Sorry! The site is closed for renovation! Once it is completed, we will continue our work. We apologize for the inconvenience! Regards the site.

THE HORMONAL CONNECTION: THE ADRENAL GLANDS

The body has a feedback system that, ideally, regulates the amount of calories taken in each day to match its actual metabolic requirements. But this system may be thrown out of balance, and when the feedback loop is disturbed, the amount of calories consumed exceeds the amount of calories the body requires to function. These extra calories turn into fat, which is stored in various parts of the body.

One of the ways homeostasis, or bodily balance, may be disturbed is by a condition known as glucose instability syndrome, or what in more common parlance is called a hypoglycemic tendency. Control over the glucose level in the blood is multifactorial, involving the adrenal glands; the pancreas; the liver; the minerals chromium, zinc, and manganese; and the B complex vitamins, among others. The adrenal glands are important because they play a role in the production of glucocorticoid hormones, which normal adrenal glands produce when the blood's glucose level is too low. These adrenal-produced hormones will correct the low glucose level. But when this mechanism isn't working as well as it should, hypoglycemia results.

Hypoadrenalism, or low adrenal function, can create a host of other health problems, including weight gain, fatigue, allergies, sleep disturbances, and panic attacks. Also, as the adrenal glands are needed to confunctioning adrenal glands will result in a less effective thyroid gland and a subsequent slowdown of metabolic processes. Because the standard battery of medical tests does not usually pick up markers for adrenal exhaustion, the person who complains usually is told that the problem is imaginary.

This is unfortunate because, to handle stress, whether physical, mental, or emotional, people need good adrenal function. When your sugar levels are low, many things you could ordinarily have handled get blown out of proportion. You feel tense and anxious, with a sense of impending doom. Also, when the adrenal glands are depressed, a person has less energy and is not as likely to exercise. A person who, before, would follow a structured exercise regimen, spending x number of minutes on the treadmill or power walking, for example, is likely to reduce these activities once energy begins to falter. This adds to a weight problem, as a diminished output of energy means fewer calories burned.

Overstressed adrenal glands also will cause the kidneys to produce an excess of the hormone aldosterone. Initially this results in sodium retention and bloating. Over time an inability to produce aldosterone and a subsequent sodium deficiency develops. Symptoms can include wrinkles and sunken eyes from tissue dehydration as well as flatulence, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, confusion, fatigue, low blood pressure, irritability, breathing difficulties, and heightened allergies.

*48\233\8*

Weight Loss