Nutritional and Hormonal Support for Healthy Weight Loss

Dr. Gregory L. Jantz: Executive Director The Center for Counseling & Health Resources, Inc. A Place of Hope

The following information is excerpts from the book "Thin Over 40" by Dr. Jantz

Adrenal System

Your adrenal system and your thyroid work together to regulate your body's production of hormones. If your adrenals are overworked or stressed, the thyroid automatically turns the metabolic rate down in order to "calm" the system.This reduction is metabolic rate means weight gain.It is important, therefore, to identify ways your adrenal system can be stressed.

Basically, what puts stress on the body, puts stress on the adrenals – excessive anger and worry, feeling guilty, overworking, not getting enough sleep, toxic exposure, hypoglycemia, nutritional deficiencies, trauma and injury.

Another important stressor is, frankly, the way we eat.When we expect our bodies to regulate vital functions by feeding it a steady diet of caffeine and sugar, we rob it of the nutrients needed to do its job.Not only do we rob it by what we do eat, we rob it by what we don't eat.The body was meant to obtain a majority of its calories through fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains.Our mass produced, highly processed, chemically saturated foods stress out our systems and wreck havoc with their ability to function optimally.The good news is a return to healthier eating and the use of nutritional supplements can assist the body and reduce stress to our adrenal system.

Common Causes of Adrenal Stress

• Anger
• Fear
• Worry/anxiety
• Depression
• Guilt
• Overwork/physical or mental strain
• Excessive exercise
• Sleep deprivation
• Light-cycle disturbance
• Going to sleep late
• Surgery
• Trauma/injury
• Chronic inflammation
• Chronic infection
• Chronic pain
• Temperature extremes
• Toxic exposure
• Malabsorption
• Maldigestion
• Chronic illness
• Chronic-severe allergies
• Hypoglycemia
• Nutritional deficiencies

Your body works very hard each and every day to cope with the situations of life. The more stress you put on your body, the healthier you need to eat and the more support you need to give it nutritionally.When adrenals are maxed, it affects the thyroid.When this gland is hampered by illness, causing reduced production of thyroid hormone, every bodily function is diminished.

When the body is supported with the nutrients it needs, amazing progress is possible. When the body is not supported, either through diet, lifestyle, or both, damage occurs that can have long-range effects, both physical and psychological. Read more of Dr. Jantz's recommendations.