meal and or snack should contain a protein, fat and carbohydrate.
  • 2. Keep your hormones in balance. Eating balanced meals, removing sugar and caffeine from your diet and getting to bed on time will help to keep your hormones in check. If you suspect a hormonal imbalance you should have your hormones tested. Call Replenishing Soul to order your hormone kits that can be done in the comforts of your own home.
  • 3. Get sleep. Sleep is vital to helping your body repair. If you suffer from sleeping problems either trouble getting asleep or staying asleep call us for a consultation.
  • 4. Get exercise. Be careful with this one. Even though exercise is good for you it can stress out an already stressed out body. If you are unsure of how you should be exercising you can have one of our CHEK practitioners evaluate your routine for you.
  • 5. Keep your digestive system healthy. 80% of your immune system is within your gut. Therefore, having a healthy gut means having a healthy body. If you have questions or concerns about your digestive system call us, you may benefit from gut testing.
  • 6. Don’t ignore the symptoms your body is giving you. If for any reason you don’t feel well then don’t ignore what your body is trying to tell you. Don’t accept someone telling you that “that is part of the aging process” or you’ll just have to learn to live with it”. If any health practitioner tells you this find yourself a new one. It is not normal to not feel well.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us.  We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Lori Metroka

Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

 

Resource:  Biohealth Diagnostics:  Adrenal and Metabolic Interpretive Guide

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Inflammation – redness, swelling and pain

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

inflammationWhat is inflammation?  By definition it is …Pathology. Redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, heat, and disturbed function of an area of the body, esp. as a reaction of tissues to injurious agents.

Typically one thinks of inflammation as a cut or a sprain that may become red and swollen and this is the extent of what one thinks of when it comes to inflammation.  I am here to tell you that inflammation is more than just a cut or a sprain.  Just as the definition above states it is a disturbed function of an area of the body do to injurious agents.  For the purpose of this blog entry I will be discussing areas of the body that are susceptible to inflammation and explain what the injurious agents are.

First of all, any part of the human body can become inflamed.  That means that muscles, joints, nerves, organs and skin are all vulnerable to inflammation.  Becoming inflamed does not just happen from being injured from an accident.  Becoming inflamed as stated above in the definition comes from injurious agents.  What I need all of you to understand is  that an injurious agent can come from the food you eat, the beverages you drink, lack of sleep, emotional and physical stress, etc.  Each of these agents can affect your body in different ways but all can end up causing inflammation.

We see so many people that come into our offices not feeling well, feeling tired, knowing that something is wrong with them but yet nothing is found during a doctor’s visit.  More times than not these individuals bodies are trying to fight inflammation and our job is to find the source of the inflammation.  Typically what is given to treat inflammation are anti-inflammatory drugs and at times this is necessary but what I want all of you to know and understand is that if the injurious agent is not removed then you are only treating the symptoms and not the problem.

If you would like more information about how food, beverages, lack of sleep, emotional and physical stress become injurious agents sign up for our Wellness 101 lecture.  Visit www.replenishingsoul.com/our-events for more information or write us your questions, we would love to hear from you.

 

Lori Metroka,PT

Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

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What are Parabens and Phthalates?

Monday, October 5th, 2009

Two chemicals found in many beauty products, photo_woman_washing_faceparabens and phthalates, are beginning to raise more concerns as to their safety. Here’s a quick rundown of what they are and how to find them in your home.   

 What are Parabens?

Parabens are chemical preservatives estimated to be found in at least 13,200 cosmetic products. Research has found that parabens are estrogenic chemicals, meaning that they mimic the function of estrogen in your body.  Scientists believe that this can lead to a disruption of your normal hormone functioning and exposure to external estrogen has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer. There are six commonly used forms: Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, p-Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, n-Butylparaben and Benzylparaben.  

 What are Phthalates?

Phthalates are industrial compounds that are used as plasticizers in products such as nail polish, hair spray and as solvents and perfume fixatives in various other products. These have been implicated in studies to cause a broad range of birth defects and lifelong reproductive impairments including low sperm count, DNA damage in sperm and premature breast development in young girls. The principal phthalates used in cosmetic products are dibutylphthalate (DBP), dimethylphthalate (DMP), and diethylphthalate (DEP). You should know that under the authority of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA), the FDA requires that at the retail level cosmetic products must list all ingredients in their products. However, this does not apply to products used exclusively by professionals, as in salons.

Take a look in your make-up bag and shower and see how many of your products contain parabens and phthalates. More and more products are now advertising themselves as paraben and phthalate free, so they are not too difficult to find, particularly in health stores.

If you’d like to learn more about how hormones affect your health and what cosmetics are best, join us for our upcoming Hormone Health lecture. As always, if you have a comment or question, we’d love to hear from you. 

 

Dorothy Lizak

Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

 

 

 

References:

photo: www.herbariasoap.com/…/ woman-washing-face.jpg

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My Body Doesn’t Feel Right, but My Doctor Says I’m O.K.

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

Has there ever been a time in your life where your body just didn’t feel right? You then go to your doctor who tells you that you’re fine, and you’ll just “have to live with it.”  We hear stories like this over and over again, and today I’d like to share a personal experience I recently went through. A couple of months ago, I started to feel really run down. I was tired all of the time, sometimes I felt anxious, my heart would race (especially in the morning when I woke up), I had difficulty with my digestion, was dizzy and felt lightheaded when I stood up, noticed more hair loss, had cold hands and feet, headaches, and was getting sick more often (my immune system is usually excellent). I also noticed PMS symptoms, which I haven’t had since high school. Mentally I felt as if I were walking in a fog. I had trouble concentrating and an unusually poor memory.

My training in nutrition and wellness lead me to suspectadrenal that I had adrenal fatigue, which could also be the cause of my PMS symptoms (The stress hormone, cortisol, that the adrenal glands produce also impacts the production of the female sex hormones. As an aside, I should mention that cortisol also impacts thyroid function). Before I ran my own testing, I went to my primary care physician to get his input. He ran some blood tests and per my request also checked my cortisol, thyroid hormones, and checked for celiac disease (which is intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley). After reviewing the results, he said that everything, including my cortisol level, was “normal”. When asked what to do to alleviate these symptoms, he replied  “Sometimes you just have to learn to live with these things”. I must say that I have a tremendous amount of respect for my doctor, and the purpose of this blog is not to speak harshly about him or the medical community. My goal is to bring awareness to the notion that sometimes doctors don’t have all of the answers.

A week later, I repeated the testing through our clinic and was diagnosed with stage 2 adrenal fatigue. As I suspected, my adrenal glands had been overworked, and were not function properly, which was causing the laundry list of symptoms I mentioned earlier. I started taking bio-identical hormones (which are in liquid form and placed under your tongue), made sure to eat according to my metabolic type, and changed my exercise routine to one that would support my overly stressed body. I started to feel better in a couple of days. My mental clarity and mood were the first symptoms I noticed improvement in. My energy level has also gradually increased, and my PMS symptoms are gone.

You might be wondering how the tests my doctor ran came out “normal” while the ones that were conducted through our clinic weren’t. It’s because the tests we run look at sub clinical levels. In other words, the tests your doctor run are set up to identify disease or severe dysfunction. They are not sensitive to the more subtle shifts that take place in your body when you begin to have symptoms THAT CAN LATER BECOME DISEASE.

So, as for me, I’ve found one piece of my puzzle. I’m now working on getting answers to explain why I’m having issues with my digestion, something I’ve never had to deal with. If you need help putting the pieces of the puzzle together for your own medical needs, we’re here to help.

 

Dorothy Lizak

Nutrition and Wellness Specialist

 

 

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Are you suffering from adrenal fatigue?

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

Do you…

Suffer from sleepless/restless nights?

Suffer from night sweats?

Suffer from constipation and or diarrhea?

Suffer from fatigue and lack of energy?

Struggle to lose weight and or keep it off?

Suffer from mood swings?

Suffer from lack of libido?

If you answered yes to any one of the questions above you may be suffering from Adrenal fatigue.

 

WHAT IS ADRENAL FATIGUE?

There are two adrenal glands and each one sits on top of each kidney and are responsible for hormone production.  The hormones excreted by the adrenal glands are cortisol and DHEA.  In turn these two hormones continue to go on and make the sex hormones.  Therefore, when the adrenal glands have been overworked due to stressful situations such as long hours of work, lack of sleep/staying up late and a poor diet the adrenal glands stop working properly.  When the adrenal glands stop working this leads to adrenal fatigue.

Once the adrenals have become weakened you will begin to see situations arise as listed above.  The reason being is that when we are in a stressful situation whether it be physical or emotional our body releases cortisol to help up deal with the stressful situation.  In stage 1 of adrenal exhaustion one does not even feel stressed. In fact, typically one will fill energized and good because of the extra cortisol running through the body.  However, in later stages of adrenal fatigue typically stages 2 & 3 are when one begins to feel tired no matter how much sleep one gets.  The reason being is that as you move into later stages of adrenal fatigue your cortisol begins to run low and overtime the sex hormones become affected as well thus leading to severe fatigue, loss of sex drive, possible nights sweats, digestive problems and severe PMS symptoms for women.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF I SUFFER FROM ADRENAL FATIGUE?

You can test for adrenal exhaustion through saliva testing.  What needs to be assessed is ones cortisol and DHEA levels.  Cortisol should be higher in the morning as this is what wakes you up in the morning, hit its peak around mid day and then tappers off into the evening making one tired and sleepy.  Because cortisol changes throughout the day saliva tests are a good idea as you can test  the entire cycle (4 samples) of cortisol within a day. It is also a good idea to test estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels.  Saliva testing also tests for the active hormones in the blood stream where as blood tests the stored hormones. However, it is a good idea to have both tested.   If you are interested in saliva testing you can contact Replenishing Soul and we will gladly send you a kit that you can perform in the comforts of your own home.

CAN I RECOVER FROM ADRENAL FATIGUE AND IF SO HOW?

Yes, you can recover from adrenal fatigue.  However, it does take time.  The reason being is because your body has to reset and get back into balance.  Your brain and adrenal glands need to relearn how to communicate to each other.  If you suffer from adrenal fatigue it is a good idea to work with a Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach.  They can help you get back on track by evaluating and restructure your lifestyle as this is what weakened your adrenal glands in the first place.  Getting healthy again is about learning what foods and what proportions are right for your body and what type and what intensity of exercise is appropriate for your body at a particular time. You need to be taught how to manage stress through ways such as meditation or yoga.  In addition finding hidden stressors such as food intolerances also needs to be assessed.   Even though each person that we see in our clinic is entirely different and needs different strategies specific to them here are a few quick tips that will help you get back on track.

  • 1. Eliminate C.R.A.P. from your diet- caffeine, re-fined sugar, alcohol and processed foods
  • 2. Eliminate Gluten
  • 3. Get to bed by 10:00pm. Between 10pm-2am your body repairs physically and between 2am-6am your mind repairs. Therefore, if you are not sleeping between these hours your body is not healing.
  • 4. Find ways to manage stress

If you would like more information about Adrenal fatigue purchase James Wilson’s book:  Adrenal fatigue the 21st century stress syndrome.

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