In episode 14, Dr. Larson discusses:
- How stress can manifest itself in a variety of ways
- Symptoms of stress include sleep issues, anxiety, depression, heart palpitation, gastrointestinal problems
- The Adrenal Glands are a powerhouse of hormones that are separated into 2 components: The Cortex and the Medulla
- There are three main categories of stressors that influence the adrenal glands
- Physical stressors, such as an unresolved injury, poor posture
- Chemical stress, such as blood sugar imbalances, environmental chemicals
- Mental/emotional stressors, such as worry
- The HPA axis is the Hypothalamus, Pituitary gland and the Adrenal axis
- Environmental triggers could include dietary proteins, dairy, egg, and other foods
- When different stressors influence us, they affect the entire HPA axis
- Addison’s disease (low functioning adrenal state) and Cushing Syndrome (high functioning adrenal state) are both autoimmune diseases
- Common symptoms that tell us that your body has dysfunction include sleeping problems, fatigue, energy problems, hormone imbalances related to the immune system, having more infections, getting colds more often, gastrointestinal issues, anxiety, depression, brain fog, and more
- Management for the the stressors in your life include meditation, prayer, yoga, and exercise is phenomenal for de-stressing the body
- Dietary aspect is crucial to function of HPA axis.
- Diet can play a role in balancing the adrenal glands. Don’t let your blood sugar drop. The most important thing you can do in the morning is to eat some protein
- Have protein throughout the day
- Break up your meals into 4-6 meals per day
- Certain nutrients are required by the adrenal glands to make these hormones
- Your body needs certain key vitamins for hormone production, targeted nutritional supplementation is also part of the protocol
