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Adrenal Supplements for Healing

Posted by Jeanne M. Schmit, Pharm. D. on Fri, Apr 16, 2010 @ 07:46
  
  
  
  

If you're having trouble with adrenal fatigue or burnout, it's critical you:adrenal fatigue

  1. Adjust your life to decrease stress, including improving your sleep
  2. Improve your diet (including removing adrenal draining foods such as caffeine, sugar, processed foods, artificial sweeteners, alcohol, and damaged fats). If you're having trouble removing certain things from your diet, you may need amino acid support to address your cravings.
  • Caffeine, stimulant drugs: L-tyrosine
  • Sugar and carbs: L-glutamine if due to low blood sugar, L-tyrosine if due to low energy, or 5-HTP.
  • Alcohol, smoking, tranquilizers, anxiolytics: GABA if due to anxiety/nervousness
  • Comfort foods, pain killers (incl ibuprofen): DL-phenylalanine or D-phenylalanine to increase "feel good" endorphins
  • Fried/fatty foods: EPA/DHA essential fatty acids

Before using any aminos, be sure you have no contraindications. Check past blogs on amino acids or use the contraindication sheet in the studio.

Adrenal recovery can take between 6 months to 2 or more years. Supplements support this process by helping your adrenals return to normal function.

Helpful adrenal supplements:

  • Vitamin C, magnesium, panothenic acid, B vitamins: work in concert to potentiate the action of adrenals; essential for the production of enzymes and energy needed for the adrenal hormone cascade.
  • Adrenal glandulars; supports and rejuvinates adrenals
  • DHEA (do not take this without knowing your levels. Work with a health practitioner if you take DHEA)
  • targeted amino acids; see below
  • Licorice extract: supports adrenal function
  • Ashwaganda root: normalizes cortisol levels

Before taking any of these supplements, read up and understand what you are taking and why. A good explanation of most of these can be found on the James Wilson Adrenal fatigue website listing product faqs.

Aminos important in adrenal healing depend on the state of adrenal fatique you are in. If your brain chemistry is not ideal for daily (and nightly) functioning, your adrenals continue to be stressed.

  • If you feel very stressed and have a difficult time relaxing or you find yourself snapping at people, GABA is helpful.
  • If you are dull, feeling flat, with low energy, focus and concentration, tyrosine/phenylalanine is helpful.
  • If you feel depressed, low self esteem, withdrawn, 5-HTP/L-tryptophan is helpful.

Many people need a combination of aminos. If you take aminos, take them on an empty stomach (without other proteins in your stomach) and be sure you have B vitamins (especially B6) available. Bs are necessary to convert the amino to the neurotransmitter.  

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Comments

Hi Jeanne, thank you for all the information given during the Blitz. I wish I would have had it when I started menopause - it would have explained a lot. One of my goals for the Blitz is to eliminate sugars from my diet. Week 1 I stopped drinking soda and saw almost an immediate change. I feel great! That has motivated me to look at other sugar-laden items in my diet. I also took advantage of the consultation with Dr. Jen - extremely interesting. My results meeting is next week and I am anxious to hear what she says.
Posted @ Friday, April 16, 2010 8:15 by jp
I can only echo the previous posting. I was told I was menapausal when I was sure I had a low functioning thryroid, my TSH results were "normal" but I had a lot of the symptoms listed in Female Brain Gone Insane! Anyway, it's good to get all this information even now. I have learned a lot and it has re-affirmed what I have been doing for the past 7 years since I first join TimeOut Fall of 2003! I also consuldted with Dr. Jen and can't wait to discuss her findings next week. Your studio and guidance have literally changed my life. Thank you.
Posted @ Friday, April 16, 2010 9:19 by Anne Rennick
Quick story: since our son was born 23 years ago, we have ALWAYS stopped at McDonald's on road trips. Never any other time, but ALWAYS on road trips. We're driving to Sioux Falls today and I told my husband that after watching Super Size Me, King Corn, etc. I just couldn't eat there. So we just stopped at Guse Green Grocers and bought lovely (large!) sandwiches and we'll stop on the way and have a picnic. It's a little more expensive for sure, but it's FOOD. GOOD FOOD. Go Body Blitz. 
 
Posted @ Friday, April 16, 2010 1:37 PM by Barbara
Well, I received my results from my saliva test and found that I have low cortisol levels pretty much all the time! So, I am adding the licorice root and eleuthero root (under the guidance of Dr. Jen) along with continuing a gluten free, diet pepsi free and (mostly) sugar free diet. I am on day 8 and doing fine after some major withdrawal headaches. I am excited to see how this is all going to work out and am proud of myself for sticking with it. It really helps to have Body Blitz friends to talk with about all this stuff. Thanks!
Posted @ Friday, April 16, 2010 2:32 PM by Michelle
This article as all of them have been very helpful. I will admit I have been overwhelmed with all the info and have been a bit fearful to try some of the suggested amino acids. I met with Dr. Jen this week and look forward to seeing her in my follow up visit.
Posted @ Friday, April 16, 2010 6:15 PM by kr
It is so helpful to know which are the actual beneficial adrenal supplements people can take to recover. I would say that many people I know or that I am working with show some symptoms of burnout.I know that caffeine can be very detrimental. I was able to quit drinking Diet Coke but unless I drink a cup of coffee in the mroning, I feel out of it all day long...I still need to work on 
 
this. Maybe this could be my goal during the summer vacation... Thank you Time Out for all these amazing opportunities you have provided for us to learn and improve and lead better lives...You ARE making a difference....
Posted @ Friday, April 16, 2010 6:27 PM by Bianca
Hi Bianca, If you're intetested in eliminating your morning coffee, consider taking one tyrosine as soon as you wake up. Give it 30 minutes. Have breakfast. If you still feel the need for coffee, have one cup after breakfast. The next day, try 2 tyrosine, and so on. Tyrosine will help support your thyroid and adrenals as they get stronger, and supports your brain with the catacholamines it's missing without coffee. Soon you won't need the tyrosine. You can also substitute green tea for the coffee when you're ready. Green tea is the least harmful "self medicating" substance. Use it to get you through. You don't have to feel terrible when getting off coffee. Use the aminos to replenish your brain with what it's been missing. Jeanne
Posted @ Saturday, April 17, 2010 7:47 by Jeanne M. Schmit, Pharm. D.
Hi - since working with Dr. Jen, I've been off caffeine (and sugar, gluten, junk food, and alcohol)for over 2 months now. I think the best way to describe how I feel (per someone's comment in a conversation at the studio) is that I don't have the highs and lows that I had with caffeine and sugar. It's a tough thing to do but worth it. The headaches are tough but they are temporary. Good luck to you all.
Posted @ Saturday, April 17, 2010 3:45 PM by Doris
The Body Blitz has been fabulous! I have been working with Dr. Jen for about 6 weeks now. I work out regularly and have eliminated sugar, caffeine and processed food from my diet, began drinking lots of water and lost 12 pounds in the process!  
I have felt so good and full of energy...until very recently. I am considering adding the amino supplements. I am not sure what to take though. I believe I am getting close(very close) to menopause. The last 2 weeks or so, I have felt very 'hormonal' ups and downs, a lower amount of energy with intense cravings for sweets and carbs. 
In Mia's book, the supplement suggested for my emotional type is 5-HTP and theanine for 2-4 wks; then add tyrosine and phenylalanine for 4-8 more weeks. 
Should I try the tyrosine first to address the cravings and low energy? Or is it best to follow her recommendation above? 
Thanks for your help!
Posted @ Sunday, April 18, 2010 3:42 PM by Kim
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