Put it to the test: Anxious about being anxious?

Summer is here! Notice the skinny girls in bathing suits on cover of the magazines? It is another reminder to keep me anxious beyond all other things. I think about being single and being out there.You most probably have been there, being torn to let the "trendy" skeleton body go and exchange your daily exhausting exercise routine and 1000 calorie diet...just to feel better. You can't sleep, your period is all messed up, blemishes are blooming on your face and you don't understand why? Well, your body's hormonal system just turned upside down. The physical stress of exercise, coupled with energy restricted diet and topped with the "emotional uptightness" of "I HAVE to stay skinny because I am not good enough otherwise" results in poor health and unhealthy looking skin. Your insides seem to be constantly raving, you can't calm down at night, and you can't wait to run 5 miles at sunrise and trying to squeeze in the 8 pm aerobics class. The more you do the more you need to keep doing to feel at ease.

You are experiencing the first alert mode of your adrenal gland, which is elevated cortisol production. Elevated cortisol levels result in an imbalance of other vital hormones. Cortisol steals away precursors from your reproductive and water/electrolyte regulating hormones. The imbalance of reproductive hormones in women leads to PMS (Pre-menstrual Syndrome), androgen disorders (high testosterone level causing, adult acne, facial hair growth, hair loss and impossible weight loss-what we are so afraid of) and prostrate problems in men. Increased cortisol at nighttime will interfere with rest and recovery. A high cortisol level at night suppresses melatonin production levels, causing insomnia and interrupted sleep. (Low nighttime melatonin levels have been observed in patients with cancer.) High nighttime cortisol also inhibits growth hormone production. Restless sleep therefore, suppresses tissue repair. The accumulation of damaged tissue causes further inflammation and stress on the body and the adrenal gland. The circle is closed.

Your body is fighting for survival. Unnecessary functions such as digestion and reproduction will also shut down. Your body does not rely on incoming food anymore to provide you with energy. After your body used up your stored sugar it will tap into using your fat with protein (muscle and enzymes). And you arrive to auto-cannibalism…. Your body is eating itself alive! Emotional stress and chronic illness are big factors contributing to this metabolic condition. But know you can be helped. The first step is to find out the condition of your adrenal glands. If 2-3 apply to you from the following list of adrenal stressors and symptoms then you are a good candidate for adrenal testing. BioHealth's tests measure the so called "functional cortisol rhythm". You collect saliva four times throughout a regular "stressful" day, and then just mail it to BioHealth Diagnostics. This is the first step you can take to help yourself. To take the adrenal test, have your doctor contact BioHealth by calling 800-570-2000 or you may request a practitioner to order and interpret the test.

Adrenal Stressors

• Triggered emotions
• Anger
  
• Fear
  
• Worry/anxiety
  
• Guilt
  
• Depression
  
• Overwork (physical or mental strain)
  
• Late hours/ insufficient sleep
  
• Chronic, severe, or prolonged infections
  
• Surgery
  
• Trauma/Injury

Symptoms Associate with and Consequence of Adrenal Dysfunction

• Excessive fatigue
  
• Weakness
  
• Nervousness/irritability
  
• Mental depression
  
• Apprehension
  
• Inability to concentrate
  
• Moment of confusion
  
• Poor Memory
  
• Feeling of frustration
  
• Light-headedness
  
• Dizziness upon standing
  
• Low blood pressure
  
• Insomnia
  
• Premenstrual syndrome
  
• Craving for sweets
  
• Headaches
  
• Alcohol intolerance
  
• Sternocleidomastoid / Trapezius pain and spasm (muscles of upper back/neck/shoulders)
  
• Hypoglycemia - low blood sugar
  
• Excessive hunger
  
• Gastric discomfort
  
• Dyspepsia (Indigestion)
  
• Alternate diarrhea and constipation
  
• Palpitation (heart fluttering)
  
• Poor resistance to infections
  
• Food and/or inhalant allergies
  
• Dry and thin skin
  
• Scanty perspiration
  
• Tenderness in adrenal area
  
• Low body temperature
  
• Unexplained hair loss
  
• Difficulty building muscle
  
• Difficulty gaining weight
  
• Tendency to inflammation
  
• Increased susceptibility to cancer, osteoporosis, autoimmune hepatitis & other autoimmune disease

I can hear your first reaction … "But if I am not skinny enough guys would not talk to me!" You are right; guys whose value system is focused around the wrong thing may not talk to you. …And guess what? You are much better off without them. I just call it natural selection. Having the inner strength to know who you are, and to value yourself, is the first thing to engrave into your brain. Secondly, that healthy meat is not only normal but also vital. Third, your health is the one thing YOU can do something about for your healthy future. And teach guys about healthy trends.