At the beginning of each week I fast for 16 hours to give my digestive system a break. And every few months I practice 14 hour fasting intervals over a few days as a spring clean but I do include liquids.
I am currently reading a very interesting book on the benefits of fasting for healing and the concept of autophagy as healing is my area of interest.
However even though I have been practicing this for years and feeling the benefits, I wanted to understand what actually happens, step by step as one fasts .I found this article by Alexis Sheilds ND which explains it quite simply.
0 to 4 hours The first four hours after you eat are known as the anabolic growth phase. Your body is using up the energy you just ate to power your current activity and for cellular and tissue growth.
Your pancreas produces the hormone insulin. This allows your body to use up the glucose that was released into your bloodstream after your meal and to store any excess energy in your cells for later use.
4 to 16 hours The second phase kicks off after four hours and lasts up until about 16 hours from your last meal. This is the “catabolic,” or breakdown, phase, when all those extra nutrients start being released from storage to be used for energy.
Once the energy stored in your cells runs out, your body starts to rely instead on stored fat. The process of releasing fat and burning it up for energy releases chemicals known as ketone bodies for energy, which usually happens around the 16-hour mark.
The rate at which you reach this stage really depends on what you ate for the last couple of meals before your fast. If you ate a lot of carbs and starch, it will take a bit longer than if you ate mostly fats and protein.
One of the most powerful features of fasting, called autophagy, also kicks off during this phase.
Autophagy is triggered by a reduction in a growth regulator called MTOR, and this process is basically a spring cleaning for your cells. It gets rid of any dead or damaged cellular material, which can otherwise contribute to aging, cancer, and chronic disease.
16 to 24 hours Once you pass the 16-hour mark, glucose in the cells and glycogen in the liver and muscles begin to dwindle rapidly, which causes you to burn stored fat in order to keep up with your body’s need for energy.
Your energy demands at this stage likely haven’t changed much—you’re still waking up, working, walking, interacting with people, maybe exercising—so the amount of energy that’s needed can be quite significant.
The production of another chemical, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), is also triggered at this point. This really increases the amount of autophagy happening all around your body.
24 to 72 hours Again, it’s important to work with a physician if you plan to do a prolonged fast.
Once you pass 24 hours of fasting, your body will enter into a state called ketosis, where you’re reliant on burning your fat stores for energy. As fat cells are broken down for energy, ketone bodies are created and released into the bloodstream.
Ketone bodies act as fuel for the brain when glucose is scarce. Glucose is our brain’s primary source of fuel, but ketone bodies provide the brain with additional benefits.
Burning ketones can lead to a major uptick in your cognitive performance, mental clarity, and general sense of energy and well-being as you enter into a multiday fast.
Your brain also gets a boost around the 24-hour mark from an increase in production of brain-derived nootropic factor (BDNF).
BDNF supports the growth of brain neurons. Not only is it correlated with improvements in long-term memory, coordination, and learning, but it’s also thought to be key in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in later life.
72+ hours Once you’ve been fasting for three days or more, your body enters a deep state of ketosis. All the previous benefits: Autophagy, the uptick in the production of beneficial chemicals and hormones, fat loss, and mental clarity continue to increase. That said, your thyroid hormones also start to get affected, as your body thinks it’s starving.
Research suggests longer fasts can help your body become more resilient to stress and exposure to toxins and that certain hormones produced at this stage can have beneficial anti-cancer and anti-aging effects. That said, people with a history of eating disorders should avoid prolonged fasts, and it’s always a good idea to seek medical supervision when fasting.
Dr. Naiman, ‘Diet Doctor’ suggests that “the sweet spot for intermittent fasting” occurs between 18 and 24 hours of fasting since this is the time period that sees the greatest drop in insulin and increase in lipolysis — the breakdown of fat.
Give intermittent fasting a try and please let me know what you experience.
*If you have medical conditions please consult with your doctor before you attempt a fast.
You could have a tired, fatty liver. You see, your liver filters toxins from your blood. It also supports healthy hormone levels, promotes healthy blood sugar, and helps balance your cholesterol.
Your liver also converts glucose into energy your body can use, stores essential nutrients, like vitamins A, B, D, and K, and produces a quart of bile daily that supports healthy digestion, metabolism, and weight maintenance.
Your liver is responsible for over 500 essential functions.
So, as you can see, one of the best ways to boost your health is to show your liver some love.
Your liver is designed to heal and regenerate but the more we are exposed to heavy metals, pesticides, chemicals, medications and pollution the more it is compromised.
That’s when you start feeling fatigued because your liver struggles to convert glucose to energy.
You may start gaining weight around your middle, or seeing more cellulite, because your liver gets clogged with fat.
You may feel moody, emotional, or “off” because your liver isn’t supporting optimal hormone balance.
What can you do to support your liver?
To find out if a sluggish liver is causing some of your symptoms, you could have a full health scan which is non-intrusive, cost effective and will give you an overview of parasites, toxins, sensitivities, and organ health which is a good place to start.
You could perform a 15 day liver detox consisting of a herbal tea which you drink three times a day for 14 days and a fruit juice flush on the 15th day.
You could perform a liver detox by following a diet free of dairy, wheat, sugar and meat and take a liver detox tincture twice a day for 2 weeks.
If you really want to do a thorough cleanse you can do a gallbladder/liver flush which will flush out toxins, parasites and gall stones. This is one of the steps I guide you through if you elect to take part in my Radical Transformation in 90 days programme. It is advisable to do this after cleaning out parasites and toxins and is best done with guidance as you may need to do a colon cleanse first.
“After doing this detox I was able to smell again and come off most of my chronic asthma medication,” Ingrid.
“I feel brand new and full of energy.” Marionette
After 20 days of really clean eating and cleaning up my system I had dropped 10kg!” Margaret
Or you can try a coffee enema. Most pharmacies provide these enema kits just make sure you use organic coffee. I can guide you with the process and the benefits are great.
Bear in mind that you are more than flesh alone. Your liver is the organ where we store emotions like resentment and anger. If you are dealing with emotional issues and beliefs that could be giving you a toxic liver, you owe it to yourself to let go of these emotions and beliefs as they are robbing you of health and happiness.
Check in with yourself and see what beliefs are driving you. What are the persistent thoughts that take up space in your mind? Take control of your thoughts-don’t let them control you. If you need assistance with letting go of negative emotions and beliefs, kinesiology is a wonderful therapy as it taps into your body to find and correct stressors so that you can live from a place of happiness and love.
Advise from Ketut . . .
If this post helps you and you are interested in more from me or any of my services and products, please subscribe, thank you xxx.
If you have been following me for a while you will notice that it is my belief that all imbalance and disease is caused by 3 things namely stress, pathogens, and toxins. That is why I address all three in my Radical Transformation in 90 days Programme.
If you live in the Garden Route (or anywhere near water or high rain fall and humidity areas) you may be more susceptible to fungal and mold exposure.
Mold and fungus are two types of organisms that belong to the kingdom Fungi. The main difference between mold and fungus is that mold is a multicellular, filamentous fungi whereas fungus is a unicellular or multicellular organism with a chitin cell wall. Fungi include molds, mushrooms, and yeast.
Here is more information on the effects of on your body. So many of these symptoms get misdiagnosed.
They give off Mycotoxins, poisonous chemicals that help defend its territory from other microbes. Mycotoxins can be very harmful to you — even in low concentrations.
Mycotoxins are more harmful than pesticides.
Some scientists believe.
Some common mycotoxins and ways they may impact your health include:
Aflatoxins: These are produced by Aspergillus flavus and some penicillium species, among others. Aflatoxins are linked with an increased risk of liver cancer.
Ochratoxin A: These mycotoxins can suppress your immune system. They can also damage your nerves and impair brain function. Some of this could be due to the oxidative stress — also known as free radical damage — that it triggers.
Trichothecenes: These are produced by black mold (stachybotrys), as well as some other molds. They can interfere with your cells’ ability to make proteins your body needs. They can also impair your immunity, trigger oxidative stress, and damage nerves.
Mycotoxins can also harm your mitochondria, kidneys, and lungs.
Some factors that may affect your susceptibility include your toxin load in general, your health status, and length of exposure. Genetics can also make a difference.
Signs of toxicity
There’s no “clear-cut” list of signs and symptoms that specifically point to mold illness. You may not even recall or be aware you’ve been exposed to mold. But one possible clue is a sudden, unexplainable downturn in your health.
This can lead to a series of doctor visits. You may be given a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, or irritable bowel syndrome. But this is overlooking the root cause.
For example, in a study of people with CFS, about 90% had spent significant time in a water-damaged building. And, 93% of the people had at least one type of mycotoxin in their urine. In contrast, healthy people had no detectable urine mycotoxins.
The researchers theorized that mitochondrial damage from mold toxicity was causing fatigue in the CFS group. Aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and trichothecenes all can cause mitochondrial damage. That can lead to reduced energy production.
Mold can also trigger inflammation. One study found that people working in damp buildings produced anywhere from 2 to 1,000 times more inflammatory messengers.
Brain scans of people with mold illness suggest inflammation can lead to structural brain changes and nervous system dysfunction. That may contribute to hypersensitivity to foods, chemicals, and other items that didn’t previously bother you. This is part of chronic inflammatory response syndrome, described next.
Chronic inflammatory response syndrome
An ongoing inflammatory response to mold or other biotoxins can lead to chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS). It’s also referred to as biotoxin illness. In this condition, inflammation affects multiple systems of your body.
Chronic exposure to a water-damaged building is the most common trigger of CIRS. Chronic Lyme disease is another cause. Some people have both. That’s a double whammy to your system.
The following signs and symptoms are often found in CIRS due to mold-induced toxicity:
Brain function: Brain fog, memory loss, trouble finding words, difficulty concentrating, problems taking in new information
Weight: Appetite swings, weight gain or weight-loss resistance
Many of these symptoms could also be due to reasons other than mold toxicity and CIRS. That’s why mold illness is often overlooked or misdiagnosed. The specific effects depend on your body’s unique vulnerabilities.
Signs and symptoms of mold illness include the following areas:
History of mold exposure: Do you recall spending significant time in a water-damaged building (regardless if you had symptoms at the time)? Or, did symptoms start when you moved into a different home/apartment or workplace?
Continual infections: Do you have recurrent infections, such as sinusitis or tonsillitis? Or, do you seem to have a weak immune system? These can be early signs of mold illness.
Sick-building syndrome: Do you feel worse when you enter certain buildings, such as your home, office, or school? Do you feel better when you spend a few days away from these buildings?
Chemical sensitivity: Do you have symptoms — such as nausea, headache, or cough — when exposed to various chemicals? Examples include perfumes, detergents, cleaning products, tobacco smoke, printer ink, paints, varnishes, hair products, street dust, and exhaust fumes.
Odor sensitivity: Have you developed a hypersensitivity to smells, particularly mold? For example, you may smell mold on other people’s clothes or develop a keen ability to smell mold in buildings.
More serious symptoms which some studies are showing are linked to toxicity include cancer, seizures, strokes, liver and kidney disease.
I suggest also checking and cleaning your washing machine inside, check showers and remember mold grows within 24 hours in your fridge. As a rule I don’t eat left overs which have been standing in the fridge.
Candidiasis
Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by a yeast (a type of fungus) called Candida. Some species of Candida can cause infection in people; the most common is Candida albicans. Candida normally lives on the skin and inside the body, in places such as the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina, without causing any problems. Candida can cause infections if it grows out of control or if it enters deep into the body (for example, the eyes, bones, bloodstream or internal organs like the kidney, heart, or brain.) Candidemia, a bloodstream infection with Candida, is a common infection in hospitalized patients.
Symptoms include:
Oral thrush
Fatigue
Deficiencies of vitamin B6, essential fatty acids and magnesium
Recurring urinary or genital infections
Digestive issues
Sinus infections
Skin and nail infections
Joint, pelvic or lower back pain
Fever, chills, headache
If you have any of these symptoms, I strongly suggest doing a complete pathogen cleanse before resorting to long term chronic disease management with medications. I am not a medical practitioner and as such this is just my personal advice based on what I have experienced over the 17 years practicing as an energy medicine practitioner. Please consult your doctor if you are considering a pathogen cleanse and you have any concerns.
Ischemic stroke secondary to CNS fungal infections should be considered in patients with recurrent or progressive cryptogenic stroke, regardless of immune status and cerebrospinal fluid profile. CNS yeast and mold infections have slightly different stroke and laboratory characteristics and should have a distinct diagnostic method. Depending on clinical suspicion, a thorough diagnostic approach including spinal fluid analysis and biopsy should be considered.
Diet, lifestyle, environment, medications, and stress can all affect our immune system, leading to allergies, hypersensitivities, fatigue, bloating and other symptoms.
Do you suffer from a few of these symptoms?
Sinus, postnasal drip, headaches, insomnia, weight gain, flatulence, bloating, dark rings under the eyes, asthma, irritability, piles, fatigue, depression, thrush, water retention, inflammation, joint pain, skin irritations, diarrhea or constipation?
A Kinesiology consultation can provide you with some insight and into what is going on with your body and some relief, so you can feel healthier and have more energy.
Make 2021 the year you learn to tune in to your body to listen to and decipher the messages its giving you, so that you can get back into balance and have the vitality to live your best life.
Get glowing skin, tone up, and reduce inflammation, boost your immunity, improve digestion, clear congestion, and reduce stress in the body.
When you get a lymphatic massage, you are working the fluid layer that removes excess stagnant toxins in your tissues that may be making you feel unwell, lethargic, heavy, achy, bloated, slow to heal, and prone to common colds and illness.
The lymphatic system plays an important role of keeping the immune system functioning. Adverse lifestyle choices, stress, toxins, pathogens, pregnancy, surgeries and medications compromise the immune system. A sluggish lymphatic system can lead to major imbalance and a diseased state.
During a manual lymph drainage massage a therapist will gently massage you from your feet to your head as your lymphatic system runs throughout your body.
It is unfortunate that many western massage therapists overlook the stomach. When you massage your stomach, you can increase the movement of your vital organs and improve your digestion. Many of us store stress in our abdomens. Lymphatic massage around your colon can also reduce belly fat and increase energy.
Symptoms that your lymph may not be functioning optimally:
• Rings get tight on fingers
• Soreness and/or stiffness in the morning on rising
• Feeling tired
• Bloating / Holding on to water
• Itchy skin
• Weight gain and extra belly fat
• Swollen glands
• Low immunity
• Brain fog
• Breast swelling or soreness with each cycle
• Dry skin
• Mild rash or acne
• Hypersensitivity
• Mild headaches
• Elevated histamine and irritation due to common environmental allergens
• Occasional constipation, diarrhea, and/or mucus in the stool
Benefits of lymph massage:
Improve Digestion
Reduce bloating
Boost metabolism
Circulate virus fighting white blood cells
Remove excess built up toxins from your tissues
Boost your Immune system
Improve skin conditions
Increase energy
Reduce brain fog
Improve appearance of cellulite if performed a regular basis
Clear ear congestion
Reduce headaches
Speed up recovery from injury and wounds
Lymphatic drainage can benefit these issues:
Edema
Skin disorders, such as acne, rosacea, eczema
Metabolic problems, including fatigue, sleep disorders, chronic pain and stress
Gastrointestinal issues, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), celiac and Crohn’s disease and constipation
Rheumatology disorders, like arthritis and osteoporosis, and Fibromyalgia
Neurologic problems such as migraines and vertigo
Respiratory congestion, sinus
Tips for Lymphatic System support:Deep breathing- Deep diaphragmatic breathing stimulates the largest lymphatic vessel in your body- the thoracic duct- which brings the fluid from the lower half of your body up towards your heart. I recommend watching how Wim Hoff does it. Not only will this benefit your lymphatic system it will increase your immunity and calm your mind if you make it a regular practice.
Hydrate - Try warm lemon water
Exercise- Some of the best forms include rebounding on a trampoline, biking, swimming, dancing, yoga (especially inversions and twists) and walking.
Get adequate sleep- The Glymphatic system in your brain works with your CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) to clear out plaque when you’re asleep.
Infrared saunas and ozone pods will help decrease inflammation and sweating will help flush toxins from the surface of your skin.
Dry-brushing- before you shower, at least 3 times a week, is a simple and affordable way to increase lymphatic circulation, improve appearance of cellulite and increase your energy.
Use clean non-toxic skin care and home products - This is essential! Some hormone imbalances can be attributed to the hidden chemicals in products. Your lymph system picks up excess hormones that are too big to get absorbed by blood vessels.
Stop stressing - It wreaks havoc on your digestion, your mind, your heart, your soul and your lymph.
Eat a clean, healthy diet- avoid processed foods, sugar, alcohol, tobacco, dairy, gluten and salt as much as you can. Incorporate anti-inflammatory herbs when you cook and eat more organic vegetables and fruits.
Find Joy- when we nurture ourselves and find simple ways to experience joy, we increase our health and spread love and happiness to others.
I offer full body lymph drainage massages to assist with lymph drainage and circulation issues. Call or WhatsApp on 065 924 7332 to book your massage.
Testimonials
I was suffering with severe pain and swelling of my left ankle for more than a year. Several visits to doctors, specialists, MRI scans, sonars and X-rays and thousands of rands later no one had a solution. After only one lymphatic drainage massage and ozone treatment with Gillian, to my surprise, there was an immediate improvement. After the 3 rd treatment I could walk normally and the swelling was gone . My last treatment was more than a month ago and no swelling, no pain and no medication. I recommend this treatment. It sure changed my life.
Sylvia
The most incredible massages I have ever had. I’ve been for four already over the last two months. The only way one can describe Gillian’s lymph drainage massages is that she tunes in to your body and senses what it needs.
Not only relaxing, the times with Gillian extend into deeply meaningful explorations of where one is at with one’s life.
Every session with Gillian is a truly remarkable and enriching experience. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
Ingrid
Gillian is outstanding. Her knowledge and guidance shine through, and she has the gift of massage and healing. I am a massage therapist myself, and have never experienced a better massage and healing experience. I will visit her every time I come to Knysna, and highly recommend her.
If your energy lags during the day, you feel emotionally off-kilter much of the time, you sleep poorly or less than seven hours a night, you can’t shed excess weight even while dieting, and you rely on caffeine or carbohydrates as “pick-me-ups” — these are all red flags indicating adrenal imbalance.
In all but the most extreme cases, we expect to see dramatic improvement in four to six months. For mild to moderate adrenal fatigue the turnaround can be faster.
Remember, you may feel as though you’re just too tired to make changes now, but by moving forward in incremental stages, you’ll build the strength you need to stay with it. You will love how you feel when you do!
Physiology
Amygdala (part of limbic brain) – hypothalamus communicates with pituitary gland, turns on adrenal gland – body is filled with cortisol & epinephrine. On top of each kidney there is an (endocrine) adrenal gland, about the size of a large grape. The innermost section of each gland produces adrenaline and noradrenaline, the hormones named after them. The layers outside the center, called the adrenal cortex, produce several other hormones, including cortisol, as well as DHEA, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Function
They produce hormones that regulate blood pressure, how our body uses food, blood-levels of minerals, such as potassium and sodium, functions involved in stress reactions, and heartbeat. Stress causes the adrenals to produce cortisol. Cortisol helps us meet challenges by converting proteins into energy, releasing glycogen, and counteracting inflammation. For a short time, that’s okay. But at sustained high levels, cortisol gradually tears your body down.
What are stressors?
What you really need to know and understand is that EVERY challenge to the mind and body creates a demand on the adrenal glands. A demanding job, raising a family, relationship issues, lack of sleep, financial pressures, improper nutrition, dieting, and unresolved emotional distress, losing a loved one are some examples. When our adrenal glands must chronically sustain high cortisol levels, they become fatigued. The resulting adrenal dysfunction not only affects cortisol production, but also impairs the adrenals’ ability to produce and balance hormones like DHEA, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Long term stress will lead to hormonal imbalances.
Symptoms of adrenal fatigue (high cortisol levels)
Fatigue
Feeling tired despite sufficient hours of sleep
Insomnia
Weight gain
Depression
Hair loss
Acne/skin issues
Reliance on stimulants like caffeine
Cravings for carbohydrates or sugars
Cravings for salt
Poor immune function
Slow healing and cell regeneration
Impaired digestion, metabolism and mental function
Interference with healthy endocrine function
Muscle and bone loss
lntolerance to cold
Adrenal fatigue is a likely factor in several medical conditions such as the following:
• Hypotension • Fibromyalgia • Hypothyroidism • Chronic fatigue syndrome • Arthritis • Premature menopause The good news is, with proper support you can heal adrenal fatigue and reverse the damaging effects of chronic stress.
Stress of any kind — mental, emotional, or physical — stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the dynamic feedback system between the brain and the adrenal glands. Over stimulation of this axis have huge implications throughout the body.
The short-term result of a stimulated HPA axis is higher cortisol production from the adrenals. High cortisol (hypercortisolism) in the bloodstream can directly inhibit production of TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) as well as conversion of T4 to T3. But cortisol can’t remain high forever.
Eventually, the adrenal glands reach exhaustion and not enough cortisol is produced (known as hypocortisolism), which comes with another set of problems.
Either way, with lower levels of T3 in the blood, your cells can’t produce a healthy biological response. This is when women begin to see hypothyroidism symptoms like: • fatigue, • cold intolerance, • weight gain, • memory loss, • poor concentration, • depression, • infertility, • hair loss, etc
(You need to know though that adrenal glands are just one piece to the thyroid equation, but for other patients, there may be something entirely different causing a sluggish thyroid. )
Other factors in the hypothyroidism equation
On top of the physical and emotional stress women feel at menopause, there are several very real biological stresses on the thyroid to consider. 1. Low iodine levels. Iodine is the central ingredient in thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Trying to produce T3 and T4 without iodine is like trying to make an omelet without the eggs! We need about one milligram of iodine a week to form the required amount of thyroxine. But iodine is not all that widely distributed in nature. 2. Exposure to environmental toxins — including halides, heavy metals, pesticides, and antibiotics in our air, food, and water AND pathogens — can also interfere with thyroid function. The very prevalent Epstein Bar Virus is a silent destructive force often going undetected in most people. We all know it’s best to limit our toxic exposure wherever possible but increasing iodine intake and implementing a regular detox program to support the body’s natural detoxification pathways can also make a difference. 3. Food allergies and sensitivities — including those to gluten — can place tremendous stress on thyroid function. Many of my clients with hypothyroidism see positive results when they eliminate gluten from their diets. Food sensitivities may also promote autoimmune reactions in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid as though it were a foreign invader. More research is needed in this area, but it’s now clear that the food we eat “talks” to our genes. And when we have food intolerances occurring in the gut, the resulting chemical signals influence our DNA — including the DNA in our immune cells. Unfortunately, the messages carried by food stressors turn off the default “healthy” pathways and turn on those that lead to disease. 4. A long list of prescription medications can also impair thyroid function. Drugs like lithium, amiodarone, somatostatin, inhalers, and others have the potential to disrupt thyroid hormone balance at any level — from synthesis, secretion and transport to how thyroid hormones act in our organs to regulate metabolism — with the unintended outcome of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Yes prescription medications save lives, but we have to be mindful that their benefits often come at the expense of other systems in the body. Sadly, the targeted strength provided by many drugs can be overwhelming — in some cases destructive — to the thyroid. 5. Finally, insufficient nutrition may also affect thyroid function — but that’s easily addressed!
Selenium, for example, is needed for the conversion of T4 to T3, so if you’re selenium deficient, increasing this nutrient in your diet may make a difference in how you feel. And as mentioned above, iodine is essential for making thyroid hormones. Vitamin A, EPA and DHA, and zinc all act to improve T3 binding in your cells. By working with your body’s natural pathways, vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, and extra antioxidants can offer great results without the side effects. The bottom line is that when we give our bodies the gentle support they recognize, we often see positive results that last.
• Vitamin A: dark green leafy veggies, liver, winter squash, cantaloupe, stone fruits, papaya, and cod liver oil.
• B vitamin complex: brewer’s yeast, wild rice, brown rice, whole wheat, beans, peanuts.
• Vitamin C: Red chili, guava, parsley, dark green leafy veggies, strawberries, papaya, citrus fruits.
• Support your adrenals. If this is the only thing you do, I promise it will benefit your health on many levels. Not only will supporting your adrenals lighten the burden on your thyroid, it will also help restore your energy levels and overall well-being.
• Ensuring a rich foundation of nutrients for the daily production and activity of thyroid hormones may be all you need to get yourself back on track, or to prevent hypothyroidism. Consider supplementing with selenium and iodine. You can do this through the foods you eat or with supplements, but if you do use selenium or iodine supplements, please work with a professional healthcare provider to monitor your levels appropriately. And when it comes to selenium supplements, I do not recommend taking more than 200 mcg/day.
Speak your truth
By the time we reach perimenopause, many of us find we’ve given so much to the world around us there is little reserve for ourselves. This is the time to speak up, to share your opinions, to explore the things that make your life meaningful. Do not feel guilty about asking for — and receiving — more support. Though easier said than done for many women, this may be the perfect time in life to learn to say “no.” You deserve a break — and so do the cells in your body!
Your thyroid, your voice
In Eastern medical paradigms, the thyroid is associated with “sacred voice.” As a component of the fifth chakra, thyroid issues are linked with difficulty speaking our truth, following our dreams, or fully expressing ourselves. Anatomically, the thyroid sits right over the voice box, and one of the symptoms of thyroid dysfunction is a gravelly or “muted” voice. When the thyroid is underactive, it doesn’t hurt to step back and evaluate how well you’re expressing your individual needs, wants, and opinions to those around you.
Remember that your voice doesn’t serve to merely communicate — it is connected to your whole being. Likewise, your thyroid doesn’t simply produce thyroid hormone. It is connected to every cell in your body and subject to both physical and psychological influence. My advice is to look at the whole picture when it comes to your thyroid, and you will find the dynamic balance your body is naturally seeking.
Stress and hormones
When the adrenals are chronically overworked and straining to maintain high cortisol levels, they lose the capacity to produce DHEA in enough amounts. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is an immediate precursor hormone to estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
What that means is whenever DHEA is in short supply; women have a hard time balancing their hormones.
This happens because Mother Nature will always favour survival — our adrenals’ primary function — over reproduction — one of their secondary functions being production of sex hormones. And that’s why hormonal balance becomes increasingly problematic as stressed-out women approach midlife, when ovarian production of sex hormones declines naturally.
Over time, low DHEA leads to fatigue, bone loss, loss of muscle mass, depression, aching joints, decreased sex drive, and impaired immune function. Healing foods for adrenal support Certain fruits and vegetables either help protect your adrenal glands or speed their recovery by strengthening the nervous system, reducing inflammation, easing stress, and providing critical nutrients for adrenal function.
Top foods to eat to bounce back from adrenal fatigue:
Please note that many diet experts recommend eating a lot of animal protein. This is either because they do not realize how much fat can hide in even lean animal protein or because they think that fat content is a good thing. This protein advice can seem very convincing, so beware; it is bad for anyone, and especially unhealthy if you have adrenal fatigue. The high fat strains your pancreas and liver and eventually creates insulin resistance, making it difficult for your body to maintain a stable level of glucose . . . which in turn creates a massive strain on your adrenal glands as they struggle to produce hormones to compensate. Diet experts also often counsel people to cut out carbohydrates from their diets. Again, this is not good and can result in strain, because your body needs carbs for energy. Following these diet trends will slow you down and keep you from healing your adrenal fatigue.
Healing herbs and supplements
Licorice root: helps balance the body’s levels of cortisol and cortisone. Spirulina (preferably from Hawaii): contains high levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and chromium, which reinforce adrenal strength. Ester-C: this form of vitamin C lowers inflammation and soothes adrenal glands that have become enlarged from overexertion. Chromium: helps balance insulin levels, and augments the strength of adrenal glands, thyroid glands, and the pancreas. Eleuthero (aka Siberian ginseng): enhances the body’s ability to react and adapt, which helps protect the adrenal glands from overreacting to stress. Schisandra: helps suppress kidney spasms, which in turn reduces adrenal gland stress. Ashwagandha: helps balance the production of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and cortisol. Magnesium: lowers anxiety and calms an overactive nervous system, reducing adrenal gland stress. 5-MTHF (5-methyltetrahydrofolate): augments the strength of the central nervous system, which reduces strain on the adrenal glands. Cordyceps: renews the strength of the gallbladder and liver so these glands can more effectively process excess cortisol in the bloodstream. Panax ginseng: enhances the body’s ability to react and adapt, which helps protect the adrenal glands from overreacting to stress. Rose hips: lowers inflammation, soothing adrenal glands that have become enlarged from overexertion. Barley grass juice extract powder increases the hydrochloric acid in the stomach which strengthens the adrenal glands.
Tips to consider:
• Clean your colon. One of the best things you can do is to support your colon by using occasional colon cleansing and doing a detox diet. • Hydrate with living water. • Add a fiber supplement, such as psyllium husks, to 8 oz. of apple juice in the a.m. and p.m. • Try a kinesiology balance to address the reasons why you landed in adrenal fatigue in the first place. • Take a relaxing bath then get 7 hours of sleep and avoid all electronic equipment an hour before sleeping. • Reduce caffeine intake and alcohol and ditch sweets • Opt for healthy fats – coconut, olive, avodaco, nut oils • Gentle stretching like Yoga • Get out into nature, take a walk on the beach or in a forest. Make time for things you love. Avoid overly excessive exercise that further deplete adrenals. • Make a list of your stressors, especially those that are ongoing or self-imposed and decide what changes you can make to bring these down.
Testing for adrenal fatigue
There are two ways I test for adrenal fatigue namely a kinesiology session through muscle testing or via NLS diagnostic scan using resonance frequency.
Should you get an adrenal test?
If your energy lags during the day, you feel emotionally off-kilter much of the time, you sleep poorly or less than seven hours a night, you can’t shed excess weight even while dieting, and you rely on caffeine or carbohydrates as “pick-me-ups” — these are all red flags indicating adrenal imbalance.
Guilt, pain from past hurts, self-destructive habits, unresolved relationship problems — your past and present emotional experience may be functioning as an ever-present stressor in your life. Dealing directly with these problems is far more beneficial than spending a lifetime compensating for the stress they create.
In all but the most extreme cases, we expect to see dramatic improvement in four to six months. For mild to moderate adrenal fatigue the turnaround can be faster.
Remember, you may feel as though you’re just too tired to make changes now, but by moving forward in incremental stages, you’ll build the strength you need to stay with it. You will love how you feel when you do!
Radical Transformation in 90 days – A programme that will reset your adrenals and address the harmful effects of adrenal fatigue
The Program promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritional supplements, our exclusive endocrine support formula, dietary and lifestyle guidance, and kinesiology consultations.
If you have questions, don't hesitate to WhatsApp me on 27 65 924 7732. (some of the above information on adrenal fatigue courtesy of http://www.womentowomen.com)
8:30am – 12:30pm Juice 12 grapefruits and drink throughout the morning.
1:30pm – 5:30pm Juice 12 apples and drink in the afternoon.
6:00pm Mix 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salts with 3/4 cup of cold water and squeeze one lemon into it for taste and drink.
8:00pm Repeat same as 6:00pm
9:30pm Prepare for bed. Measure 1 cup of olive oil into a jar for shaking and add the fresh juice of two grapefruits and shake. Shake real hard to mix thoroughly. Go to the bathroom the last time.
10:00pm Drink the Olive Oil mixture. Lie down on your right side for 20 minutes. Try not to move during this time as the oil is passing down the liver. Go to sleep.
Next Morning upon waking take another dose of 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salts, 3/4 water and lemon. Repeat 2 hours later.
After two more hours you may eat. Start with fruit juice. Half an hour later eat fruit. One hour later you may eat a light meal.
Notes:
For smaller people starting the liver cleanse for the first time, a half cup of olive oil could be used instead of the whole one cup.
This cleanse is best done following a colon/parasite and kidney cleanse. It is important that your colon be working effectively, and that the bowel toxicities and parasitical infestations be removed first (before doing a liver cleanse) as it is of the utmost importance that your body be able to efficiently remove the toxins and stones that are released from your liver.
To remove stones – do not repeat cleanse any sooner than every two weeks until desired amount of stones are passed. For general cleanse, repeat process twice a year.
To maintain liver health limit the amount of high-fat foods such as potato chips, salad dressings and excessive amounts of dairy products that you ingest.
The morning of the second day expect to have mild diarrhoea.
You may feel a little uncomfortable for a couple of days as the liver continues to purge toxins but you should feel lighter and have a lot more energy.
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