Life and Health is about balance

I remember when I was growing up, one of my grandmother’s favorite quotes was- one ounce of prevention is better than one pound of cure. As a child, I had no idea what that meant. To me, it was just another of my Grandmother’s quirky sayings. The older I get the more I realize the wisdom of her words.

Medicine is making significant strides. We are told that we have all but eliminated such diseases such as Small Pox. We have significantly decreased the incidence of childhood illness such as whooping cough and measles. We can now perform miraculous surgeries such as heart, kidney and other organ transplants. We are feverishly exploring Genes looking for cures. On the other side of this coin, we are presented with the increasing obesity epidemic. We are told that our risk as a nation for Type II Diabetes is increasing. We are quoted such dismal statistics as 1 in 7 women will acquire breast cancer in their lifetime. We are quoted such statistics as – nearly 2,500 Americans die of cardiovascular disease a day (AHA). How is it possible for two such extremes to exist? How can we be so advanced yet so vulnerable? Finally, are we helpless victims to statistics and our genetics?

In my opinion, statistics and genetics should be an impetus to wake us up from our slumber. We need to consider that one of the major things that contribute to our health and well being is our environment. The environment in this case refers not only to our immediate surroundings, but also to the foods we consume, our level of activity, our emotional health, our ability to manage stress, our support system and the amount of potential toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis. If we take a robust tropical tree that requires lots of sun and moisture and transplanted it to a cold climate, the odds are good that this tree would become frail and most likely not survive. We have changed the environment to one that is not conducive to the optimal health of that tree.

Let us take a closer look at our environment. Nutritionally, we have become nation of people who consume a large amount of refined carbohydrates, fast foods and processed foods. We skip breakfast in the morning and we have made fats our natural enemy. We abhor waiting for anything. If our portions aren’t large, we feel somehow cheated.

Something we may be missing when we subscribe to this type of lifestyle is that it just does not stand the test of time. For example, if we avoid the consumption of fats we can create issues with our brain, cardiovascular system and skin to name a few organs. Symptoms such as Depression, foggy thinking, eczema, learning problems may manifest. We need to be aware that it is the types of fats that are important. Omega-3, 6 and 9’s are termed essential fatty acids (EFA).We cannot manufacture these fats de novo, but rather need to have them in our diets. These keep our system well lubricated to put it simply. If you placed old oxidized oil in your performance vehicle you would not be surprised that its function was compromised significantly. Think of trans fats, hydrogenated oils and super heated oils as bad oils that would significantly compromise your health.

We have now banished carbohydrates from our diets. Yet, they are the primary source of energy, minerals and fiber. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains and root vegetables are carbohydrate sources. They are also sources of many nutrients that help our system to function optimally. Certain amino acids that contribute to our moods gets absorbed better in the presence of carbohydrates. Translation, indiscriminately eliminating carbohydrates can lead to symptoms of fatigue, change in bowel habits (lack of fiber), depression and mineral deficiencies to name a few. Again, it is the type that matters. The glycemic index attempts to address this issue. One possible draw back may be that it may not address the nutrient density of certain foods.

We tout the virtues of proteins. We believe that if we consume a high protein diet that it will help us to lose weight. After all, amino acids (the breakdown products of protein) have many important functions. They are used to form the neurotransmitters that help us with mood; they help to form thyroid hormones that help with metabolism. Muscles are made up primarily of proteins. Also, certain amino acids help us to clear toxins from our body. The other side of the coin is that too much of anything will make it difficult to loose weight. Also, too much protein and an imbalanced protein diet can place undue stress on the liver and the kidneys. This, paradoxically, can produce problems with detoxification and energy.

Recently, I heard someone say- Yesterday when I woke up I was a healthy person, today I woke up a diabetic. He was referring to his recent diagnosis of Diabetes. We need to realize that what we do today strongly impacts tomorrow. Very seldom do we suddenly wake up one morning and have an illness dropped in our laps. The diagnosis may have been today but the illness started well before that. What my Grandmother might have said today is- Amazing technology does not absolve us from the responsibility of taking care of ourselves.

LIFE BEGINS WHEN YOU DO

Many of us have heard the saying- Life begins at 40 or is it 50? Recently I heard it said that the original quote was Life begins at 80. Well I think it is pretty clear that the age is not the relevant part of this statement. I prefer Life Begins when you decide to live it.

Many of us when we approach the ages between 40-50 realize that things start changing. We have put a lot of our energies into achieving the perfect career and creating the ideal family. We labored under the illusion that when we have achieved certain goals then life will be perfect. Paradoxically this is the time when we realize we do not have the time or the energy (or sometimes both) to enjoy what we spent so much time creating. Fatigue sets in. He is very closely followed by brain fog who then decides to ask low libido and anhedonia to join in. What then follows is the ability for us to derive pleasure from our daily activities is decreased; our ability to stay focus and concentrate becomes affected, our ability to multi-task effectively goes down. The inevitable result is that our home life and/or career begin to feel extremely stressful.

Something must be wrong, so we visit our physician. He or she dutifully runs laboratory evaluation and updates us on the current screenings such as mammograms, PAPS, PSA, etc. You are then given a clean bill of health. You are left with the feeling that it must be “all in your head.” Let me be one of the first people to confirm that a good portion of it may very well be in your head. No, you are not crazy, but there is the possibility that you have spent so much time nurturing your career, spouse, children, etc. that your brain (and body for that matter) was neglected.

Science is now able to offer not only hormonal evaluation for these of us who need it but also urine neurotransmitter evaluation, adrenal function testing and nutritional testing. What this allows us to do is get a sneak peak at the early stages of fatigue at a point before the bucket drops out from under us and at a time perhaps before traditional testing reveals any disease processes. In my opinion, it allows us to see the effects that years of stress have taken on our brain chemistry and adrenal function. If there is any doubt that the neurotransmitters affect the way we feel, I point to the Time Magazine Article (July 2007) regarding Dopamine (pleasure neurotransmitter) and its role in addiction. Better yet, look at the plethora of pharmaceuticals targeted at brain chemistry and pain (Prozac, Cymbalta to name a few). This must tell us something about the amount of people suffering brain chemistry disorders.

I am not suggesting that balancing the body is going to help you find your purpose in life or answer the question “what else is there?” What it will do is provide you with the clarity, focus and vitality to get involved in your life again.

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE CAN SLOW YOU DOWN

In today’s world we not only burn the candles at both ends but in the middle as well. We have families, jobs, commitments, businesses, relationships, etc. We operate in the fast lane and keep picking up speed. Many of us operate with the fear that if we stop anything or say no or tried to slow down in any way then we would be adversely affected. We worry we may loose our job, someone would stop loving us, we won’t be able to support our loved ones, we might loose our businesses, suffer financial ruin, etc. Real or imagined, fear of any kind produces a stress response. The structures in our bodies that orchestrate the majority of this response are called the Adrenal glands. Many of us are familiar with the Adrenals because we have heard the terminology- flight or fight response. Simple stated any event or circumstance that produces a strong emotional response initiates the Adrenal response so we are prepared for whatever we decide to do- fight or take flight.

The Adrenals are triangular shaped organs that sit on top of the kidneys. They produce substances that help to keep our bodies in balance. They help to modulate our immune system, maintain healthy blood sugar levels and fluid balance to name a few. They secrete many hormones that affect not only our stress response but our hormonal levels, our blood pressure, our heart rate, our digestive abilities, our blood sugar levels, etc. Some of those hormones have gotten massive media attention such as Cortisol and DHEA. Cortisol is often portrayed as the enemy. This may leave many with the misconception that we want our levels to be as low as possible. However, like other hormones in the body it is about balance. Without appropriate levels we are prone to infections, low blood pressure, low blood sugar, fatigue, mood changes, allergies and, in the worse case scenario, death from even minor infections or stresses. Other hormones are more obscure such as Pregnenolone. Still others may be well known but the Adrenal’s role in their production is often overlooked. Examples of this are Testosterone and Estrogens.

How do the Adrenals work? Let’s say that one is taking a leisurely stroll thorough his/her neighborhood. All is quiet and serene. Suddenly without warning, in front of you is a snarling rather large dog with a look that says you are his next meal. The brain registers this as an- EMERGENCY- THREAT. The signal is sent to the Adrenals. They must prepare the body for action. We need to be alert in order to make a quick decision. Our muscles need to be prepped and ready for action. We need fuel to supply the vital organs and tissue such as the brain, heart, lungs, muscles, etc. The Adrenals use their arsenal of hormones and transmitters to get the job done. For example, Cortisol assures that blood sugar remains available to provide fuel (energy) to needed areas. It also assures that there is adequate Adrenalin production (ever heard of the term Adrenalin Rush.) This allows blood flow to be directed towards the heart, muscles, lung to provide needed energy. This extra blood is diverted from the skin (cold and clammy), small intestine, stomach, colon (after all, this is not the time to eat and digest). The end result may be that you decide to run like you have never run before. You jump over a fence that had always seemed ridiculously high you in the past. Finally, you stop to catch your breath. In the ideal world, you shakily walk home, sit down and take the time needed to recuperate.

Now imagine these same feelings of panic and fear bombarding you every day, multiple times a day. Imagine being left feeling anxious with a fast heart rate, shaky, sweaty and breathing quickly on a daily basis. This is the body feeling like it is in crisis mode all the time. Also imagine that there is not time for recovery. This may give you a vague idea of what your Adrenals glands must endure on a daily basis. If the Adrenals have to keep the body in a constant state of readiness there is the possibility of over stimulating the body. This may lead to signs and symptoms such as palpitations, anxiety, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, premature aging (due to overproduction of free radicals), depleted detoxification system (this can increase symptoms of allergies and sensitivities) and fatigue to name a few.

The next step that we might expect is Adrenal Fatigue. Simply stated, the demands on the Adrenal glands by far outweigh its supply. Many of us when placed in situations of constant stress, choose less than optimal foods to nourish us. This not only deprives the Adrenals of needed materials to continue to produce needed hormones, etc. but also places extra demands on these overworked glands.

To add insult to injury, the gut no longer absorbs well because it is constantly being deprived of much needed blood flow that aids with nourishing the gut and allowing for optimal absorption of nutrients. We now begin to experience abdominal distress, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) type symptoms, bloating, etc. Cortisol, one of the hormones produced by the Adrenals is the body’s anti-inflammatory agent. If something produces undue irritation in the body, Corisol comes out to calm that inflammatory process down. At the end stage of Adrenal fatigue, our cortisol levels begin to decline. This can lead to more fatigue (adrenalin’s production is dependent on cortisol being available), increased allergy symptoms, panic disorders, mood disorders, low blood pressure, etc.

Finally, Adrenal failure may develop. This is a relatively rare occurrence. This occurs when hormones produced by the adrenal glands are insufficient to meet basic needs. This can be a life threatening condition. Low blood pressure, abnormal electrolyte balance (such as sodium and potassium), changes in the color of the skin and inability to handle any stresses or infections are all hallmark of this condition. This referred to as Addison’s disease and requires immediate medical attention. Of course there are other causes of Adrenal failure such as acute infection and/or trauma.

Granted the rate of complete Adrenal failure is low and is often quoted as 1 in 100,000. Could it be as Dr. Seyle postulated, most of us live in the adaptation stage, where we are able to produce enough adrenal hormones to live and maintain “normal” parameters but not enough to live without fatigue and depression.

In summary, Adrenal glands are the work horses of the body and should be treasured. I like to compare them to the ant that carries many times his weight and works constantly. In doing so the potential for fatigue, burn out (whatever terminology you choose) is high. Our quality of life and our life itself is highly dependant on them. Of course, they do not work alone, but rather in concert with the rest of the body. Therefore, evaluation of Adrenal health should take into account many other factors. Healing your Adrenals is possible but requires not only supplements, medications where indicated, but also a willingness to instituting life style changes. Find an integrative physician willing to work with you to help you and your Adrenals to heal.