Maguire G Justin, Nov2022.

Presents

Cholesterol and its influence on behaviour

Introduction – historically misinformed cholesterol

Cardiovascular disease has historically been associated with cholesterol, leading the public into demonizing this protective sterol, resulting in the misappropriate use of statins and fibrates[1]. Pharmacology is by no means an evil entity, and in some cases, the use of drugs is essential to enable health to flourish. Tackling high or low cholesterol should however be approached through a broader lens, one in which underlying immunological and endocrinological activity is considered. Additionally, suppressing cholesterol may insight unwanted outcomes of psychological distress, this article serves to enlighten intricacies that otherwise may not be considered in the role cholesterol plays within the management of both molecular and psychological health.

What is cholesterol

Cholesterol is a sterol biosynthesized by all animal cells, providing structure to cell membranes[2].  Cholesterol was first discovered by François Poulletier de la Salle in 1796 and later between 1913-1929 lipoproteins were identified by Nikolay Anichov, accelerating studies of cardiovascular lipid studies into full swing with contributions respectively by Joseph Goldstein and Michael Brown in 1974[3].

There is but one type of cholesterol with different types of protein carriers, each of which plays a role in maintaining biological processes in the body. Most of our cholesterol is synthesized by our bodies, with only one-third coming from dietary sources[4]. Cholesterol has a wide range of functions, including:

  1. The structural component of cell membranes
  2. Raw material to produce bile acids to enable absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
  3. Raw material (precursor) to the production of steroid hormones
  4. A component of myelin, which protects our nerves
  5. Aids thermoregulation at a cellular level
  6. Involved in Vitamin D absorption from the skin

Thyroid and cortisol impact on mitochondria – impact on cholesterol

The state of the immune system dramatically impacts cholesterol synthesis and transport. Immunological compromise impacts cholesterol health, often leading to initial elevation and in some cases depletion[5]. Compromised mitochondria function has been associated with different pathologies[6] linked to dysregulated cholesterol levels. Thyroid hormones play a crucial role in the regulation of mitochondria activity[7], enabling mitochondrion to support the production of adrenal hormones[8] thus modulating communication between both the peripheral and central nervous systems. Thus, we need to understand the activity of metabolic hormones when we are looking into the causative factors of poor cholesterol profiles.

Cortisol dominance is often expressed in cases of hypothyroidism[9], given that cortisol instigates elevated levels of oxidative stress[10], increases in LDL (low-density lipoprotein) can closely be associated with both elevated cortisol and poor thyroid hormone levels. Common causes for elevated cortisol[11] and insufficient thyroid hormone levels[12]can be traced back to both hepatic and gastrointestinal health.

Microbiome diversity and our nervous system develop at the same pace[13], thus alterations to our gut flora due to stress directly influences reactivity in the nervous system to stress. Poorly modulated stress leads to dysregulation of thyroid and cortisol function, resulting in mitochondria dysfunction which leads cholesterol metabolism to focus on repairing micro-abrasions caused by oxidative stress, resulting in atherosclerosis and eventual cardiac health compromise.

Recommended testing

  • Omnos Thyroid panel
  • DUTCH – omnos
  • Stool tests – omnos

Low cholesterol and the dangers of poor mental health

Much focus is given to elevated cholesterol, yet low cholesterol is neglected as a major cause of disease[14]. Causes of low cholesterol could be linked back to ongoing immunological compromise, leading the body into a position of exhaustion, and not being able to synthesize enough cholesterol. Other factors that may induce low cholesterol include:

  • Hyperthyroidism – linked to hepatic compromise of sulfation pathways
  • Liver disease
  • Gastritis
  • Intestinal hyperpermeability
  • Malnutrition
  • Manganese deficiency
  • Genetic enzyme disorders
  • Iron overload – hemochromatosis

ASD (Autism spectrum disorder) impacts the way in which a person is able to learn, communicate and interact with the world. Ranging from anger to social isolation, ASD impacts the way in which a person is able to fully express themselves in a safe and productive manner. Low cholesterol was found to in 19% percent of ASD cases within a meta-analysis of this condition[15]. Improving how the body is able to manage and produce cholesterol in those affected by ASH may provide relief from inflammatory conditions commonly associated with the condition.

ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ) ranges in 3 broad classes of expression, all of which limit a person’s ability to feel calm and peaceful within moments of emotional and intellectual challenge. ADHD often leads those affected by the condition into impulsive and at times destructive behaviour. Disruptive and aggressive behaviour has a close association with children impacted by ADHD. Through investigative analysis across the United States of America, children with low cholesterol levels were threefold more likely to have been suspended or expelled compared to those with higher cholesterol[16]. Identifying causative factors which may compromise innate cholesterol metabolism may provide relief to aggression/frustration often experienced in those with ADHD.

Through case series retrospective analysis, it was found that patients with lower cholesterol had a higher tendency to attempt to commit suicide[17]. Cholesterol plays a contributing role within the available concentration of serotonin in cerebral spinal fluid, thus improving symptoms of depression and lowering the likelihood of suicide. 

Through retrospective analysis, it was found those addicted to cocaine had low cholesterol profiles[18]. An investigative analysis of both genetic vulnerability and current physiological function may provide insight into what additional preventative measures could be incorporated in the fight against addiction, namely restoring immunological reactivity and the associated impact on cholesterol.

Improving cholesterol requires focus on not only the intake of cholesterol but the functionality of physiological and immunological systems both of which play an integral role within a homeostatic balance of cholesterol metabolism. For those with low cholesterol consuming enough cholesterol from dietary sources may prove beneficial in supporting the body’s need for this sterol.

Foods that are  high in cholesterol include the following:

  • Eggs – 2 yolks = 500mgs of cholesterol
  • Brain – 3oz = 1000mg cholesterol
  • Liver – 3oz = 372mg

Conclusion

Cholesterol gives the body the ability to regulate and repair. Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism not only leads one into possibly cardiac disease but also may instigate a whole host of behavioural disorders. Approaching the reformation of cholesterol needs to consider more than just incorporating statins or fibrates (although they are also useful in specific situations), rather restoring cholesterol function entails looking into the whole body and cellular metabolism. Through the identification of internal environment disruptors (heavy metals, toxins, pathogenic flora, mycotoxins, candida, etc..) we can support, remove, detoxify and restore cellular health, in particular, that of the mitochondria, thus providing a greater opportunity for lipid health renewal and lowered incident of mood or behavioural disorders.

Kris Gethin testimonial


[1] Soliman, GA. 2018. Dietary cholesterol and lack of evidence in cardiovascular disease. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29914176/ (Sourced: 28 October 2022)

[2] National library of medicine: National center for biotechnology information. Oct 2022. Compound summary: Cholesterol. Available at: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5997 (sourced 28 October 2022)

[3] Kuijpers, P. 2021. History in medicine: the story of cholesterol, lipids and cardiology. Available at: https://www.escardio.org/Journals/E-Journal-of-Cardiology-Practice/Volume-19/history-in-medicine-the-story-of-cholesterol-lipids-and-cardiology#:~:text=Fran%C3%A7ois%20Poulletier%20de%20la%20Salle%20(1719%2D1788)%20first%20identified,cholesterol%20for%20the%20first%20time. (sourced 28 October 2022)

[4] Kapourchali, R F. Surendiran, G. Goulet, A. Moghadasian, H M. Oct 2016. The Role of Dietary Cholesterol in Lipoprotein Metabolism and Related Metabolic Abnormalities: A Mini-review. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26055276/#:~:text=Cholesterol%20plays%20a%20vital%20role,the%20body%20(endogenous%20cholesterol). (sourced 28 October 2022)

[5] Anderson, J C. 2018. Impact of dietary cholesterol on the pathophysiology of infectious and autoimmune disease. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6024721/ (sourced 28 October)

[6] Naviaux, K R. Mitochondrion. 2019. Perspective: Cell danger response biology – the new science that connects environmental health with mitochondria and the rising tide of chronic illness. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1567724919302922 (sourced 28 October 2022)

[7] Sinha, R H. Singh, B. Zhou, J. Wu, Y. Farah, L B. Ohba, K. Lesmana, R. Gooding, J. Bay, BH. Yen, M P. Autophay 2015. Thyroid hormone induction of mitochondrial activity is coupled by mitophagy via ROS-AMPK-ULK1 signalling. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4590606/ (sourced 28 October 2022)

[8] Lam, M. Lam, C. mitochondria’s impact on adrenal gland diseases. Available at: https://www.drlamcoaching.com/adrenal-fatigue/complications/mitochondria-impact-on-adrenal-gland-diseases/ (sourced 28 October 2022)

[9] Gassama, S. Ndoye, O. Mbodj, M. Akala, A. Cisse, F. Niang, M. Ndoye, R. 2000. Serum cortisol level variations in thyroid diseases. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14666786/#:~:text=Excessive%20catabolism%20can%20lead%20to,often%20allow%20normal%20cortisol%20values. (sourced 28 October 2022)

[10] Simsek, S. Yuksel, T. Kaplan, I. Uysal, C. Aktas, H. ‘Pyschiatry Investigation 2016’. The levels of cortisol and oxidative stress and DNA damage in child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse with or without post traumatic stress disorder. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5128349/#:~:text=It%20was%20reported%20that%20oxidative,axis%20dysfunction%20and%20mental%20disorders.&text=It%20was%20also%20reported%20that,production%20of%20reactive%20oxygen%20species. (sourced 28 October 2022)

[11] Panduro, A. Iniguez, R I. Sepulveda-Villegas, M. Roman, S. Genes, emotions and gut microbiota: The next frontier for gastroenterologist. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Gut-brain-axis-and-dysbiosis-A-The-gut-microbiota-maintains-a-two-way-communication_fig1_317093451 (sourced: 28 October 2022)

[12] Knezevic, J. Starchl, C. Berisha, T A. Amrein, K. Thyroid-gut-axis: How does the microbiota influence thyroid function? Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7353203/ (sourced 28 October 2022)

[13] Yahfoufi, N. Matar, C. Ismail, N. 2020. Adolescence and aging: impact of adolescence inflammatory stress and microbiota alterations on brain development, aging, and neurodegeneration. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31917834/ (sourced 28 October 2022)

[14] Budzynski, J. Tojek, K. Wustrau, B. Czerniak, B. Winiarski, P. Korzycka-Wilinska, W. Banaszkiewicz, Z. 2018. The cholesterol paradox among inpatients – retrospective analysis of medical documentation. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6374572/ (sourced 28 October 2022)

[15] Tiery, E. Bukelis, I. Thompson, E R. Ahmed, K. Aneja, A. Kratz, L. Kelly, I R.  Am J of Med Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric genetics Vol 141B, Issue 6, Pg 666-668, 2006. Abnormalities of cholesterol metabolism in autism – spectrum disorders. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2553243/ (sourced 28 October 2022)

[16] Zhang, J. Muldoon, F M. McKeown, E R. Cuffe, P S. Am J Epidemiol. 2005. Association of serum cholesterol and history of school suspension among school-aged children and adolescents in the United States. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15781958/ (sourced 28 October 2022)

[17] Modai, I. Valevski, A. Dror, S. Weizman, A. J Clin Psychiatry. 1994. Serum cholesterol levels and suicidal tendencies in psychiatric inpatients. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8071280/ (sourced 28 October 2022)

[18] Buydens-Branchey, L. Branchey, M. Psychosom Med. 2003. Association between low plasma levels of cholesterol and relapse in cocaine addicts. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12554819/ (sourced 28 October 2022)

Maguire G Justin, July 2022.

Time for another word picture that hopefully leads to some curiosity. Let’s say you, a friend, a family member or that co-worker Greg who won’t stop recommending their favourite book, is struggling with weight gain. However, it’s not just weight gain. They, or you, are just out of it. They are not as part of the conversation as they usually are. When asking if they are okay, or vice versa, they say everything is fine and they are just stressed. Of course, we all experience stress on this blue marble of ours, but surely that can’t be all? There seems to be this monkey on their shoulder, but it’s not their shoulder. It’s more like the jerk is hanging around their neck.

Weight gain is well known to have an association with a struggling underactive thyroid1; however, did you know that poor thyroid activity contributes to depression, infertility, anxiety and poor cognition2? If not, you’re in for a few knowledge bombs about the thyroid that will not only blow brain fog out of your mind but also improve the way you tolerate stress.

Thyroid function is fully appreciated when we appreciate the impact that stress and cortisol have on production, conversion, and release. Our Nervous systems are highly organized networks, providing feedback to either accelerate or halt the function of our metabolism, including that of brain function! Two major systems namely: The HPA axis and HPT axis work in concert with one another to monitor energy requirements for physiological function, essentially influencing the activity of our cell’s powerplants, the mitochondria3. Excessive stress caused by lifestyle and environmental factors compromises communication within both metabolic networks, setting off a cascade of metabolic dysfunction. Below are two diagrams that accurately depict how stressors negatively impact the function of both the HPA axis and HPT axis:

With poor feedback mechanisms of thyroid hormone and function, hypothyroidism develops. There are namely three classifications in which hypothyroidism can be identified4:

  • Primary hypothyroidism – cases in which the brain is screaming at both the thyroid and liver to produce thyroid hormone, but little hormone is produced. In these cases, high levels of oxidative stress are often seen, decreasing the availability of vital precursors required for thyroid hormone production.
  • Secondary hypothyroidism – cases in which the brain is not stressed but the thyroid and peripheral organs are unable to make thyroid hormone. In these cases, stress often impedes both the thyroid and peripheral organ’s ability to produce and convert thyroid hormone, often, due to the impact TDO (tryptophan 2, 3 dioxygenase) has on depleting a vital enzyme required for thyroid hormone conversion.
  • Peripheral hypothyroidism – cases in which cortisol levels elevate to the point of which the liver uses the same enzyme required to convert thyroxine (T4) into triiodothyronine (T3) but instead converts thyroxine into rT3 (reverse T3). Reverse T3 has a higher binding effect on thyroid receptors and increased the ability to lower the availability and production of triiodothyronine.

Additionally, Autoimmune Hashimoto’s – in cases of autoimmune thyroid compromise the immune system has become increasingly dysregulated and as such our body’s own antibodies start to attack our thyroid gland. Often toxins and environmental pollutants are to blame, in which case cortisol is often flooded to contend with the stress of toxins, thus inhibiting innate immunity and increasing activity of adaptive immunity to recognize a perceived threat, that of our proteins being released by the thyroid gland.


Women seem to be at the highest risk of developing hypothyroidism, with 2-8 times the volume of hypothyroid cases reportedly being associated with women5. Additionally, poor thyroid activity impacts the fertility of women, due to the synergy thyroid hormone plays in the production of progesterone and regulation of prolactin. From painful periods to miscarriage, poor production of progesterone has been associated with multiple female endocrinological pathologies.

Increasing levels of prolactin do not only affect women but also have an impact on men too! Prolactin levels play an inhibitory role in the production and regulation of dopamine6, as such when thyroid levels decline and prolactin levels increase, the likelihood of impulsive and habit-forming actions is increased, increasing the development of not only cognitive impairment by psychological distress too. Mental health performance, therefore, is heavily reliant on healthy thyroid hormone function.



Below are a few lifestyles and dietary considerations one can implement to address poor thyroid function:

DIETARY CHANGES

  • Eating principles: low sugar, low fat (saturated animal proteins), high fibre, low cholesterol
  • Calorie percentages: 70% complex carbohydrates, protein 12-15%, fat 15-18%
  • Therapeutic foods: oats, kelp, seaweed, artichokes, onions, garlic, dulse, Swiss chard, turnip greens, egg yolks, wheat germ, cod roe, lecithin, sesame seed butter
  • Fresh juices: carrot, celery, and/or spinach with powdered kelp or dulse
  • Avoid goitrogens (which can reduce thyroid function) unless cooked: broccoli, turnips, cabbage, carrots, kale, rutabaga, soybean, spinach, peanuts, yams, radishes, millet, green peppers, beets, celery, lettuce, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, collards, kohlrabi, peaches, pears, strawberries, apples, apricots, blackberries, raspberries, prunes, cherries, honeydew, grapefruit, grapes, oranges, peas, sorghum, bamboo shoots
  • Avoid known food sensitivities

HYDROTHERAPY

  • Short cold spray to thyroid after warm bath/shower Or
  • Cold mitten friction to thyroid after bath/shower
  • Alternating hot and cold compresses to thyroid gland daily: Hot compresses moulded to neck for 3 minutes hot followed by 30 seconds to 1 minute of cold compresses. Repeat 3-5 times
  • Cold shower to middle and lower back to stimulate adrenals
  • Constitutional hydrotherapy treatment to help stimulate digestion

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Do not use an electric blanket-the body’s metabolism will be slightly raised in the body must generate its own heat to keep warm
  • Exercise daily to stimulate the thyroid gland and elevate the body’s metabolic rate

Struggling with ADHD, depression, infertility, and weight loss may all have an association in the way of which your thyroid is functioning. Before you commit to a series of anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-depressants, and even possibly harmful hormone fertility therapy, I would highly recommend you run a comprehensive thyroid hormone panel. For those reading this email-based in the UK, Omnos provide an affordable solution https://app.omnos.me/all-tests/blood/bloods-thyroid-complete and for those living in the United States of America I would suggest a panel offering through Ulta Lab tests https://www.ultalabtests.com/test/thyroid-complete

Analysis of findings can be illusive, as such I am offering a free analysis to the first 10 enquiries, based on their thyroid hormones findings provided through either Ulta labs or Omnos. In order to take advantage of this opportunity email the following to info@autonomiccoaching.com

Name:
Surname:
Email address:
Major concerns:

And complete these initial provisional symptoms exam https://www.autonomiccoaching.com/provisional-symptoms-diagnostic/


I look forward to helping anyone reading this article, struggling with the symptoms of a poor thyroid, which for those of you unaware include but not limited to the following symptoms:

  • Constipation
  • Abdominal cramps and bloating.
  • PMS
  • Cold intolerance
  • Muscle cramps and tenderness.
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Brain fog
  • Depression
  • Weight gain
  • Seasonal exacerbation of symptoms.
  • Infertility
  • Miscarriage
  • Frequent cold and flus
  • Low libido
  • Absence of sweating
  • Brittle nails
  • Easy bruising
  • Coarse, dry hair
  • Dry skin and scalp
  • Hair loss of the scalp,
  • groin, outer eyebrows. YOUR
  • Pale, cold, scaly, and wrinkled skin.
  • Poor wound healing
  • Swelling of the hands,
  • face and eyelids.
  • Yellow/ivory skin colour
  • Itchy skin
  • Immune system disruption 

References

  1. Sanyal, D. and Raychaudhuri, M. Hypothyroidism and obesity an intriguing link. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4911848/
  2. Nippoldt B, T. can thyroid disease affect my mood?. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyperthyroidism/expert-answers/thyroid-disease/faq-20058228#:~:text=Yes%2C%20thyroid%20disease%20can%20affect,Unusual%20nervousness
  3. Akil, H. Relation between the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid (HPT) Axis and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis during Repeated Stress. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7723683_Relation_between_the_Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid_HPT_Axis_and_the_Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal_HPA_Axis_during_Repeated_Stress#:~:text=Previous%20work%20has%20indicated%20that,thyroid%20(HPT)%20axis%20regulation.
  4. Krucik, G. Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid): Everything You Need to Know. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/hypothyroidism/symptoms-treatments-more#What-is-hypothyroidism?
  5. Orlander R, P. Is hypothyroidism more common in men than females? Available at: https://www.medscape.com/answers/122393-11271/is-hypothyroidism-more-common-in-males-or-females
  6. Fitzgerald, P. and Dinan G, T. Prolactin and dopamine: what is the connection? A review article. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18477617/

We all have had times in our lives when responsibilities pile onto responsibilities and life crises through wrenches into plans. We are living in a society where everything is becoming faster and faster and more energy is needed to catch up. How does your body do this? Your adrenal glands amp up their work by making more cortisol. The high cortisol production will keep you up to speed for a while, but only a while before you crash down. HPA-axis dysfunction (Adrenal Fatigue) results from prolonged stress.

Stress can be physical, mental, emotional, environmental, and even somewhat ‘infectious.’
Cortisol production starts with the hypothalamus. Your hypothalamus sends a hormone to your pituitary gland called corticotropin-releasing hormone, (CRH.) This causes your pituitary gland to produce the adrenocorticotropic hormone or ACTH. ACTH tells your adrenal glands to produce cortisol.

Cortisol is a critical part of our day-to-day functioning. It is the Hormone that wakes us up in the morning and it is the hormone that can control blood sugar levels, regulate metabolism, help reduce inflammation, and assist with memory formulation. Cortisol is not the enemy. But too much

cortisol could be. Under stress, your body keeps producing cortisol at large amounts that after a while your body will not respond well to it. 

Although adrenal fatigue has been around for over one hundred years, it is only now being recognized as a unique condition with its own set of symptoms.  Some of the major symptoms include:

  • Fatigue and tiredness; general feeling of being wiped out
  • Weight gain and inability to lose weight despite effort
  • Frequent colds and flu
  • Anxiety
  • Sleep difficulties
  • Difficulty concentrating and problems retaining information
  • Allergies
  • Symptoms of PMS

Although many of us might be in a constant “Fight” mode we might not even know it because we have become so used to this stressed state.

The human body has a 3 Stage Stress Adaptation Response. We need to be able to identify overstimulation before it’s too late. 

The 3 Stage Stress Adaptation Response works as follows. 

  1. ALARM PHASE

Periodic activation of the sympathetic nervous system (Fight mode), causing cortisol and adrenaline release, breakdown of proteins and muscle tissue, blood sugar dysregulation, decreased production of thyroid and sex hormones, decreased white blood cell production. During this phase the DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) to Cortisol Ratio is Optimal.

This is a normal Healthy stress response. 

  1. RESITANCE PHASE

Progression of the alarm phase in which signs and symptoms become chronic.

During this phase, the sympathetic Nervous system is still stimulated causing higher Adrenaline and Noradrenaline release, higher HP Axis stimulation causing a higher presence of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone). This then further increases Cortisol to a point where the cortisol to DHEA ratio is elevated. 

During this phase the increased cortisol also causes these undesired reactions:

  • Glucose utilization to decline
  • Insulin Resistance increases
  • Increased breakdown of Muscle tissue
  • Blood lipids start to rise, and abdominal fat tends to rise
  • Immune suppression occurs
  • Increase chance of Intestinal hyper permeability (Leaky Gut)
  • Increased chance of chronic infection.

3. Exhaustion phase

Occurs with ongoing, unrelieved stress. Cortisol and adrenaline tend to be depleted and low.  Chronic fatigue will probably be present. Can accompany post-traumatic stress disorder and occurs more frequently in people that have undergone major stressors in life, or sustained levels of high stress without recovery.

ADRENAL FATIGUE WILL CAUSES:

  • A decline in the body’s ability to synthesize cortisol and other corticosteroids.
  • Pro-inflammatory cytokines are upregulated.
  • Acute stress with no adrenal response amplifies liver detoxification and increase oxidative stress.
  • This fatigue or maladaptation stage promotes chronic inflammation, tissue damage and degenerative diseases.
  • Decrease in DHEA.

Treatment:

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to adrenal fatigue. Personalized supplementation and dietary changes can treat symptoms while the deeper-lying problem (Stressors) is being addressed. 

Your first step to healing is to seek help from a functional medicine practitioner. Don’t even try visiting an endocrinologist and suggesting you might have adrenal fatigue. They will not take you seriously. 

Conventional medicine usually treats a symptom rather than the root cause and will use the pharmaceutical route to treat symptoms.

We know that adrenal fatigue can’t be treated through pharmaceuticals.

This does not mean that there is not an effective researched treatment. There is. Many conventional doctors are simply not trained in it. 

Healing and treating Adrenal Fatigue comes down to stress management.

Your functional medicine practitioner will help you evaluate your stage of adrenal fatigue and make lifestyle adjustments where necessary. 

Treatment for adrenal fatigue might include:

  • Dietary changes
  • Correct Exercise 
  • Stress management techniques

As mentioned before, there is no quick fix method to adrenal fatigue. The best method is dependant on the root cause and severity of it. Adrenal fatigue recovery time can take up to 18 months, but I’d done correctly it can be quicker. 

You deserve a personalized approach to your healthcare. Make sure you have a practitioner passionate about treating the root cause and not just a symptom

Life Changing Habits

Core and additional beneficial Habits.

Index:

Core Habits – 1

  1. Protein consumption within first hour upon waking.
  2. Eat every 2-4 hours.
  3. Sleep before 10pm
  4. No electronics 90min before bed.
  5. Morning Motivation
  6. Gratitude 90 min before bed
  7. Minimum of two servings of green veggies.
  8. Minimum of 7500steps daily
  9. Maximum of two shots of coffee a day.

Additional:

  1. Epsom salt Bath.
  2. Access to natural blue light.
  3. Infrared light therapy
  4. 2 Cups of Tulsi tea daily
  5. Using blue light blockers.
  6. Meditation
  7. Cold Therapy
Core Habits:
Consume protein within the first hour of the day.

It is recommended to consume 20g of protein for every 50kg of body weight. E.g., If you weight 100kg, consume 40g and if you are 75kg consume 30g.

 Meals stimulate gastric acid secretion in man and animals. The lowest pH of gastric content in man, however, occurs during the early morning hours. Protein meals are both effective buffers raising the gastric pH immediately after ingestion and potent stimulants to acid secretion lowering the pH as the meal is emptied. 

For Detoxification reasons early morning protein consumption in favourable as proteins are necessary to help carry toxins out of the body for digestions. Proteins also take longer to digest and will help stabilize your blood sugar and leave you satisfied between meals.

Proteins are broken down into their amino acid building blocks during digestion. An amino acid called tyrosine will increase the production of dopamine and epinephrine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters are known for their ability to increase levels of energy and alertness. No one just eats pure tyrosine but eating foods high in protein will give you a slight mental boost. High protein foods include fish, poultry, meat, and eggs. If you cannot eat those, try high protein foods that also contain significant amount of carbohydrates, such as legumes, cheese, milk, or tofu.

Eat every 2-4 Hours.

Eating every 2-4 hours has many benefits. The first benefit is that you will consume smaller easier digestible meals throughout the day meaning you will potentially have less bloating and will not have any abdominal pain from eating and hunger will be better managed. Keeping long gaps (Fasted gaps)  in between meals can lead to low energy, poor concentration, acid reflux, fluctuations in blood sugar, sluggish metabolism, and food cravings.

The autonomic nervous systems responsibilities are regulating a variety of body process that take place without conscious effort. The autonomic system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that is responsible for regulating involuntary body functions, such as heartbeat, blood flow, breathing, and digestion.

It then makes sense that the ANS is greatly affected by the timing of daily meals.

Meal timings and fasting has a large impact on your cortisol levels. Cortisol is the so-called stress hormone.   It mediates the ‘flight or fight response’ with help from the sympathetic nervous system. Cortisol is part of a class of steroid hormones called glucocorticoids (glucose + cortex + steroid) produced in the adrenal cortex. Cortisol is induced by stress.

Why could this be a problem? The theory is that with our ever-stressed, fast-paced lifestyle, our bodies are pumping out cortisol and epinephrine and norepinephrine almost constantly, which can wreak havoc on our health.

According to a meta-analysis by (Yuko Nakamura 1, 2016)  caloric restriction significantly increased serum cortisol level in 13 studies (357 total participants). Heightened Cortisol levels lead to heightened and inconsistent blood sugar levels. So, someone with blood sugar regulation issues, long breaks between meals can make them worse. High levels of Cortisol and stress are commonly experienced together.

Sleep before 10pm

Getting seven to eight solid hours of sleep each night might seem an almost impossible luxury to many people. But not getting enough sleep is known to impair mental function and increase the risk for heart disease, among other ill effects.

Your sleep-wake cycle follows a circadian rhythm. Every 24 hours, roughly synchronized with night-time and daytime, your body enters a period of sleep followed by a waking period. See this as a “routine” or “internal alarm clock”.  The production of cortisol in your body follows a similar circadian rhythm.

As mentioned earlier Cortisol is a stress hormone causing heightened alertness and readiness. This is not exactly something you would like when trying to sleep.

During the evening time your pineal gland releases melatonin and this helps you sleep. Cortisol on the other does the exact opposite.

Sleeping after 10pm is usually associated with sleep deprivation as many mornings tend to start early. With too little sleep, the body is also more likely to produce cortisol. After sleep deprivation, subjects in several studies (Harmon, 2012) had higher levels of cortisol later in the day, a time when it should be tapering off to prepare the body for sleep. Having your Cortisol circadian rhythm not well lined up with actual night and day can cause slow mornings and a delayed onset of Cortisol causing you to feel tired during the day.

Remember: Cortisol production follows a daily, 24-hour rhythm, lower overnight and highest first thing in the morning. When that rhythm gets disrupted, so does sleep.

Switch off all electronics 90 minutes before bed.

EMF’s (Electromagnetic frequency’s) influence your endocrine system and therefore your sleep and everyday activities. The kind that we should be mostly concerned with are the ones being emitted from wireless devices such as cell phones, Wi-Fi routers, baby monitors, security systems, Alexa, Google home etc.  All these wireless communication devices we have in our world now are communicating via these extremely low frequency emissions.

The problem is that our bodies absorb them. The pineal gland secretes melatonin and EMF emissions can cause cyclical secretions of melatonin and therefore disrupting your circadian rhythm and ultimately your sleep. The pituitary gland, along with the pineal gland, controls the body’s metabolism and physiology. Some of the hormones it produces include human growth hormone,(HGH or GH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotrophin hormone (ATCH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin.

When any of these hormones are affected by a disruptor, it can have a ripple effect on growth and development. 

Technology could also keep you distracted or stressed and therefore raised cortisol levels supressing melatonin and preventing you from getting the sleep you deserve.

By creating a “technology free “zone and time your brain will be able to secrete Melatonin again and circadian rhythm will not be disturbed.

Morning Motivation

Morning Motivation can be in the form of either text, video or audio so read your favourite motivational book, watch your favourite motivational YouTube video, or put on your favourite podcast. The way you start your morning is the way you live your day.

Our brain communicates with our bodies with neurons. Neurons use electrical impulses to communicate with each other, which is an extraordinarily complex process. Brain impulses (waves) move at different speeds and amplitudes depending on the task and state of awareness required by your body.

The beta brain waves are one of the four main brain waves (the other ones are alpha theta and delta brain waves). Our brain is always in a specific brain wave state. When we are awake and doing our job, study, solve math problems and so on, we are normally in the Beta brainwave state. Beta brain waves mainly occur, when we are awake and doing a task that involves active thinking.

The benefits of beta waves include:

Concentration, Motivation, Enhancement of language and reading skills and Treatment for ADD.

When you first wake, your brain operates at around 10.5 waves per second. The range from eight to 12 Hz, or cycles per second, is the alpha stage. Alpha waves encourage Daydreaming, inability to focus, and being relaxed. Beta waves on the other hand, do the opposite, range from 12Hz- 40Hz and increases your awareness, concentration and primes your nervous system for the day. Morning motivation will not only change your mindset, but it will energize your day and literally start you on a high.

Gratitude within the last 90min in the day.

Humans all show gratitude in many ways. We at Autonomic Coaching recommend that right after you start your 90min Technology free time you show gratitude.
At the end of each day write down what your achievements were during the day and write down what you are thankful for. Reflecting allows you to leave the day behind and calm down before bed. In the end, you should feel confident and proud when you go to bed.

 Writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep, according to a 2011 study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Spend just 15 minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments before bed, and you may sleep better and longer.

Gratitude raises your Vibrational frequency. A normal, healthy body should resonate with a natural frequency of 65 – 75M Hz. While it might be strange to think about, that means humans generate electromagnetic energy or “noise” even as we are just standing in place
Any time we stop to really focus on gratitude, our vibrational frequency increases to 540 megahertz. Gratitude is a remarkably high vibrational state to be in, and a remarkably high mood or energy to experience compared to other moods and energies out there. And so, what gratitude does for our bodies is, the more time we spend time being thankful, then the more endorphins our body starts to make and the more energized our body starts to feel. The world suddenly gets brighter, and we are lit up from the inside.

Going to bed in a happy state will only be good.

https://iaap-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/17580854

Minimum of two servings of green veggies.

One of our most critical processes that underpins our health and wellness is one called methylation. This process which underlies so many body functions is the addition of a ‘methyl group’ to other molecules. Yet this seemingly simple chemical process, occurring billions of times every second, is important for our mood, brain function, energy levels, detoxifying of harmful substances, helping our immune system, supporting growth and recovery, and lots more. It is a process that is called upon a lot when we are under stress, so can it potentially become depleted.

Low levels of dietary folate (found in green, leafy vegetables, legumes, and whole grains) alter DNA function that raises risk of diabetes. Reduced levels of folate are associated with altered DNA methylation in the liver of people with diabetes, found a study by (Finland, 2016).

 Poor methylation has been linked to many health complaints, including Alzheimer’s disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), birth defects, multiple sclerosis (MS), depression, autism, migraines, or heart disease.

In most healthy people, the liver plays an important role in maintaining glucose homeostasis, but in type 2 diabetes, it does not.

Along with over produced non nutrient rich foods, our genetic make-up may mean that some of us are predisposed to methylate less well.

By Including plenty of green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, chard, broccoli will aid in methylation.

Eating plenty of greens will also Ensure healthy bacterial balance in the gut to improve absorption of nutrients. Some probiotic bacteria, especially from the Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium species can produce folate. Consume a diet rich in probiotics (sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir etc.) and prebiotics (chicory, Jerusalem artichoke, onions, leeks, garlic etc.). Fructooligosaccharides (F.O.S.) found in such prebiotic foods can particularly stimulate growth of beneficial bacteria which will then in turn absorb nutrients better and aid in methylation.

Minimum of 7500 Steps daily.

“There is but one disease and its name is congestion.” said Paracelsus in the 16th century.

Movement – especially when it is loaded, whole body, and variable in rhythm – is a congestion-buster.

A simple movement like walking could have the greatest impact on your health. Walking is low impact, requires minimal equipment, can be done at any time of day and can be performed at your own pace. You can get out and walk without worrying about the risks associated with some more vigorous forms of exercise. Walking is also a great form of physical activity for people who are overweight, elderly, or who have not exercised in a long time.

Although 10 000 is recommended 7500 is the minimum amount of daily that prove to beneficial to health. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine (I-Min Lee, Eric J. Shiroma, Masamitsu Kamada, & al, 2019) has found that for older women, there is no benefit, in terms of mortality, in taking more than about 7,500 steps per day. And even 4,400 steps a day may significantly reduce your chances of an earlier death.

Even though 7,500 is the minimum, there is no harm in doing more. Even though the study was done on women the same is recommended for men and we as humans need to take full advantage of our ability to walk as much as we can, while we still can.

Maximum of two Shots of Coffee per day.

One major influence caffeine has is on Oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body. Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules with an uneven number of electrons. The uneven number allows them to easily react with other molecules. Free radicals can cause large chain chemical reactions in your body because they react so easily with other molecules. These reactions are called oxidation. They can be beneficial or harmful.

Oxidation is a normal and necessary process that takes place in your body. Oxidative stress, on the other hand, occurs when there is an imbalance between free radical activity and antioxidant activity. When functioning properly, free radicals can help fight off pathogens. Pathogens lead to infections.  When not functioning properly it can cause damage.

Study results suggest that coffee consumption can increase glutathione levels and improve protection against DNA damage, especially following regular/repeated intake.  (Martini, 2016)

 Caffeine is able to scavenge ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species), particularly the hydroxyl radical, known to be generated in the body by exposure to ultraviolet light and by many physiologic reactions involving oxygen utilization. (Sci., 2019)

Although Caffeine has been shown to protect membranes from oxidative stressit causes potential issues elsewhere. (Sci., 2019)

Coffee is a diuretic. This means that coffee increases your production of urine. Frequent urination can lead to this loss of important minerals such as potassium and phosphorus. A low potassium level (Hypokalaemia) can make muscles feel weak, cramp, twitch, or even become paralyzed, and abnormal heart rhythms may develop. Coffee is low in phosphorus. Although uncommon Symptoms of phosphorus deficiency include loss of appetite, anxiety, bone pain, fragile bones, stiff joints, fatigue, irregular breathing, irritability, numbness, weakness, and weight change. In children, decreased growth and poor bone and tooth development may occur.

It is important to have a good relationship with coffee and find a good balance between how much is needed.

Additional Habits:
Epsom salt bath 3x per week.

Run a comfortable warm bath and add 500g of Epsom salts and 100g of bicarbonate of soda. Epsom salts are high in magnesium, a vital mineral responsible for playing a role in over 300 enzyme reactions in the human body. Its many functions include helping with muscle and nerve function, regulating blood pressure, and supporting the immune system. Epsom salts decreases inflammation and relieves muscular soreness. Most importantly it will minimise the effect of painful muscular cramps. The magnesium component of Epsom Salts acts a muscle relaxant. This further contributes to stress reduction by relieving muscular tension. Healthy magnesium levels can boost brain neurotransmitters that are responsible for inducing sleep and reducing stress. Magnesium may also promote melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone.

People feeling stressed and overwhelmed may benefit from taking an Epsom salt bath.

Epsom salt along with bicarbonate of soda bathes also have a significant influence on detoxification. Baking soda has cleansing and detoxifying properties that may help to purify your body and boost immunity. You can also add essential oils and other natural ingredients of your choice to create a soothing detox bath.

Gain access to natural blue light within the first 30min of the day.

Blue light occurs in natural visible light so our bodies can get it from the sun. Computers, smart phones, tablets, tv screens, and interior are emitters of artificial blue light, which is not the desired blue light.  Of all the colours of the visible light spectrum, blue light has the strongest impact on our physiology and circadian rhythm because the pigments in the skin and retina react to this wavelength (wavelength 446 – 477 nm).

The pineal gland in our brain secretes melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm) 

Blue light effects the pituitary gland which stimulates the secretion of stress hormones. Such as cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, TSH, estrogen, prolactin, and more are released into the body.

Blue light effects the pineal gland and shuts down melatonin production. And, as our master hormone, melatonin controls our body’s clock, how well we sleep, what we feel like when we wake up, and how effective our immune system works.

Exposure to natural blue light in the mornings will heighten alertness, memory and cognitive function allowing you to wake up better.

The best source of Natural blue light would be the sun or artificial light therapy. Opening your phone or putting on the tv first thing in the morning is not the best source of good beneficial blue light.

30min Daily infrared therapy.

Light therapy is as old as the sun. Photo biomodulation (PBM) is the use of red or near-infrared light to stimulate, heal, regenerate, and protect cell tissues that have either been injured, are degenerating, or are at risk of dying. Infrared light encourages and stimulates photo biomodulation. 

Infrared therapy influences mitochondria. Mitochondria is known as “The powerhouse of the cell”. Mitochondria produces energy know as ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Your body uses the food you eat and the oxygen you breath to produce ATP. Infrared light adds to this and stimulates the process allowing for better ATP production allowing for better cell regeneration.

Infrared therapy has many effects on the human body. These include detoxification, pain relief, reduction of muscle tension, relaxation, improved circulation, weight loss, skin purification, lowered side effects of diabetes, boosting of the immune system and blood pressure management. In day-to-day life when we are constantly exposed to blue light, both natural and unnatural we need to counteract the negative effects of blue light which include shifted circadian rhythms. Red light therapy is also much less likely to disturb circadian rhythm and supress melatonin. 30 Minutes of therapy is enough to reap the benefits but not too much to cause too much light exposure to cause skin tissue damage.

1 Cup of Tulsi tea every day:

Tulsi has also been shown to counter metabolic stress through regulation of blood glucose levels, blood pressure and lipid levels, and psychological stress through positive effects on memory and cognitive function and through its anxiolytic and anti-depressant properties.

Possibly its most unique quality is its ability to work on both the sympathetic & parasympathetic (Autonomic) nervous system. Therefore, Tulsi can be used both for stimulating focus in the mind or for relaxation, according to how it is taken.

Tulsi also influences cytokines. Cytokines are small protein peptides that are crucial in controlling the growth and activity of other immune system cells and blood cells. When released, they signal the immune system to do its job. Cytokines affect the growth of all blood cells and other cells that help the body’s immune and inflammation responses. However, too many cytokines can be bad for your health causing a “cytokine storm” as a response to a bacterial or viral infection.

Tulsi enhances cytokine signalling in your body and therefore improves your immune system but does not cause a potential of a cytokine storm.

Utilise Blue light blocking glasses after 4pm.

A circadian rhythm is a natural internal cycle that works on a 24-hour cycle. Circadian rhythm manages your sleep wake cycle allowing you to go to sleep in the evenings and wake up in the mornings.

Blue light emitted by all visible light including the sun, computer screens, cell phones, LED lights, tv screens, etc. It is impossible to escape blue light.

Blue light effects the pituitary gland which stimulates the secretion of stress hormones. Such as cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, TSH, estrogen, prolactin, and more are released into the body.

Blue light effects the pineal gland and shuts down melatonin production. And, as our master hormone, melatonin controls our body’s clock, how well we sleep, what we feel like when we wake up, and how effective our immune system works.

Naturally, early evenings, our bodies start decreasing cortisol levels and gradually start increasing the secretion of Melatonin to slowly get ready for bed.

Excessive blue light exposure in the evenings can greatly influence your circadian rhythm and prevent you from having the best possible sleep habits. This can easily be prevented by wearing blue light blocking glasses from 4 pm onwards. This will prove most beneficial because this is when access to natural blue light (sun) slowly starts to disappear and is replaced by artificial blue light such as TVs, household lights and cell phones.

Meditation.

Meditation comes in many forms.

  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Spiritual meditation
  • Focused meditation
  • Mantra meditation
  • Visualization Meditation.
  • Many more.

Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health.

And these benefits do not end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day and may help you manage symptoms of certain medical conditions.

Because we are all different there is no fixed “best” method of meditation. The best method is simply whatever works for you.

Meditation is a sort of self-imposed tunnel vision where you are focusing on one thing to exclusion of all others. Activities of meditation could include sitting in one place listening to a specific mantra, sitting in complete silence focusing on one thing and one thing only. Various breathing techniques could also prove beneficial for meditation.

However, this does not work for everyone.  Many people prefer other activities such as painting, drawing, writing, or even running as a form of meditation. If a state of tunnel vision, focus and peace is achieved then meditation could be successfully achieved.

2x Cold therapy sessions a week.

Cold therapy is immersing the body into a significantly colder environment than what it is used to either via water or chambers.

Cold therapy has numerous positive effects on the body and influences growth factor release, cell regeneration.

Cold can reduce inflammation. Inflammation is a natural consequence of exercise, training, and recovery. But if you overdo it, excess inflammation can lead to an overuse injury. Cryotherapy can help stop that process. The result: Less inflammation and a lower risk of muscle soreness and injury.

When your body is exposed to cold temperatures your blood vessels constrict slowing blood flow to your extremities. When it is no longer cold your blood vessels dilate (open) and this helps to flush out any metabolic waste and bring new oxygenated blood to areas in need and this allows for optimized cell regeneration.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is responsible for growth of all tissues in the human body, including bones. Hgh is secreted by the pituitary gland when exposed to higher heats.  No changes in HGH was found during the cooling process of cold therapy but instead during the “rewarming” phase of cold therapy. An increase in Hgh will further contribute to the cell regeneration benefits of cold therapy.

References

Arora, G. (2020, May). Why You Must Eat After Every 2 Hours: No, It Won’t Make You Gain Weight! Retrieved from NDTV.

BetterHealth. (2020). Walking for good health. Retrieved from Betterhealth: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/walking-for-good-health

BioCare. (2018). Learn why Green Leafy Vegetables are so important – Methylation. Retrieved from strugarcentre: https://www.strugarcentre.com/news/learn-why-green-leafy-vegetables-are-so-important-methylation/

Brooks, F. P. (1985, Nov). Effect of diet on gastric secretion. Retrieved from Pubmed.gov: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4061354/#:~:text=Meals%20stimulate%20gastric%20acid%20secretion,as%20the%20meal%20is%20emptied.

Campo, J. (2019). The dynamic of blue light and how to reduce its effects. Retrieved from Thrive Global: https://thriveglobal.com/stories/the-dynamic-of-blue-light-and-how-to-reduce-its-effects/

Cherry, K. (2020, April). What Is the Autonomic Nervous System? Retrieved from verywellmind: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-autonomic-nervous-system-2794823

chris Kresser, M. (2019, April). Intermittent Fasting, Cortisol and Blood Sugar. Retrieved from chriskresser: https://chriskresser.com/intermittent-fasting-cortisol-and-blood-sugar/

Cohen, M. M. (2014). Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons. Retrieved from NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296439/#:~:text=Tulsi%20has%20also%20been%20shown,anxiolytic%20and%20anti%2Ddepressant%20properties.

CVIJETIC, S. (2013). What Are Beta Brainwaves? Improve Focus and Motivation With Beta Brainwave Entrainment. Retrieved from owlcation: https://owlcation.com/stem/What-are-Beta-Brain-Waves-Focus-and-Motivation-with-Beta-brainwave-entrainment

DEBAUN, D. T. (2020, August). Feeling Moody? How EMF Radiation Affects Your Hormones + Endocrine System. Retrieved from DefendaeShield: https://www.defendershield.com/feeling-moody-how-emf-radiation-affects-your-hormones-endocrine-system

Dix, M. (2018). Everything You Should Know About Oxidative Stress. Retrieved from Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/oxidative-stress

Finland, U. O. (2016). Lack of folate linked to epigenetic changes in diabetes. Retrieved from archive.uef: https://archive.uef.fi/en/web/uef-bulletin/folate/

Hamblin, M. (2016). Shining light on the head: Photobiomodulation for brain disorders. Retrieved from Science Direct: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214647416300381

Harmon, K. (2012, October). How Slight Sleep Deprivation Could Add Extra Pounds. Retrieved from Scientific America: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sleep-deprivation-obesity/#:~:text=With%20too%20little%20sleep%2C%20the,prepare%20the%20body%20for%20rest.

I-Min Lee, M. S., Eric J. Shiroma, S., Masamitsu Kamada, P., & al, e. (2019). Association of Step Volume and Intensity With All-Cause Mortality in Older Women. Retrieved from jamanetwork: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2734709

Lewis, J. (2020). Hypokalemia (Low Level of Potassium in the Blood). Retrieved from merckmanuels: https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/hormonal-and-metabolic-disorders/electrolyte-balance/hypokalemia-low-level-of-potassium-in-the-blood

Martini, D. (2016). Coffee Consumption and Oxidative Stress: A Review of Human Intervention Studies. Retrieved from researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305689532_Coffee_Consumption_and_Oxidative_Stress_A_Review_of_Human_Intervention_Studies

Michael J. Breus. (2020, April). The Effects of Cortisol on Your Sleep. Retrieved from psychologytoday: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/202004/the-effects-cortisol-your-sleep

Paramount health. (2020). Magnesium is an essential mineral required for extensive use in the body! Retrieved from Paramount health: https://paramount-health.com.au/benefits-epsom-salt-magnesium-bath/

Ruscio, D. M. (2019, August). 2 Things In Your Home That Can Make You Sick, Light and EMF, and Simple Tips To Fix Them. Retrieved from drruscio: https://drruscio.com/light-and-emf/

Sasseville, A. (2019, Dec). HOW EXPRESSING GRATITUDE ENHANCES YOUR ENERGY. Retrieved from flourishcounseling: https://www.flourishcounseling.com/how-expressing-gratitude-enhances-your-energy/#:~:text=Any%20time%20we%20pause%20to,actually%20increases%20to%20540%20megahertz.&text=And%20so%20what%20gratitude%20does,our%20body%20starts%20to%20feel.

Sci., A. M. (2019). Effect of caffeine on biomarkers of oxidative stress in lenses of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Retrieved from ncbi: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6657250/#:~:text=Intake%20of%20caffeine%20is%20associated,stress%20%5B11%E2%80%9315%5D.&text=Additionally%2C%20caffeine%20has%20been%20shown,many%20tissues%2C%20including%20the%20lens.

Sinai. (2015). Phosphorus. Retrieved from Mount Sinai: https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/phosphorus

Stanborough, R. J. ( 2020, July). How Does Cortisol Affect Your Sleep? Retrieved from Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/cortisol-and-sleep

Tello, V. (2020). 7 Health Benefits of Blue Light Therapy + Side Effects. Retrieved from selfhacked: https://selfhacked.com/blog/blue-light-therapy-benefits/

Wilson, D. R. (2018). What are the benefits of an Epsom salt detox? Retrieved from Medicalnewstoday: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321627#:~:text=Healthy%20magnesium%20levels%20can%20boost,taking%20an%20Epsom%20salt%20bath.

Yuko Nakamura 1, B. R. (2016). Systematic review and meta-analysis reveals acutely elevated plasma cortisol following fasting but not less severe calorie restriction. Retrieved from Pubmed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26586092/

Resetting stress

Performance is a constant quest, one which most of us aim to improve, getting ahead in the ‘rat’ race of life. Whether it be going to the gym to gain a great physique or producing reports to present your ideas, performance is a key factor in all goals and dreams we have.

Recovery is necessary to perform, without efficient recovery, you simple deplete your reserves, leaving you demotivated and simply exhausted. In a performance based society we are often presented with the outcomes effort, the end result, the glory moments. Yet little emphasis is given toward how well we recover and rest.

Now recovery, does not mean doing nothing, on the contrary, recovery often requires greater intent to slow down.

Products or habit; becoming familiar on how to push through limiting subconscious ques can be useful in certain moments, however persistent and prolonged alteration of this mind-set only leads one into not knowing how to slow down….

Only through establishing habits, those which take discipline to not rush or ‘perform’ will enable you with recovery of an ironically high performance. Below are 5 core habits to include in your stress reset…

  1. Consume protein within the first hour of the day.

It is recommended to consume 20g of protein for every 50kg of body weight. E.g., If you weight 100kg, consume 40g and if you are 75kg consume 30g.

According to (Brooks, 1985) Meals stimulate gastric acid secretion in man and animals. The lowest pH of gastric content in man, however, occurs during the early morning hours. Protein meals are both effective buffers lowering the gastric pH immediately after ingestion and potent stimulants to acid secretion raising the pH as the meal is emptied. 

For Detoxification reasons early morning protein consumption in favourable as proteins are necessary to help carry toxins out of the body for digestions. Proteins also take longer to digest and will help stabilize your blood sugar and leave you satisfied between meals.

Proteins are broken down into their amino acid building blocks during digestion. An amino acid called tyrosine will increase the production of dopamine and epinephrine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters are known for their ability to increase levels of energy and alertness. No one just eats pure tyrosine but eating foods high in protein will give you a slight mental boost. High protein foods include fish, poultry, meat, and eggs. If you cannot eat those, try high protein foods that also contain significant amount of carbohydrates, such as legumes, cheese, milk, or tofu.

  • Switch off all electronics 90 minutes before bed.

EMF’s (Electromagnetic frequency’s) influence your endocrine system and therefore your sleep and everyday activities. The kind that we should be mostly concerned with are the ones being emitted from wireless devices such as cell phones, Wi-Fi routers, baby monitors, security systems, Alexa, Google home etc.  All these wireless communication devices we have in our world now are communicating via these extremely low frequency emissions. (Ruscio, 2019)

The problem is that our bodies absorb them. The pineal gland secretes melatonin and EMF emissions can cause cyclical secretions of melatonin and therefore disrupting your circadian rhythm and ultimately your sleep. The pituitary gland, along with the pineal gland, controls the body’s metabolism and physiology. Some of the hormones it produces include human growth hormone,(HGH or GH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotrophin hormone (ATCH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin.

When any of these hormones are affected by a disruptor, it can have a trickle-down impact on growth and development. (DEBAUN, 2020)

Technology could also keep you distracted or stressed and therefore raised cortisol levels supressing melatonin and preventing you from getting the sleep you deserve.

By creating a “technology free “zone and time your brain will be able to secrete Melatonin again and circadian rhythm will not be disturbed.

  • Morning Motivation

Morning Motivation can be in the form of either text, video or audio so read your favourite motivational book, watch your favourite motivational YouTube video, or put on your favourite podcast. The way you start your morning is the way you live your day.

Our brain communicates with our bodies with neurons. Neurons use electrical impulses to communicate with each other, which is an extraordinarily complex process. Brain impulses (waves) move at different speeds and amplitudes depending on the task and state of awareness required by your body.

The beta brain waves are one of the four main brain waves (the other ones are alpha theta and delta brain waves). Our brain is always in a specific brain wave state. When we are awake and doing our job, study, solve math problems and so on, we are normally in the Beta brainwave state. (CVIJETIC, 2013) Beta brain waves mainly occur, when we are awake and doing a task that involves active thinking.

The benefits of beta waves include:

Concentration, Motivation, Enhancement of language and reading skills and Treatment for ADD.

When you first awake, your brain operates at around 10.5 waves per second. The range from eight to 12 Hz, or cycles per second, is the alpha stage. Alpha waves encourage Daydreaming, inability to focus, and being relaxed. Beta waves on the other hand, do the opposite, range from 12Hz- 40Hz and increases your awareness, concentration and primes your nervous system for the day. Morning motivation will not only change your mindset, but it will energize your day and literally start you on a high.

  • Minimum of 7500 Steps daily.

“There is but one disease and its name are congestion.” said Paracelsus in the 16th century.

Movement – especially when it is loaded, whole body, and variable in rhythm – is a congestion-buster.

A simple movement like walking could have the greatest impact on your health. Walking is low impact, requires minimal equipment, can be done at any time of day and can be performed at your own pace. You can get out and walk without worrying about the risks associated with some more vigorous forms of exercise. Walking is also a great form of physical activity for people who are overweight, elderly, or who have not exercised in a long time. (BetterHealth, 2020)

Although 10 000 is recommended 7500 is the minimum amount of daily that prove to beneficial to health. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine (I-Min Lee, Eric J. Shiroma, Masamitsu Kamada, & al, 2019) has found that for older women, there is no benefit, in terms of mortality, in taking more than about 7,500 steps per day. And even 4,400 steps a day may significantly reduce your chances of an earlier death.

Even though 7,500 is the minimum, there is no harm in doing more. Even though the study was done on women the same is recommended for men and we as humans need to take full advantage of our ability to walk as much as we can, while we still can.

  • 1 Cup of tulsi tea every day:

Tulsi has also been shown to counter metabolic stress through regulation of blood glucose levels, blood pressure and lipid levels, and psychological stress through positive effects on memory and cognitive function and through its anxiolytic and anti-depressant properties. (Cohen, 2014)

Possibly its most unique quality is its ability to work on both the sympathetic & parasympathetic (Autonomic) nervous system. Therefore, Tulsi can be used both for stimulating focus in the mind or for relaxation, according to how it is taken.

Tulsi also influences cytokines. Cytokines are small proteins that are crucial in controlling the growth and activity of other immune system cells and blood cells. When released, they signal the immune system to do its job. Cytokines affect the growth of all blood cells and other cells that help the body’s immune and inflammation responses. However, too many cytokines can be bad for your health causing a “cytokine storm” as a response to a bacterial or viral infection.

Tulsi enhances cytokine signalling in your body and therefore improves your immune system but does not cause a potential of a cytokine storm.

Some sources which will enable 20gr of protein intake within the first hour of the day:

Sources of 20g protein:

  1. One egg contains about 6g Protein. By cracking open three of these bad boys, you will get 18g of protein.
  2. Protein Shakes- Your average good quality protein shake will have 20g of protein.
  3. Chicken Breast- 85 grams of chicken will give you about 27g grams of protein.
  4. Tuna- One can (85g) contains about 27g protein.
  5. Shrimps is high in protein – 85g shrimp contain about 12g protein.
  6. One fillet (87 grams) of tilapia can pack up to 23 grams of protein.
  7. Cod- Three ounces (85 grams) have 16 grams of protein. 106g = 20g protein
  8. Beef- One 3-ounce (85-gram) serving of lean sirloin steak contains 25 grams of protein and 186 calories.
  9. Salmon – Per 100g of salmon you can get 25g protein.
  10. Sardines- Per 100g Sardines
  11. Lamb- Per 100g Lamb – 20g protein
  12. Jerky/Biltong – About 80g contains 20g protein.
  13. Pinto Beans- 1 Full cup contains about 20g protein.
  14. Turkey Breast – 85 grams contains about 26g,
  15. Cottage Cheese – One cup (226 grams) of low-fat cottage cheese with 1% fat contains 28 grams of protein.
  16. Lentils: One cup (198 grams) of boiled lentils contains 18 grams
  17. Pumpkin seeds: One ounce (28 grams) has 9 grams of protein. So, 62 grams of pumpkin seeds will give you 20g protein.
  18. Pork – 85g equals about 22g protein.
  19. Greek Yogurt- 1 Cup = about 20g protein
  20. Cottage Cheese – 22g Protein per 200g serving.

Vegan 20g protein sources:

  1. Pumpkin seeds: One ounce (28 grams) has 9 grams of protein. So, 62 grams of pumpkin seeds will give you 20g protein.
  2. Vegan Protein Shakes- Your average good quality protein shake will have 20g of protein.
  3. Pistachios – 100g pistachios equal 20g protein
  4. Pinto Beans- 1 Full cup contains about 20g protein.
  5. Tempeh – 100g of Tempeh = 20g protein
  6. Lentils: One cup (198 grams) of boiled lentils contains 18 grams
  7. Almonds – about 100g of almonds equals 20g protein.
  8. Soy Nuts – 54 grams = 22g Protein
  9. Tofu – 15g of protein per 100g of tofu. So, 133 grams tofu equals 20g protein.
  10. Edamame – 22 Grams protein per 200gram
  11. Soybeans – 17g of protein per 100gram
  12. Soy milk is 3g of protein per 100ml therefore 670ml equals 20g protein.
  13. Chickpeas (Hummus) – 9g protein per 100g.
  14. Black beans – 9g protein per 100g.
  15. Hemps seeds – 25g protein per 100g
  16. Chia Seeds – 16grams protein per 100g
  17. Flaxseed – 16grams protein per 100g
  18. Seitan – 25g equals to 20 grams of protein.
  19. TVP (Textured vegetable protein) – Half a cup equals 23g protein.
  20. Vegan Protein bars.

The celebrated gold standard of measuring what we do, and we are successful in what we do, are the following three biometrics:

  • Fasting Glucose
  • Temperature
  • Pulse Rate

Here’s why…

Fasting Glucose

This is hugely vital to get a grip of and to keep under control and is often an indicator that something is amiss. Your pancreas has the job of maintaining safe blood sugar levels. We have to fully understand where we are at with individual clients we work with so we know how to move forward and get them on the most effective and beneficial plan. There’s so much info we can gather by analysing fasting glucose and has such an impact on health and wellbeing. That single starting point allows us to pinpoint specifics. Here’s what it tells us:

  • How the pancreas is performing
  • Suppression of immunity
  • Rest and sleep time – is it enough, sufficient for their needs – is it giving them the necessary energetic boosts?
  • How stress is managed
  • Are they having too many or too little calories
  • How well macronutrients are consumed
  • Are they getting enough micronutrients

Temperature

This helps us recognise when we’re ill but also lends a hand in ascertaining if we’re performing as we should metabolically. This has never been so crucial to build immunity from viruses and infections and, especially after this past year, the more help we can give our immune systems to keep us well and safe from harm, the better. When we get struck down by a bug our body tends to have a bad habit of ramping up inflammation levels and white blood cell activity. A major player in maintaining metabolic levels is our friend the thyroid.

Your temperature can be affected by:

  • Too much sugar
  • Poor sleep
  • Stress overload and not knowing how to cope
  • Gut bacterial imbalances
  • Not enough selenium
  • Lack of the green stuff – veggies
  • Lack of Vitamin C
  • Lack of iodine

Pulse Rate

Our resting pulse rates can be very revealing and give us a clue of how healthy or unhealthy we are. Low pulse rates can be a badge of honour, particularly if you’re an elite athlete! However, and this is where red flags pop up, though it indicates lower stress response we have to look at the overall impact of stress on health. Yes, we do NEED stress. Without it we’re pretty much lost. It gifts us energy, vitality, and a reason to leap out of bed each morning. It just has to be BALANCED and not detrimental to our wellbeing. Checking  cortisol (stress hormone) is best achieved by monitoring pulse rates. If our body is drowning in stress and damaging us, those readings will tell us.

Reasons for poor pulse rate are:

  • Overusing stimulants
  • Poor sleep
  • Too much stress
  • Lack of androgens
  • Lack of certain but vital antioxidants
  • Lack of Vitamin C
  • Dehydration
  • Lack of magnesium

To sum up, each of the above is central to Autonomic Coaching’s process and ethos. They’re at the heart of what we do and why we do it. Cold hard stats and facts enable us to tweak our bespoke and individual programmes to suit every single person who walks through our doors. We constantly review to make sure the client gets optimum benefit and value. By tracking quantifiable black and white data we swiftly assess what’s happening, if it’s working then great. If something isn’t working then we know exactly how we can refine regimes to best suit their purpose. These evaluations complement an overarching holistic approach, so the analysis we stringently do is coupled by real-time observations to see how every client is performing. Based on up-to-date readings for glucose level, temperature and pulse rates, we build the best plan available and will have no hesitation in switching it up – whether it’s exercise or nutrition – if the data alerts us and indicators are not improving as we had expected them to. Our superpower is that we are so on the ball we are actually stood on top of it. Our staff are expertly trained to analyse correctly and make judgement calls – the health of people are in our hands!

Once they sign up, every client embarks on a life-changing transformation that requires mental toughness and a can-do mindset for the physical challenges that may well initially break them! They smack into that wall at some point. But where there is a will there is a way. Our ethos at Autonomic Coaching is that walls are also there for you to lean on before you carry on!


“The correlation between Leptin and obesity, weight management.

In 2016 a study was conducted on ‘The biggest losers’ show, where contestants were tested for the long
term effects of fast weight loss. The study showed that losing large amounts of fat within a short period
of time increased their resistance to Leptin by twenty fold. The long term effect was still prevalent six
years later when they tested the contestants again, with only slightly decreased Leptin resistance.

Leptin resistance can be caused by inflammation, free fatty acids and high levels of leptin. Autonomic
coaching takes these factors into account and in result does various comprehensive blood analysis and
functional tests. We know that a balanced combination of physical, metal and biochemical interventions
are needed to reverse Leptin resistance.

In obese people it is found that their hypothalamus does not receive the Leptin signal from the fat cells
to inform the brain that they are full. We call them Leptin resistant. In 1994 Friedman et al discovered
Leptin. Leptin is known as the satiety hormone. When Leptin is not metabolically functional and your
body is in a state of being Leptin resistant, your body will feel the need to continue eating eating as the
body is in a signaled state of starvation. When this happens your brain will release signals for your body
to store fat and produce Ghrelin (known as the hunger hormone). In this state of perceived starvation
the body will burn fewer calories to conserve energy. Leptins main function is to produce a homeostatic
environment for calories burnt and fat that is stored, according to the body’s needs.

So what is the problem? Since we have established the role of Leptin within the body, we are aware that
this hormone is carried by means of the bloodstream to the hypothalamus so it can signal the body to
burn more calories and consume less calories. This metabolic system is dysfunctional in most people
suffering from obesity.

Have you ever judged someone with obesity? This article might change the way you view and obese
person. Ehen it comes to keeping the weight off it is a tough fight for people who are Leptin resistant. It
is therefore imperative that one is attentive to what foods you consume, not only in terms of the caloric
substance but also in terms of the nutrients that it contains. Sleep deprivation has been found to
increase Ghrelin levels whilst causing Leptin levels to fall, leading to hunger.

Apart from the effect on your weight, when your body becomes Leptin resistant it can lead to cascades
of other metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Considering the, both,
functional and anatomical relationships that exist between lymphoid cells and adipocytes it has been
found to be likely that Leptin affects the neuroendocrine system as well as the immune system. The

combination of lymphoid tissues such as omentrum, bone marrow, thymus and lymph nodes is
morphologically associated with dipose tissue. Fat deposits display structural metabolic and heat
insulating functions, it also provides a microenvironment conductive for the supporting responses.

There are pre-emptive methods to reducing the risk for Leptin resistance. Avoiding high spikes of Leptin;
which would be mainly caused by high fructose diets. As the sugar is metabolized within your fat cells,
the fat cells release these surges of Leptin. This diet would be the same type that increases
inflammation. Processed foods and grans are a higher risk for Leptin resistance as well. Having an
understanding around Leptin resistance along with factors and struggles you are now aware of the risks
and influences regarding this. Autonomic Coaching is capable of helping you find the right steps and
changes toward your goals in alignment with your body health specifics.

Instead of fighting to tip the scales, shift your focus toward the maintenance of your health and weight.
This way your body is given a fair chance to progress toward a homeostatic health and weight where it is
not pushing back the extremes that you challenge it to. On the Huffpost it is referenced in a very
practical comparison, by Roseberry, that states that having thermometers temperature to high
(compared to weight) it would run the risk of that temperature becoming the new norm, where as the
temperature (weight) dropping too low would produce a counter effect by trying to raise the
temperature.

Now you know: Obesity is a metabolic related syndrome. Strive to get to where you want to be based on
health optimized thinking, rather than extremity and speed. Prioritize good sleep and be aware of what
goes into your body (nutrients). Remember the importance of these things in relation to your Leptin
levels.

Charissa McGrath

Various recourses have been used in compiling this article. Listed below:
https://www.statnews.com/2016/05/16/the-biggest-loser-weight-loss/
https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/features/the-facts-on-leptin-faq#1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6354688/
https://kcallife.com/wellness-blog/a124/
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00265980
Banner Mentorship”

Worried about the inflating spare tyre around your belly? Desperate to beat that unsightly bulge into submission?

Let me tell you about belly fat. It slowly creeps up on you to take firm hold, resulting in poor health, potentially limits your quality of life, and a sharp nose-dive in self-esteem.

Belly fat is uncomfortable, can be debilitating, and an indicator of your overall health. Nowadays, it’s far too easy to slip into a convenient comfort rut, a lifestyle which wreaks havoc on your insides, whether it’s stress or an overload of toxins.

As Newton once said, “For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction.” Nothing could be further from the truth in terms of your gut growing to epic proportions, our bodies create an unwanted reaction when faced with such imbalances, and these reactions end up attacking our health.  

Metabolic syndrome happens when certain risk factors come together to affect the way your body regulates its metabolism, which negatively influences the effectiveness of energy and throws your hormones out of kilter. Our metabolic system is basically how our bodies convert what we eat and drink into energy. How we control energy is crucial and specific hormones stop the way in which we access intermediaries and produce metabolites (small molecules). In order to melt your midsection, you need to have some sensitivity to these hormones. If you can shed the excess fat that’s been building up in your abdomen, you’ll be left with muscle. Insulin and cortisol are the two hormonal key players which have the most influence here.

Insulin lets your body use glucose for energy; your pancreas produces insulin which allows glucose to enter your cells to give you that energy. Cofactors are helper molecules that assist enzymes to do their job, and insulin is important in how these are released, and how they work with messenger RNS signals to make sure your cells are making proteins throughout.

Insulin is by far your fastest reacting hormone and it takes just 30 seconds for it to be released after your blood receives glucose. There’s two phases that happen when it gets released, the first one prepping the pancreas.

Too many unhealthy foods laden with a high glycemic index means your system can’t make insulin properly and this leads to rising blood glucose levels. As your blood sugar levels shoot up your body won’t be able to do what it needs to do, meaning congestion, your metabolism suffers, and your cells are not working how they ought to be to keep you healthy.

Cortisol and catecholamines (hormones made by your adrenal glands) work together to regulate the release of glucose into your blood stream. Cortisol is actually integral here because it has the ability to control blood sugar levels and blood pressure. It bonds well with insulin and they share a mutually beneficial relationship, their balanced levels depend on the other’s ability to help your body function. Cell membranes heavily rely, for example, on the right amount of insulin.

When there’s too much pressure on your pancreas to get rid of sugar from your blood, it’s going to have a knock-on effect and lower cortisol levels, this can leave you feeling sluggish, weak and your blood pressure can plummet. Leydig cells found in the testes help cortisol levels and keep your immunity in tip top shape. Reductions in this can deplete your immunity, it can also impair your memory, affect your emotions, and hamper your thyroid activity. In a nutshell, this puts you in danger of getting a metabolic syndrome and the dreaded excess belly fat that inevitably comes with it.

Testosterone is another hormone we struggle with if it isn’t working properly, simply because it plays many roles. It actually dampens a spike in an overwhelming amount of cortisol and has an effect on insulin. It’s vital to keep a watchful eye on cortisol because too much coming from your adrenal glands will lessen testosterone’s success in keeping you regulated. Low levels could mean you’re at risk from:

  • Increased probability of metabolic syndrome
  • Increased risk of stroke
  • Increase glycation
  • Increased inflammation and cytokine release
  • Increased risk of prostate cancer
  • 3.5 x rate of thickening to the carotid arteries

Other reasons for low testosterone (also linked to raised levels of cortisol) could be:

  • Aromatization – when it’s turned into estrogen
  • Increased sex hormone binding globulin
  • Low luteinizing hormone secretion
  • Low output from testes (insulin resistance)
  • Inadequate amounts of DHEA (oxidative stress and cortisol dominance)

Our thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, plays a huge part in keeping us healthy, and it’s vastly under-estimated. It ensures our cells are communicating with each other, and produces hormones pumped into the blood (T3 and T4) that steady our metabolism. Euthyroid sick syndrome is when either of these hormones have depleted or abnormal serum levels.  It’s useful to know the kind of factors that can influence euthyroid sick syndrome, having an insight could be key if you believe it’s a reason why you’re feeling and acting how you are:

  • Stress
  • Starvation (excessive use of fasting diets)
  • Liver disease
  • High catecholamine status – impaired glutathione and modification pathways in the liver

So, it goes without saying that if we look after our thyroid, it will look after us. Treating it kindly can equal good health and more energy, plus it’ll mean an optimum release of testosterone through healthy Leydig cells, equipping us much better to handle stress and insulin sensitivity.

An unwelcome belly bulge is overall bad news in so many ways, from brain fog to muscle weakness. Shredding yourself of it will not only give you a much-needed mental and confidence boost, it’ll gift you with renewed vitality and thirst to live life. Once you understand the horrifying outcomes of when that sinister visceral fat starts to strangle your organs, it should shock you into submission to do something about it. Take back your health and your life.

Improve digestion: establishing optimal acid reactions in the gut improves your chances of not allowing pathogens to leak into the gut and eventual bloodstream

Reduce your intake of refined sugar

Ensure that consume bitter foods as part of your diet such as sauerkraut
Remove all distractions that entertain the mind whilst eating, especially electronics.

Increase nutrient absorption

Increase your intake of essential fatty acids
Improve your intake of fibre
diversify your intake of fermented foods

Improve detoxification

Increase your intake of cruciferous vegetables
Ensure your getting enough minerals, especially zinc and selenium through your diet
Limit exposure additives, sweeteners and stimulants

Increase utilisation

Ensure your fat intake contains a healthy amount of polyunsaturated fat
alternate dietary strategy to optimise glucose disposal
Increase protein availability to improve intracellular hydration

Adrenal health

reduce intake of stimulants
Improve intake of minerals
regulate intake of electrolytes and water

Sex hormone function

Improve circulation
Modulate stress responses (see adrenal health)
Increase intake of essential fatty acids

Gallbladder function

Improve on anti oxidant intake
Regulate pH variables in the GI system
Ensure optimal glucose disposal

Cardiovascular

Improve on vitamin E and D status
Increase magnesium intake
Increase intake of essential fatty acids

Red Blood cell function

ensure adequate intake of vitamin C
Modulate stimulant intake
Increase parasympathetic activity that promotes diaphragmatic breathing

Immune system

ensure optimal microbiome balance in the gut
Reduce inflammation in the intestinal tract
Ensure optimal intake of minerals and vitamins that support the immune system