With all the toxins your body is exposed to on a daily basis, it’s a wonder our internal systems can operate properly at all. From the second we wake up and brush our teeth to the time we go to bed, we are constantly bombarded by chemicals, all of which may be slowly destroying our health. But just how many you may ask? Well, according to some pretty reliable sources, our daily exposure is estimated to run up to approximately 2,100,00 toxins. Merely touching a receipt at the grocery store for 10 seconds can expose your body to obesogens. Moreover, sunscreen, perfume, clothing fabric, and furniture are covered in chemicals that are toxic to your body. Although your body may try it’s best to eliminate these toxins, with such an overload, it’s an impossible feat and exposure to toxins often results in a variety of health problems including allergies, respiratory disorders, immunosuppression, tumors, and cancer. External detox methods can be helpful in eliminating and there are many options to choose from such as a colon cleanse, eating clean organic foods, taking a detox bath, as well as numerous detox drinks.

Having a Regular Colon Cleanse

The purpose of a colon cleanse is to remove any build-up of waste that may have become impacted or hardened onto the walls of your intestine. A colon cleanse is definitely not a detox method for everyone, but some people do receive tremendous benefits by eliminating waste and toxins stored in their intestines. The majority of colon cleanse methods use water to loosen material in the bowels, which can then exit the body quickly and easily.

As a detox method, colon cleansing dates back as far as 1500 BC when it was used by our ancestors in ancient Egypt. For thousands of years, colon cleansing has been recognized as a way to restore digestive health, improve the body’s natural detoxification process, and reach optimal health. It was believed then, as it is now, that the buildup of waste in your body produces toxins that can poison your body causing a number of symptoms including:

• Fatigue
• A headache
• Weight gain
• Low energy

Receiving a colon cleanse is thought to reduce the risk of colon cancer, improve mental clarity and immune function, and aid in weight loss. However, caution is advised since the potential side effects of a colon cleansing may include:

• Vomiting and nausea
• Dehydration
• Mineral imbalance
• Bowel perforation
• Infection
• Depletion of good bacteria
• Kidney failure

You should not receive a colon cleanse if you have heart or kidney disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, severe hemorrhoids, Crohn’s disease, or rectal tumors. Caution is also advised if you are in the advanced stages of Adrenal Fatigue or particularly sensitive to detoxification.

Eating Clean and Organic

Regardless of the detox method, you decide to use, what you eat will have the greatest impact on the health of your colon. Therefore, eating a clean healthy diet of organic foods is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health. If you’re not eating organic, food is often laden with pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, growth hormones, and ionizing radiation. It was previously shown that children who ate a primarily organic diet for 15 days had a dramatic decrease in the concentration of pesticides in their urine.

Organic crops are not only lower in heavy metals, they are rich in antioxidants and nutrients, as well as the cancer-fighting elements are known as flavonoids. Crops treated with chemicals pose a danger to your body, however, no matter how hard you try, with today’s food production policies, you will inevitably be exposed to toxins through food. Choosing to eat organic food can decrease the burden on your body and foods that aid in your body’s natural detox process includes:

• Apples
• Beets
• Flaxseed
• Green veggies
• Green tea

Preparing Detox Drinks

Consuming detox drinks are a great method of cleansing the body and can also help eliminate belly fat and improve your metabolism. Obesity is responsible for a number of serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart conditions, therefore, you should make healthy eating a priority. However, your body’s natural ability to regulate weight is often hindered by health conditions like thyroid diseases and Adrenal Fatigue.

Drinking healthy detox beverages can have many benefits. So here is a safe recipe you can blend and drink each night before bed that will help clear your colon the following morning of any food from the previous day that has settled in your intestines.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1 tbsp flaxseed flour
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Sprig of parsley
• Splash of vinegar
• 100 ml kefir

Parsley is an exceptional herb, especially for those suffering from Adrenal Fatigue, since its extremely potent anti-inflammatory properties can work wonders in helping you fight stress and anxiety. Known as the magical herb, parsley has many additional health benefits:

• Inhibits cancer and tumor growth
• Fights uric acid
• Acts as a natural diuretic and reduces fluid retention
• Purifies blood
• Treats bladder and kidney infections
• Contains a large number of antioxidant flavonoids
• Fights bad breath

Cinnamon has been used for over 4000 years for a wide variety of purposes, both medicinal and culinary. On the medicinal side, studies have now confirmed what our ancestors once purported: Cinnamon offers important detoxification benefits. It’s also great for Adrenal Fatigue sufferers, provides weight loss benefits, and fights allergies. Cinnamon also has anti-inflammatory elements. You use cinnamon to:

• Lower the risk of cancer
• Protect against cardiovascular disease
• Reduce the chances of developing diabetes
• Promote oral hygiene

However, due to its potent nature, it is important to consult with your health care practitioner to ensure cinnamon does not interact with any medications you may currently be taking.

Taking Detox Baths

Detox baths can be beneficial for removing toxins and are well known to improve tissue health, reduce pain, and help your body relax. Baths are a gentle and a great way of removing daily pollutants from your body, particularly for those who may be overly sensitive to other detox methods.

A simple recipe for an excellent detox bath is:

• 2 cups Epsom salt
• 2 cups sea salt
• 2 cups baking soda

Mix the ingredients together and store in a clean airtight container. At bath time, simply pour a cup of the mixture into the tub while the water is running. In addition, you could add essential oils such as lavender or citrus for a calming or energizing effect.

Additional Colon Cleansing Methods

Two other popular methods of cleansing the colon are:

• Enema. An enema is performed by injecting fluid into the rectum in order to reach the lower part of the bowels. They are mostly used to relieve constipation or cleanse the bowels prior to an examination or medical procedure.
• Colonic. A colonic, also known as colonic hydrotherapy or colon irrigation, is a procedure conducted by a colon therapist and involves flushing out the colon by pushing water through the rectum.

Enemas and colonics can benefit colon health, but make sure to exercise caution. Some enema solutions can be dangerous and enemas can lead to a number of adverse side effects including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Other more serious side effects include perforation of the rectum and possible damage to surrounding organs. Case studies of colonic procedures have reported a number of side effects including abdominal cramping, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, colonics can perforate the bowels, cause electrolyte imbalance, lead to serious infections, and cause kidney and heart problems. For safety and to obtain optimal results, it’s best to have these procedures performed by a licensed professional.

How a Colon Cleanse and Other Detox Methods Can Improve Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

A colon cleanse is great for those suffering from Adrenal Fatigue since it can help eliminate toxins that have been sitting in your colon for a long time. Bacteria from stagnant food or residual medications can re-enter your body through the bloodstream and cause pain in your tissues and bones, leading to a plethora of problems, unexplained aches and pains, exhaustion, and brain fog often associated with AFS.

All of the body’s organs are connected through the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response system and colon health are important for keeping the rest of your body healthy. To operate efficiently, the endocrine system, including the adrenal glands, is dependent on the liver. Safe and natural detox methods like a colon cleanse are known to relieve some of the stress placed on your liver by creating a cleaner and a less toxic environment in your body.

Is Detoxing Safe?

Always exercise caution when choosing an appropriate detox method. It’s important to remember that many “natural” products are not regulated by the government or any other regulatory body. Therefore, potency and safety of many so-called detox products are not guaranteed.

Be sure to discuss any new health regime with your healthcare practitioner, especially if you have underlying health issues like Adrenal Fatigue. Your body will be operating in an extremely sensitive state and you should be careful when introducing anything new into your system. In particular, a colon cleanse can have adverse side effects and may even trigger adrenal crashes.

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Health Benefits of Yoga

Could the health benefits of yoga change your life? Yoga is not a religion. Although it came out of ancient India, it is not a form of Hinduism. Modern yoga dates back to 1893. Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, and Atheists alike happily practice yoga. There is certainly a spiritual side to yoga, but you do not have to subscribe to any particular belief to experience the health benefits of yoga. Yoga is a systematic technology to improve the body, understand the mind, and free the spirit. The health benefits of yoga include increased flexibility, more strength, added energy, and a thinner, more youthful appearance–all of which are desirable in Adrenal Fatigue recovery.

With practice, you are strengthening and calming the nervous system. It balances the dysfunctional stress-response system suffered by most in Adrenal Fatigue. Blood flow to internal organs is increased; more oxygen is delivered to the adrenal glands for healing; mental clutter is cleared. Spiritual as well as physical muscles are cultivated to make you happier, less anxious, and more at peace.

Because yoga builds on itself, the health benefits of yoga become more effective over time. It is equivalent to learning how to play a musical instrument: the longer you stick with it and practice the better you become and the more you get out of it.

Adrenal Yoga takes the best of traditional yoga and modifies it to suit those with Adrenal Fatigue. For example, certain stretching and strengthening exercises known as asana are removed, because they can stimulate the SNS. Gone are certain breathing techniques are known as pranayama that can trigger a release of adrenaline. Posture and lung capacity are improved as is bowel function, lymphatic draining, and the function of the immune system. Gradually one feels more balanced and the body is better able to endure the stress of daily living. Adrenal Yoga then is about restoring internal balance, and with balance, internal control. It is not about physical flexibility, as many with Adrenal Fatigue are already quite flexible. It is not about increasing strength, as many men are strong and still suffer from Adrenal Fatigue. Adrenal Yoga is able to transform liabilities such as fear, inability to relax, low energy, anxiety, and depression into strength, giving the person exercising more control and a more balanced feeling.

Adrenal Yoga is a special form of therapeutic yoga that is gently nurturing by design. It places heavy emphasis on body awareness; rhythmic adrenal breathing that is stimulatory, proper postural alignment, and movements that tone muscles. Special attention is placed on slow and relaxed motions that are suitable for all, including those that are in advanced adrenal failure and possibly close to being bedridden.

Science now realizes that changing dysfunctional habits is largely a matter of the mind. Adrenal Yoga helps by giving you greater control of your mind as well as greater understanding of the tricks it can play. This, perhaps, is what leads to a life transformation. This is particularly important in Adrenal Fatigue when emotional stressors are the major cause of dysfunction.

Those with advanced adrenal weakness will especially appreciate Adrenal Yoga and its transformational power. Adrenal Yoga focuses on enhancing and restoring parasympathetic nervous function by teaching the mind to work against the opinion. By slowing down the fluctuations of the mind, you can get in touch with a more blissful place inside. With practice, you will become more aware of a calmness at your core throughout the course of the day. It helps you to realize that much of what you routinely get upset and anxious about is not that important. It’s almost like toning down the repetitive obsession we have subconsciously about past resentments, old glories, and worries about the future. It puts our fear, desire or hate in a balanced perspective that can be dealt with in a systematic and logical manner. It forces us to stay with the present.

It lowers breathing and heart rate, increases blood flow to internal organs such as the adrenals, intestines and reproductive organs, and allows you to rest and digest. Many Adrenal Fatigue sufferers have concurrent gastric and assimilation difficulties. Adrenal Yoga enhances the relaxation response and avoids active stimulation of the SNS from exercises like backbends and strong pranayama technique. It lowers the level of cortisol when high, and modulates blood sugar levels. It does not quarrel with science but supplements science. Adrenal Yoga, therefore, complements modern medicine’s strength by providing more options for people in need of healing.

Adrenal Yoga is a holistic emphasis on strengthening your body and mind. It helps you get the most out of whatever other care you receive alternative or conventional therapy for your Adrenal Fatigue.

The Adrenal Yoga exercise series is, therefore, comprehensive and unique. The entire series is broken down into twenty-one sequential sessions that are grouped into three modules. Each module embraces specific themes customized to gently and effortlessly nurture the adrenals back to health. These themes are laid out in different sessions lasting anywhere from thirty-to-sixty minutes each. Each session, in turn, consists of a well-designed sequence of gentle postures that collectively offer a profound healing effect. The key to success is to start slow and progress through the sessions gradually and consistently, using the adrenal breathing technique throughout.

Let us Examine Each of These Modules in More Detail:

1. Beginning Adrenal Yoga focuses on breathing and stretching. This forms the foundation of internal control.
2. Intermediate Adrenal Yoga focuses on strength and toning. This serves to reverse the catabolic state and stabilize metabolic function.
3. Advanced Adrenal Yoga focuses on fluidity and control. This serves to fine tune internal body homeostasis.

Many have gone from being almost bedridden to an active lifestyle with the help of Adrenal Yoga. The entire series can be achieved in three to six months.

When you are done with the Adrenal Yoga series, the body is fit and toned. The internal tune-up has been accomplished, muscular definition returns. The core body function is optimized. It comes as no surprise that people report a great increase in energy, reduction in fatigue, better blood sugar balance, stable blood pressure, increased sense of calmness and reduced anxiety.

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Occasional yawing is quite natural. You should, however, start taking notice when excessive yawning becomes part of your daily routine. It may very well be your body’s way of alerting you to an underlying problem.

What Happens When You Yawn?

Yawning is an involuntary process. Your mouth opens wide, and you breathe in air, filling your lungs. The eardrums stretch and extra oxygen are carried to the brain and other parts of the body through the blood, making you more alert. Sometimes a yawn is of short duration. Other times, it is a long and drawn-out, accompanied by stretching.

We are all subject to the occasional yawn throughout the day, but most of the time, there are certain conditions during which we yawn.

We yawn before bedtime when we are tired, and the brain starts slowing down. We yawn when we wake up in the morning. It is almost as if this triggers our body to get into “wake up mode”. We also tend to yawn when we get bored, as the brain becomes less stimulated. In all these instances, yawning is a way to force blood, and thus oxygen, to the brain in order to increase alertness.

Lastly, we often yawn when we see someone else yawn, or when we read about the topic. Have you yawned yet?

The Physiology of Yawning

When you yawn, the thoracic muscles in your chest, your diaphragm, your larynx (in your throat), and the palate of your mouth are all involved. Yawning also helps wet your lung’s air sacs. Air is inhaled, accompanied by a stretching of the eardrums, followed by an exhalation. There is, so far, much speculation about what causes this and not enough research to be conclusive.

We do not always yawn when we are tired. You may run a marathon and be deathly tired afterward, but not yawn. Too little oxygen to the brain may also not be a deciding factor for yawning. This is because the lungs are not usually filled to their full capacity, although deep breathing, of its own accord, does tend to keep your lungs healthy. For those in a catabolic state, with reduced rib cage expansion resulting in less oxygen in the blood, yawning may help this issue, but the majority of people require a different explanation for yawning.

Although people are prone to excessive yawning when bored, more recent studies show that the most likely reason for yawning is the body’s effort to cool down your brain. The most recent, and possibly best scientifically based study, points to this, indicating that people tend to yawn more in summer than winter, possibly due to the brain using this reaction in order to cool down.

Excessive Yawning

Yawning is normal. However, excessive yawning can be due to certain medical conditions.

One cause is what is termed a “vasovagal reaction”. Besides yawning, symptoms often associated with vasovagal reactions include blurred vision, a clammy sweat, lightheadedness, pale skin, nausea, and tunnel vision. Vasovagal reactions happen when part of your nervous system that sees the regulation of blood pressure and heart rate is compromised and no longer responds as it should. This is often seen in stressful situations or when you feel you are in danger. The result is that your heart rate slows down, the blood vessels in your legs dilate, excessive blood moves into your legs, and your blood pressure drops. This drop in heart rate and blood pressure results in less blood reaching the brain. The body may automatically try to up its oxygen intake (by means of yawning) in order to ensure oxygen reaches the brain.

A vasovagal reaction and the accompanying excessive yawning may also be due to internal bleeding in the aorta area or indicate that you are about to have a heart attack or have heart issues.

Common causes of excessive yawning

The most common reasons for excessive yawning include the following:

• • A vasovagal reaction – As has been mentioned, a vasovagal reaction often has excessive yawning as a symptom.
  • Fatigue – Often, when tired, we start yawning excessively. The extra oxygen released into the blood is the body’s way of trying to stay alert.

• Medications – Certain medications can lead to excessive yawning, mainly because they make you sleepy. These medications include antihistamines, certain pain medications, antidepressants, and selective serotonin uptake inhibitors.
• Liver disease – The last stages of liver failure are often accompanied by excessive yawning. One of the possible causes for this reaction is the accompanying fatigue experienced during this time.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) – Studies indicate that those who suffer from MS have a tendency towards excessive yawning. It seems yawning provides symptomatic relief from MS. Additionally, those with MS also tend to have a thermoregulatory dysfunction whereby they are unable to control their body temperature. Yawning tends to cool the body down.
• Epilepsy – Epileptic seizures can result in permanent brain damage that irritates the part of the brain sending out certain signals, leading to excessive yawning. This, however, is rare.
• Sleeping disorders – Sleeping disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea may cause constant tiredness, leading to excessive yawning throughout the day.
• Brain dysfunctions – Research indicates that a brain tumor or stroke may lead to excessive yawning and can be linked to lesions in the brain stem. Yawning can also result from compression of the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland.
• Overstimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system – The parasympathetic nervous system is a division of the autonomous nervous system. It is primarily concerned with slowing down the heart rate, conserving energy, and overseeing the activity of different glands. When this system is compromised, it often leads to excessive yawning.
• Hypoglycemia – Excessive yawning is one of the first signals of hypoglycemia in diabetics.

Theories About What Makes You Yawn

There has been much speculation as to why people yawn. Hippocrates, for example, in 400 B.C. suggested that yawning might be a response to fever, in order to get rid of any bad air in the body. He likened the process to that of steam escaping from a pot of boiling water.

Centuries later in 1923, British neurologist Sir Francis Walshe noticed that partially paralyzed patients seem to regain certain motor functions during the few second duration of a yawn. He found certain patients who were unable to flex their fingers could do so when yawning. He concluded that the yawning process was a very primitive process in the brain and something we have no conscious control over.

Johanna de Vries, an obstetrics professor in Amsterdam, observed that one of the first things humans do, even during the fetal stage, is a yawn. Robert Provine, a neuroscientist, indicated that yawning is indeed a spontaneous action and part of our biological programming. We have no control over it.

Yawning due to hunger, fatigue, and boredom

As recently as 2011, Provine, a psychologist, made the argument that yawning served as one of the body’s cooling mechanisms, most especially for the brain. Studies conducted by Provine show that we have a tendency to yawn after waking, and before going to bed. We also tend towards excessive yawning when bored, while hunger tends to bring on about as well.

 

There are thus, generally speaking, three possible reasons for excessive yawning. It happens when our attention drifts and we find it increasingly difficult to stay focused – when we are hungry, when we are bored, and when we are tired. Yawning may thus be a signal of the body, telling it that it needs to become more alert.

Ronald Baenninger, a psychologist at Temple University, found that his test subjects tended to yawn more frequently when they had no stimulation. Yawning, he noticed, was usually followed by an increase in physiological activities, which, according to him, would suggest that the body has become more alert.

Provine mentioned that people tend to yawn due to stress, citing examples of athletes yawning before taking part in an athletic event and concert violinists yawning before they play a concerto. His research also observed soldiers making their first jump from an airplane. They tended to yawn before making the jump. This may indicate that yawning is a signal that a physiological change is taking place.

However, the issue is too complex to make sweepingly ascribe yawning to only boredom, hunger, or fatigue. Yawning can also be a social thing.

Contagious yawning

Contagious yawning is commonplace. A family member might yawn, and you find yourself following. Interestingly, research indicates that we tend to yawn after someone close to us does. We are more likely to yawn after a sibling than an acquaintance, but more likely to yawn after an acquaintance than a stranger. The closer the bond, the more likely we are to yawn when someone else does.

This type of yawning also seems limited by species. For example, you might catch a yawn from another human, but not necessarily from your dog. This seems to reflect in animals as well. Studies with chimpanzees found that, when they were shown videos of other chimpanzees yawning, they tended to yawn when seeing familiar chimpanzees yawn, but not unfamiliar ones. The same applied when the studies were conducted on baboons. This suggests that social bonds play an important role when it concerns the incidence of contagious yawning.

 

Age also seems to be a factor when it comes to contagious yawning. Studies found that older people were less likely to start yawning when someone else did. Personality issues such as empathy and aloofness were ruled out. This implies something else may be at work, and it may be a primitive form of social behavior or communication that you are bored, tired, anxious, or hungry, for example.

This ties in with her behavior, where it keeps all members of the herd alert on one hand, while the accompanying stretching keeps the body ready for action.

Yawning also seems to be a sympathy trigger, as contagious yawning, according to certain studies, tends to come to the fore at the same age children start identifying with the emotions of others (around four to five years of age), although autistic children do not tend to show this behavior.

Heat as a yawning mechanism

Hippocrates may have got it half-right, according to recent research from the University of Vienna. Two sets of subjects were used in their research, one group from Austria, and the other from Arizona, U.S.A. These two areas were chosen specifically for temperature differences. The hypothesis was that the brain does not function at its optimal level when exposed to high temperatures, and yawning is a way for the body to cool down the brain.

Although we do tend to yawn when we are tired, there may very well be a physiological basis for this. Exhaustion, stress, and too little sleep all cause the brain’s temperature to increase. Yawning may be an effort by the body to bring down the brain’s temperature, thereby making us feel more energetic.

As far as ‘contagious’ yawning is concerned, the Vienna researchers found that both the groups yawned most when the air outside the body was the right temperature to cool down the body temperature, but not when the air was too cold or too hot. Breathing in too hot or too cold air could potentially be dangerous to the brain. Those in Arizona thus yawned more in winter, while those from Austria yawned more during summer. This was when the outside temperature was in the optimal zone for cooling the brain.

This recent research is in line with that of the University of Albany, which used hot and cold packs for their studies. When watching a video of people yawning, the majority of their subjects tended to yawn when they had a hot pack on their head. Only a small minority yawned when applying a cold pack.

However, there’s also a possibility that yawning is a reflex action controlled by neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus, with this action leading to an increase in these neurotransmitters, certain hormones, and neuropeptide proteins.

Yawning and Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome

Excessive yawning is often an overlooked symptom of adrenal fatigue, and it is often at its worst right before the adrenals crash. Other symptoms include: https://www.drlam.com/articles/adrenal_fatigue.asp

• hormonal imbalance
• constant fatigue
• mood disorders like anxiety and depression
• metabolic issues such as weight gain or blood sugar problems
• cravings such as for salt, sugar, or caffeine
• low blood pressure
• sleep issues such as insomnia
• cognitive issues such as trouble remembering things
• thyroid issues like hypothyroidism, feeling a cold, or dry skin

What is adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is a surprisingly common condition, which frequently goes unidentified and is often brought on by chronic stress. Excessive yawning could be a sign of this condition.

Your adrenal glands are each situated on top of a kidney. Their main function is facilitating the body’s automatic stress response, producing cortisol to ready the body for dealing with stress. This system is called the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response. This automatic response system is governed by the brain and starts with the hypothalamus. When the hypothalamus perceives stress (which may be due to physical, psychological, or environmental factors), it sends chemical messengers – neurotransmitters – to the pituitary gland, which in turn sends chemical messengers to the adrenal glands. The adrenals increase cortisol production for the body to prepare itself to either fight or flee. These three, the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands, are collectively referred to as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

Usually, once the threat has gone, the cortisol production in the adrenal glands returns to normal. However, when the stress continues, the adrenals continue with their heightened cortisol production. This has far-reaching consequences for the human biome.

Consequences of elevated cortisol

The precursor hormone to cortisol and most other hormones is pregnenolone. It is manufactured primarily from cholesterol. Due to pregnenolone being constantly changed into cortisol, not enough is available for the production of other, much-needed hormones in the body including progesterone, estrogen, thyroid hormones, and even dopamine (the feel-good hormone) in the brain.

Your digestive system slows down, while your immune system becomes compromised. Cortisol reduces your immune activities by blocking signals sent to T-cells and inhibiting inflammation, which is an essential part of the immune response.

In the meantime, your heart rate increases and your blood pressure and sugar levels rise, supplying the extra energy in an effort to prepare you to fight or run away from danger. The brain itself needs to focus on the situation at hand, and certain areas at the front of the brain are also suppressed by means of neurotransmitters sent from the hypothalamus. Brain fog, for example, is common during this period and one of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue.

At some point, the adrenal glands cannot keep up with the demand for cortisol, and they start failing. It is usually during this period, just before adrenal exhaustion kicks in, that yawning is common click here to find out more.

Inflammation is at the heart of almost all chronic diseases including cancer, obesity, and heart disease, making it the leading cause of death in the U.S. Resolving inflammation should be a priority for anyone consciously choosing a healthy lifestyle. There are many methods for eliminating and or controlling inflammation, from alternative methods such as natural foods, spices, teas, and light therapy, to more conventional approaches such as hormone replacements and medicines.

While inflammation is a normal and often beneficial process, naturally occurring to fight foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses, it can also lead to severe damage when it happens too often or at an inappropriate time. It is part of the body’s natural mechanism for healing and repairing damage, whether it is from an external cut or an internal problem, for example with the colon, heart, or brain.

The key to resolving inflammation is in prevention. This can be done by incorporating a few easy and healthy lifestyle changes into your everyday life.

How Do You Know If You Have Inflammation?

There are four classic symptoms of inflammation: redness, swelling, heat, and pain. You may not experience any of these at first, especially with low-level inflammation, but as time goes by, they may appear. Even if you can’t see or feel these symptoms, they could still be taking place in your body.

Inside your body, where you can’t see it or feel it, ongoing inflammation can trigger heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. When inflammation is caused by health conditions such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, adrenal fatigue, arthritis, or irritable bowel syndrome, it does not shut itself off as it should and may progressively worsen over time.

Inflammation is part of the NeuroEndoMetabolic(NEM) Stress Response, how the body handles stress. This system governs our body’s inflammatory responses and how the body detoxifies itself. The NEM stress response defends against oxidative damage, prevents stress from damaging cells further, and reduces the body’s toxicity levels. It also ensures a steady supply of glucose to keep the brain on alert during stressful events.

Aside from all the other previously listed damages that occur from inflammation, a failure in the NEM system can add more health problems to the list. That can result in an imbalance to the internal microbiome, a halt in the detoxification process, a reduction in the nutrient delivery system, and delays in recovery from physical or emotional trauma.

Resolving Inflammation

If you have an inflammatory condition or would like to decrease the likelihood of developing one, there are several methods you can use for preventing and resolving inflammation:

• Hormone therapy
• Optimizing your nutrition
• Detoxification
• Reducing physical and mental stressors
• Light therapy

Hormone Imbalance Therapy

Hormones, stress, and inflammation maintain a steady relationship. As hormones decline, inflammation and illnesses increase. With increasing stress, hormones also decline.

The primary anti-inflammatory hormones decline naturally with age. Although hormone levels may test in the normal range, they may still be operating at insufficient levels to maintain organs and prevent diseases. Cortisol, in particular, is a major anti-inflammatory hormone for the body. Restoring balance to the other hormones helps to balance cortisol levels and reduce inflammation.

Optimizing Your Nutrition

The most powerful method for controlling and resolving inflammation is under your control, although many don’t know how important nutrition really is. Much inflammation begins in the stomach and intestines, and anti-inflammatory food choices are a prime place to begin a program for resolving inflammation.

The best food choices emphasize organic, raw, plant-based proteins and superfoods. Nutritionists recommend eating four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack, more if you are pregnant. They also recommend the following guidelines:

• Plenty of vegetables, especially cruciferous ones
• Whole grains, nuts, and seeds
• Avoid meats, fish, dairy, and eggs
• Avoid fried, overcooked, and microwaved foods
• Stay away from canned and boxed foods with chemicals and preservatives

Note that an anti-inflammatory diet is not the same as an adrenal fatigue diet. A compromise may be needed to blend the two if you suffer from both conditions: https://www.drlam.com/articles/adrenal_fatigue.asp.

It is also beneficial to take certain supplements such as a multivitamin, minerals, and fish oil. There many supplements available that can aid in resolving inflammation.

Vitamin A can play a major role in keeping your immune system from overreacting and causing inflammation. Some studies on beta-carotene found it was connected with a slower progression of chronic arthritis and helped to head off heart disease. The B vitamins, including B6, B9 (or folic acid), and B12, can lower homocysteine levels and C-reactive proteins, all signs of inflammation. Vitamin C is a great antioxidant that helps rid the body of free radicals that can cause damage in the cells and tissue, which reduces triggers for inflammation.

However, as with anything, be sure to take the appropriate amount of the vitamin or supplement for your body, considering the recommended daily allowance and other research. Always consult your primary care physician or nutritionist prior to commencing any new nutrition regimen.

Another great way to enhance the nutrient density of your diet is by using herbs and cooking spices as they contain a multitude of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. In fact, herbs rank higher in antioxidant levels than most fruits and vegetables, and many studies have shown that they also have unique medicinal qualities.

This was confirmed in a study conducted by top researchers from three universities who wanted to evaluate the true benefits of herbs and spices. They wanted to measure the physiological changes that occurred in the blood after consumption and whether the adsorbed compounds were able to protect white blood cells from oxidative or inflammatory injury. Could the herbs and spices actually protect DNA strands from breaking when under attack by free radicals?

Each of the 130 participants was given a small amount of a particular spice to consume daily for seven consecutive days. Blood samples were drawn prior to consumption and at the end of the trial period. A blood analysis was conducted to search for antioxidant capacity and to see how inflammation in the white blood cells was affected. It was found that four spices, in particular, had significantly positive effects on the inflammatory response system: clove, ginger, rosemary, and turmeric.

It is important to note that these responses were from exposure to normal levels of spices in food, not from the much higher levels in concentrated pill form. Participants took the same amount that might be found in spaghetti sauce or pumpkin pie.

The following were additional helpful anti-inflammatory herbs and spices:

• Cinnamon
• Jamaican allspice
• Oregano
• Marjoram
• Sage
• Thyme

Next time you are cooking, don’t be hesitant to add in a few more spices!

However, if you have adrenal fatigue, it is important to consider your sensitivities at this point as well. In advanced stages of adrenal fatigue, your body may be more sensitive to these spices, so proceed with caution.

Detoxification

Toxins are considered one of the biggest contributors to inflammation. There are three main components to resolving inflammation from toxins in the body.

First, it is recommended that you reduce any exposure toxin sources such as gases, paints, glues, preservatives, dyes, heavy metals, plastics, phthalates, bisphenol-A (BPA), and electromagnetic radiation, just to name a few.

Second, make an effort to remove toxins from the body by optimizing bowel, liver, lymph, kidney, and skin function.

Third, it is extremely important to keep your body hydrated. It is recommended to drink ½ of your body weight daily in ounces of pure water to assist in the detoxification process.