What is Adrenal Dysfunction?

What is Adrenal Dysfunction?

The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys and make adrenaline (norepinephrine and epinephrine) some testosterone, and finally cortisol (a steroid).  When someone is stressed over time, their body goes through three stages of adrenal dysfunction.  

Stage 1 is where there is constant stress and the cortisol is high and doesn’t drop down like it’s supposed to.  This can make you feel “wired” all the time.  It can also make it hard to sleep at night, which will eventually lead to the next stage.

Stage 2 is when you have normal cortisol but other markers like DHEA are dropping, and when stressed, your body doesn’t respond properly.  We start seeing problems staying asleep as cortisol spikes at the wrong time and fatigue, especially in the afternoons, starts showing up

Stage 3 This is the last stage and people are just tired almost all the time, especially at 2-3 in the afternoon.  You feel “tired but wired” with stress.  Your adrenaline production is working, but you are not making cortisol.  The body is in a “survive vs. thrive” mindset.  

Adrenal fatigue is a self-protection mechanism.  You don’t want to drive a car 60 mph in 2nd gear for long, and the body is no different.  You have to tell the body it is safe through stress management techniques like meditation and getting at least 8 hours of sleep.   Using a saliva cortisol test is helpful to determine where your cortisol is relative to normal so that is a good place to start with a diagnosis.  Also, making sure there is no sleep apnea is paramount.  Once you have found a cause, there are also supplements that help at each stage.

Stage 1- Adrenal Balancer- This is mainly adaptogenic herbs which work on the brain to calm down the response to stress and help heal the adrenal gland.

Stage 2- Adrenal Assist- more focused on improving your energy while also healing the adrenals.

Stage 3 – Adrenal Power Up- Lots of kick in this one.  Recommend taking at awakening, noon, and again at 3 PM.  This mimics our natural cortisol cycle and will help get you moving.  

Adrenal fatigue, or adrenal dysfunction, is really a brain hormone issue, and the adrenals are not really damaged.  It can recover quickly if you follow the above recommendations.

Men, Prioritize your Health

Men, Prioritize your Health

After practicing medicine over 20 years, I think there is a reason we see women live longer.  Women prioritize their health and focus more on preventative care than men do. 

Men tend to take the ostrich approach and bury their heads in the sand and hope everything turns out all right.  Unfortunately, that method of healthcare stinks because by the time we get the memo that things are seriously wrong with our health, it is too late.  Think of your health as a retirement account.  The sooner you invest, the greater the benefit.  It is never too late to invest, but the older you get the more effort it requires to get the same benefit as the person who started early.   

What are some things that pay huge dividends in your health investment account and prevent major diseases?

Exercise, sleep, stress management (meditation), avoiding dental issues (a big source of inflammation for the heart), and getting labs that show how well you are doing health-wise, like fasting insulin, fractionated lipids, and inflammation markers.  Now that is where a good functional medicine doctor comes in. We actually understand these issues and labs and interpret them for you, so we can head off disease and practice true prevention.

Benefits of Berberine

Benefits of Berberine

I recently saw an article claiming that berberine is a natural Mounjura or Ozempic.  Of course, berberine is far less expensive, so it would be great if it performed just as well for weight loss, but it doesn’t. However, if we only concentrated on weight loss, it would be oversimplifying Berberine and its benefits.  It has been demonstrated in numerous studies to aid in weight loss through a variety of processes, including by assisting the anti-aging enzyme AMPK, which is unquestionably a plus. It also helps with weight reduction by assisting with fat burning and suppressing appetite.

Additionally, I have observed in clinical settings and in the literature that it lowers cholesterol, improves the balance of the gut microbiota, lowers blood sugars, and helps with mild to moderate weight difficulties.  

Berberine provides many more advantages than the latest weight-loss medications, by being more effective compared to those medications in terms of lowering blood cholesterol,  improving gut health and decreasing aging while also helping with blood sugar and weight issues.

Berberine 1-2 capsules with meals is a good start from companies like Douglas, Xymogen and Thorne.

Carotid Intimal Medial Thickness Screening

Carotid Intimal Medial Thickness Screening

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women, yet unlike other significant health risks, there is no standard routine screening for heart disease. This is a considerable oversight, considering the importance of early detection in managing health risks.
 
To bridge this gap, consider a screening test called Carotid Intimal Medial Thickness (CIMT). This non-invasive test measures the thickness of the inner layers of your carotid artery and identifies any plaque presence. This information is crucial because studies have shown a correlation between carotid plaque and blockages in the heart. Identifying these early signs of atherosclerosis is vital in preventing heart attacks and strokes. The test is a simple yet informative ultrasound of the neck. 
 
In the spirit of preventive care, I encourage you to consider this screening. It’s a proactive step toward understanding and managing your heart health.  Your health is your most valuable asset. 

The Body’s Connection to Mental Illness

The Body’s Connection to Mental Illness

There was a Scandinavian study where they changed the diet of hospitalized schizophrenic patients. They focused on whole foods and avoiding gluten. Amazingly 50% of those patients were later discharged with no signs or symptoms of their mental illness. This is truly astounding. 

Why are we not doing this more? I cynically counter that there isn’t much money in getting people to eat right and much more money in medications and hospitalizations. It is frustrating because it is so simple, even in a complex disease like schizophrenia. 

Are you struggling with mental health? Keep it simple. Focus on your diet with no processed foods and minimize your gluten and dairy. It is worth a shot, for sure!

Is Your Brain Holding Back Your Healing Journey?

Is Your Brain Holding Back Your Healing Journey?

Unfortunately, I see a lot of illnesses in my office that patients don’t realize are complicated by trauma. Healing trauma has moved up to one of the top priorities in my treatment plan for my patients, especially those with chronic issues who have struggled for years. 

 

I now understand that unresolved traumatic events shift the whole physiology of the body, especially the immune system, which goes into a mode of self-defense, which leads to it eventually not functioning correctly and attacking the body it is supposed to protect. This shift in the body’s immune system is secondary to the always-on “flight or fight” side of the nervous system, the sympathetic system.   This compassionate side is triggered by our limbic system, our survival brain, which bypasses our thinking brain after the trauma. A minor thing can start our limbic system, and our whole body responds without much input from our thinking brain and sends our body into a negative cycle of inflammation and mood issues. 

 

Fortunately, with therapy like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) with a trained therapist or a program like www.retrainingthebrain.com, I have seen outstanding outcomes with people who could not otherwise heal. Healing from your trauma is an essential step that should not be overlooked.

Could it be Lyme?

Could it be Lyme?

I always have a high index suspicion for Lyme as I see my chronically ill patients. It, like mold toxicity, is often missed because of inadequate testing. Do I think all my patient’s issues directly relate to just Lyme? It is unlikely, as I find that things like mold toxicity, Lyme Disease, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome get all jumbled up together, and if they are not addressed separately, a patient will not make progress. It is like sitting on three tacks, taking one out, and expecting the person to feel better.  

Lyme is the last thing I treat as gut health has to be addressed as a priority because a healthy gut leads to a healthy immune system which will help me rid the body of Lyme. Getting rid of mold, if present, is step 2, as a healthy immune system cannot exist in the presence of mold toxicity. Finally, I look at Lyme if most of the patient’s symptoms have not completely cleared with the above steps. As many people without symptoms have Lyme, I am judicious in looking for it because, as we say in Louisiana, “why kick a skunk?” or, in other words, why look for something when the treatment has its risks? 

Vitamins for Mental Health

Vitamins for Mental Health

Mood can be addressed with a number of supplements while focusing on a healthy diet and getting enough sleep.   Here are some of my favorites.

Probiotics

The gut proves again that it is the beginning of healing.  Probiotics are very specific, and I would recommend ProbioMood by Pure Encapsulations.  Researched strains that show improved mood are important, and all probiotics are not created equal.

Vitamin D3

Our mood has been unequivocally associated with Vitamin D3 levels.  Getting our levels above 50 ng/dL is essential for good mental health.  Doing this with a trusted source is important, as very few over-the-counter supplements do this right, as such a minute amount is required and easy to get wrong.

Fish Oil (EPA/DHA)

Fish oil works on a lot of important processes in the body but maybe none as important as brain health and mood.  Getting the right kind is important.  It is suspected that a large majority of Americans are deficient in this essential nutrient for mood.

Lithium

This is one of my all-time favorites when addressing mood with trace mineral amounts like 5-20 mg a day.  Lithium has numerous positive effects, but the brain and mood effects are amazing, as my blog points out.  This is a no-brainer for most people and has been helpful even with people on anti-depressants.

Amino Acids

These are the precursors of our feel-good neurotransmitters, serotonin, and dopamine.  5-HTP is a direct amino acid precursor to serotonin and bypasses a genetic issue in a lot of people that prevents tryptophan from converting to serotonin.  Take 5- HTP with a meal.  L-Tyrosine helps make dopamine which improves energy, focus, and mood.  Take L-Tyrosine away from meals.

Magnesium

A randomized controlled trial published in PLoS ONE in 2017 reported that magnesium supplementation improved symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression in adults, in a similar range as what is seen with the use of antidepressant medications.  Although a small study, it will only help per my clinical experience and I use PowerMag, 2-3 a day.

B-Vitamins

Having activated folate and other B-vitamins is essential as the body can immediately use them in the essential process of making neurotransmitters.   I do this with a good multivitamin, like PureGenomics Ultramulti, which has lithium, vitamin D3 (4000 IU),  and magnesium as well.  

Addressing past trauma through counseling, sleep, diet, stress, and exercise is also essential as you cannot supplement your way out of a poor lifestyle, but it can help to give you more leverage to improve your mood.

Is exercise really “all that”?

Is exercise really “all that”?

It is, indeed!  Exercise consistently comes up whenever lifespan and disease prevention are discussed.  Of course, you cannot exercise your way out of a poor diet, too much stress, or a lack of sleep, but if those issues have been resolved, exercise should be your next move.  

For the most part, I am not referring to marathons since too much exercise can be bad in a lot of people because the body cannot control the inflammatory response or the breakdown of muscle, which may be deleterious.  As the saying goes, “too much of a good thing is not a good thing”. 

Engaging in 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise is the sweet spot for most of us, and it has wonderful results.  In fact, it lowers blood sugar in diabetics as effectively as any other medications we now offer. Moderate exercise by definition, make your pulse quicken, but you can still carry on a conversation.

Here are 5 strategies you may use to start engaging in the kind of moderate exercise that will help you stay healthy for longer.  

Walking

The standard example of moderate exercise is brisk walking. You may simply change your speed to get the moderate intensity level, and it is low-impact and easy on the joints.

Cycling

Cycling is an excellent example of a moderate workout, especially when done on flat ground. Your fitness level will determine the speed, although for many people, a speed of 10 to 12 mph on flat ground would be considered moderate.

Swimming

Swimming is another activity that qualifies as moderate exercise when done at a leisurely pace. Additionally, it has a mild impact and may be an excellent option for those who have joint problems.

Dancing

Dancing can be categorized as a moderate form of exercise, depending on its intensity. This can involve social dancing or dance fitness classes like Zumba.

Aquatic exercise

Exercises done in water are typically less taxing on the body while still being effective. It’s common to find a nice example of moderate exercise in a water aerobics class.

Start slow and most of all make sure you are doing something fun so you keep doing it!

Are your gut issues making you sad?

Are your gut issues making you sad?

Growing evidence points to a link between depression and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Abdominal discomfort, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation are some of the symptoms of IBS, a common gastrointestinal illness. According to studies, those who have IBS are more likely than the general population to struggle with anxiety and depression.

IBS and depression may be related for various reasons, as follows:

Modified gut-brain connection:

The gut-brain axis, a complex communication network encompassing the gastrointestinal tract, enteric nervous system, and central nervous system, connects the gut and the brain. IBS symptoms and mood disorders, like depression and anxiety, may be brought on by disruptions in this connection. Common issues causing this disruption are unbalanced gut bacteria and low-grade inflammation.

Unbalanced gut microbiota

The billions of bacteria and other microorganisms that comprise the gut microbiota are essential for maintaining digestive health and controlling immune responses. According to research, gut microbiota abnormalities can affect mood and mental health, causing IBS and contributing to the condition. Stress, antibiotics, and processed foods cause imbalances.

Researchers believe chronic low-grade inflammation to be present in certain IBS patients and, in my experience, all IBS patients. Increased levels of inflammatory markers have been discovered in persons with major depressive disorder. It would make sense, as inflammation blocks the production of our feel-good neurotransmitter, serotonin, through inflammatory molecules, cytokines, and, guess where cytokines mainly originate, the gut.

IBS and depression have a complicated association, and not everyone with IBS will also experience depression. However, I have found most people with depression have gut issues of some kind. To heal the gut is an excellent first step in your health journey. Some necessary steps are as follows:

  • Eliminate inflammatory foods like gluten, dairy, and processed foods.
  • The next step is to support your microbiome with a good spore probiotic, Sporific, and increase dietary fiber (food for your good bacteria).
  • Finally, heal your gut with a supplement like Glutaprotect and SBI Protect. 

Don’t forget everything is connected in your body, especially your gut and brain!