Adrenals are the triangularly-shaped endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys. They are no bigger than a walnut and weight less than a grape. But don’t let their size fool you; these powerful little endocrine glands manufacture and secrete steroid hormones that are essential to your health and vitality such as cortisol, estrogen and testosterone. They are responsible for regulating the stress response through the synthesis of corticosteroids and catecholamines.
Corticosteroids such as cortisol are the steroid hormones involved in a wide range of physiologic systems such as stress and immune response, regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, protein break down, regulation of blood electrolyte levels, and behavior.
Catecholamines are chemical messengers derived from the amino acid tyrosine. The most plentiful are epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine(noradrenaline) and dopamine. Catecholamines are released by the adrenal glands as a hormone in situations of physical or mental stress or low blood sugar levels. Epinephrine and dopamine act as neurotransmitters in the central nervous system and as hormones in the blood circulation. Norepinephrine is primarily a neurotransmitter of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system but is also present in the blood.
The main purpose of your adrenals is to enable your body to deal with stress. When adrenal hormones like cortisol are in balance, the protective anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidants activity help minimize negative and allergic reactions to drugs, food allergens, environmental allergens, infection, and autoimmune disorders. Adrenal hormones impact the utilization of carbohydrates and fats, the conversion of fats and proteins into energy, the distribution of stored fat, normal blood sugar regulation, proper cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function and many more.
The adrenals don’t know the difference between physical or mental stress so every type of stress from injury and disease to financial, work and relationship problems, or just living in the world today can trigger adrenal stress response. Constant exposure to stress severely weakens the adrenals triggering inappropriate responses and release of hormones as a defense mechanism. This can lead to a variety of physical and psychological health problems that are themselves a further source of stress.
Hormones are powerful and can be very destructive to your body under prolong stress, they will steal your body’s proteins especially from bone tissue, and muscles to use them as fuel. Normally proteins trigger fat- burning hormones but in survival state your body will hold on to fat energy around the vital organs, in the stomach area and the face blockading the fat burning hormones.
The Adrenal body type characteristics.
The fat will form around your abdomen and sag over the belly. Stress hormone CORTISOL turns your buttocks, legs and arms muscle into sugar causing loss of tone so your legs and arms will be thin and your buttocks sage. A fat cushion can develop in your lower neck and upper back area (”buffalo back”).Your face can become more red and round and eyes become puffy. Reddish stretch marks like can appear on your buttocks,stomach, arms, thighs and breasts. Your bones can become thiner (osteoporosis) and you may have muscle cramps in the calves at night. Women can develop acne, facial hair, breasts atrophy, deeper voice and hair loss do to overproduction of male hormone androgen. As your adrenals weakened your ability to handle life’s stress will decrease, depression, fatigue, mental “fog,” and sleep deprivation will faithfully keep you company every day.
The good news is that you don’t have to live with these devastating symptoms. Our Nourish program promote healthy and lasting weight loss, hormonal and neurotransmitter balance and the overall feeling of wellbeing.
To find out how we can assist you with your health concerns please contact our office at (214) 783-8721.
