Stress
Stress destroys not only our progesterone levels, but Vitamin D3, Magnesium, the B Vitamins, Tyrosine and so much more. More of these need to be used and taken during these stressful times. See How to use Progesterone Cream.
Stress affects us all every single day and it is affecting our health. Award-winning neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky issued these words of warning. "Stress is not a state of mind... it's measurable and dangerous, and humans can't seem to find their off-switch."
Dr Hans Selye identified 3 progressive stress stages:
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Stress is a word that we all use often, whether it is mental, emotional or physical, it causes the body to react in the same way. When stressed, a cascade of inflammatory cytokines are released, including the 3 stress hormones, cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline. These 3 are made in the adrenal glands. Adrenaline and noradrenaline are made in the adrenal medulla, and cortisol in the adrenal cortex. Unless Addison's and Cushing's disease are present, the adrenals are ignored.
These 3 hormones cause the body to slow down except for the heart and major muscles, until all danger has been addressed. The FIGHT/FLIGHT response proved invaluable in the past when being attacked or chased by wild animals. Today danger comes in different forms:
- environmental toxins
- toxic skin care products
- processed food and drink
- air pollution
- water
- drugs, malnutrition
- crowded living conditions
- redundancies
- divorce
- moving house
FIGHT leads to:
- aggression
- irritability
- rage
- violence
FLIGHT leads to:
- avoidance
- mental confusion
- withdrawal
- fatigue
Now there is another, FRIGHT which leads to:
- anxiety
- apprehension
- depression
- panic
Stress hormones also cause:
- the heart to race which causes blood pressure (BP) to rise
- the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is activated to raid blood volume causing BP to rise
- aldosterone production causes sodium to be drawn into the tissues which causes water retention and BP rises
- angiostensis causes blood vessels to constrict causing BP to rise
- glycogen which is stored glucose, is released by the liver to supply extra energy to cope the emergency, but excess glycogen increases blood fats
- blood is directed away from peripheral blood vessels and directed to the heart and major muscles causing the temperature of the skin to drop leading to a cold feeling
And we ask ourselves why so many people take the following drugs:
- angiotensin inhibitors to relax the blood vessels
- statins to lower cholesterol
- beta blockers to calm a racing heart
- diuretics to reduce water retention
- antidepressant to deal with panic and anxiety
When the heart races and BP rises, more blood is pumped through the capillaries which supplies vital oxygen and glucose to run or FIGHT. With chronic stress there is no danger to respond, if the glucose is not used up either by running or fighting, the body will respond by making a surge of insulin from the pancreas to prevent hyperglycemia. The pancreas releases more insulin than is needed to help cope with excess sugar and caffeine. Blood glucose then drops sharply causing shakiness, hunger, foggy thinking, a drop in temperature and then sweating, anxiety and panic. At the same time, the brain thinks it is not getting any fuel and sends a signal to the adrenals to make adrenaline. This hormone stimulates the liver to convert glycogen into glucose to prevent the drop in blood glucose. However, adrenaline causes anxiety, panic attacks and blood vessels to constrict to BP goes up, it is a vicious cycle which leads to stressed adrenals.
The liver is stimulated by a rise in insulin which then converts glucose into glycogen, when it's storage capacity becomes full glycogen is released into the blood stream. In times of famine, glycogen gets absorbed into fat cells. Cholesterol and triglycerides increase and lead to weight gain.
Insulin Resistance takes place when excess insulin causes cells to become insensitive to it. When glucose gets absorbed by the liver and fat cells, the cells become unresponsive to insulin because of insulin resistance, little fuel is provided and results in:
- TIREDNESS
- FATIGUE
- EXHAUSTION
Insulin Resistance may lead to:
- type 2 diabetes
- heart disease
- stroke
- poly cystic ovaries (PCOS)
- obesity
- metabolic syndrome
- anovulation
- erratic periods
- high androgens
- reproductive problems in women
- acne
- increased inflammatory cytokine levels
- increased clotting
- high LDL
- low HDL cholesterol
- high triglycerides
- weight gain
- muscle weakness
- brain fog
- in ability to concentrate
- high blood pressure
It also causes the brain, adrenals, liver, thyroid, gut etc to malfunction.
All sugars should be avoided, it causes even more stress to the already stressed system. Fructose, sucrose and glucose reduce levels of SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) by 80, 50 and 40% respectively. Free testosterone levels rise with a drop in SHBG causing an oil skin, acne, loss of scalp hair, facial hair, hirsutism, visceral fat, PCOS, heart disease, cancer and insulin resistance.
Natural treatments
Because progesterone and it's metabolites and strong anxiolytics, reduce the response to stress and overworked adrenals. The stress hormone cortisol is also made in the adrenals which first produce progesterone before converting it to cortisol. The progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone increases dopamine release which is the neurotransmitter responsible for good mood, motivation, reward, and a normal sexual response. Libido drops when stressed due to dropping dopamine levels. Dopamine drops because much of it is being converted to adrenaline and noradrenaline. The third stress hormone cortisol which is also made in the adrenals. These first produce progesterone before converting it to cortisol. Progesterone has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It also counters the action of aldosterone, preventing retention of water and a subsequent rise in blood pressure. It increases SHBG, substantially lowering free testosterone. It helps with inflammation and counters the action of aldosterone which prevents water retention. Progesterone increases SHBG therefore lowers free testosterone.
Women should use 100-200mg per day or more, depending on symptoms
Men should use 10-100mg per day or more, depending on symptoms
Adrenal Fatigue Cocktail
- 125ml Orange Juice or Grapefruit Juice, you are looking for vitamin C
- 1/4 teaspoon Celtic Sea Salt or pink Himalaya
- 1/4 teaspoon Cream of Tarta
Mix the above at the start of the day with enough liquid for two (2) applications i.e. 8oz/125ml of orange juice. Drink it mid-morning, as well as mid-afternoon. In addition, any time that you are feeling particularly anxious it would be advisable to prepare another mixture and take it.
Please note: For those who have blood sugar problems, use lemon juice mixed with a little water, you are looking for vitamin C.
The original source of this recipe was Susan Blackard, NP, ND, PhD at the Rejuvenation Health Center in Springfield, MO.
