Weight Loss that Works

      The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about six out of 10 Americans were either overweight or obese. Furthermore, the prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically in recent decades. One in 50 people is now severely obese. Obesity leads to increased deaths from diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer, increased prevalence of osteoarthritis and physical injuries.

      Scientists use a measure called Body Mass Index, or BMI, to take lean body as well as fat body mass into account. A BMI of 25 or more is considered overweight and one of 30 or more reflects obesity. Having a BMI of 40 or greater is equivalent to having approximately 100 extra pounds of fat.

      There are seveeral reasons for increased obesity. They include endocrine imbalances from environmental pollution, stress and aging, less physical exercise, increased intake of calories, and increased consumption of foods that are quickly converted to fat.

      Since 1960 fat intake hasn't changed much. During the same time sugar intake has increased dramatically. According to the USDA, sugar and sweetener consumption has climbed from 113 pounds per person in 1966 to 147 pounds per person in 2001.

      Some researchers point to high- fructose corn syrup, which is an inexpensive, commonly used sweetener, as a culprit in the obesity epidemic. The sheer availability of high calore, high glycemic food has led people to graze throughout the day on foods that are largely nutrient-poor and calorie-rich.

      Fast food marketing often portrays big portions as a bargain, but a supersize soft drink can contain as many as 800 calories, which is about a third of the daily caloric requirement of a large man.

      We have become an increasingly sedentary society. More people have sedentary jobs, walk less, and plop down behind a TV, video game or computer rather than engage in sports or physical recreation. These habits are established early in life.

      Type II diabetes was recently called adult onset diabetes. It is now afflicting teenagers. Researchers have found that overweight, Type II diabetic adolescents have arteries that are as stiff as those of healthy 50- to 60-year-old men. Obest children are more likely to have high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, liver and kidney problems and other health problems. Untreated, this condition is likely to result in early heart attacks and other complications.

      The basic principles of weight loss are straightforward, yet many individuals find losing weight difficult. The difficulty is in making changes in food choices, eating habits and exercise habits. Expensive weight loss programs, weight loss clinics and personal trainers provide the guidance and discipline to change lifestyle. There are no shortcuts or quick fixes that do not also involve health risks.

      This page contains information and links to reviewed information that will enable you to engage a successful weight loss program of your own without spending a lot of money on commercial programs.

Body Mass Index, BMI, and Weight Loss

      The BMI is the abbreviation for body mass index. It is the ratio of the lean tissue to fat tissue in your body. The BMI is now considered to be as important as blood pressure and blood cholesterol in assessing ones general state of health. The BMI should be between 19 and 25 for a healthy individual. It can be improved by increasing lean body mass through exercise or by reducing fat mass through exercise and calorie reduction. Individuals who lose weight by diet alone often lose more lean body mass than fat mass. For better health, leaner is better than lighter.

      Individuals who lose weight by diet alone lose more lean muscle than fat. While they may weigh less, they are weaker and no more healthy than they were before weight loss. Exercise helps with weight loss in three ways. First, it burns calories. Second, it increases lean muscle mass which increases your basal metabolic rate, the number of calories your body burns while you are at rest. Third, exercise increase anabolic hormones which promote lean body mass while decreasing hormones that cause fat deposition.

Diet and Weight Loss

      Most diets work most of the time for as long as the individual sticks to the diet. To lose weight, one must reduce the total calorie intake to a level below the number of calories burned. There is considerably more to designing a good diet than simply reducine calories, however.

      A total program, therefore, is one that would incorporate diet and exercise with supplements that will help improve metabolic control. When choosing a weight loss plan, it's important to seek out diets that preserve muscle mass. Crash dieting and fad dieting that induce "quick" weight loss generally promotes muscle and water loss and less fat loss. This results in the "yo-yo" syndrome since when patients gain weight back they gain it as fat-not muscle. The best plan to follow is one that targets the change in body composition and preferentially enhances the loss of body fat rather than muscle mass.

      The glycemic index is one term one should be familiar with. The glycemic index is a measure of the body's physiological response to a particular food in comparison to glucose. Glucose is the form of sugar carried in the blood and used as fuel by all of the cells in the body. The glycemic index is a number betweel 0 and 100. The glycemic index of glucose is 100. High glycemic index foods are rapidly digested, converted into glucose and absorbed into the body. Rapid consumption of high glycemic index foods causes a rapid increase in blood glucose forcing the body to store the excess as fat. Good dietary planning emphasizes low glycemic index foods.

      In reviewing the scientific data it is clear that a low-glycemic-index (GI) diet appears to promote weight loss more effectively than other types of diets. Those following this type of diet feel full faster, more satisfied with what they have eaten and have better glucose tolerance. Their weight loss occurs predominantly as fat. That's because low-GI diets prevent the metabolic switch from being thrown that increases fat storage rather than fat burning. It is important to realize that this type of diet is not simply a low-carbohydrate diet. Treating all carbohydrates the same still allows dieters to consume high-GI carbohydrates, which will throw the metabolic switch to store more body fat.

      People who follow a low-GI diet can consume carbohydrates that do not elicit a high-GI response such as fiber, beans, lentils, barley, yams, sweet potatoes as well as a host of other foods. Even most fruits such as apples, oranges and grapefruit, all high in pectin, are low to moderate on the glycemic index, which makes them permissible on this diet plan. Just as simply restricting carbohydrates is not an effective weight loss strategy, simply restricting calories has not resulted in the preferential change in body composition of losing body fat rather than muscle mass.

      When our bodies detect a decreased calorie intake, they respond by reducing metabolism to conserve body mass and fat reserves. It is a built-in survival mechanism to protect against starvation and famine. Significantly cutting calories in an attempt to lose weight can decrease energy expenditure by 10 percent and during re-feeding by as much as 15 percent. The solution is to engineer a complete lifestyle change and maintain it.

      Our bodies don't know we are cutting calories just to lose weight. Some of the survival mechanisms of our ancestors are still in place directing our bodies to reduce our metabolism to adjust for food shortages. Crash dieting leads to further slowing of metabolism since most of the weight is lost as muscle. Muscle breaks down into glucose and maintains blood sugar levels, fat does not.

      In other words, restriction of calories and/or carbohydrates per se does not ensure that high-GI foods will be eliminated from the diet. High-GI foods can cause a metabolic switch that preferentially stores protein, fat and carbohydrate rather than promoting oxidation of these nutrients. Low-GI diets also improve insulin resistance and other risk factors for coronary artery disease, such as elevated blood lipids. Unlike other diets, a low-GI plan can be followed indefinitely.

      It is also important to incorporate exercise into the program to significantly improve body composition. Walking, dancing, cycling and using treadmills are all examples of aerobic exercise. Some extremely overweight and obese people may have pain even when walking, so often water aerobics may be a better place to start. Everyone should start slowly if they are out of shape and start with five to 10 minutes three times each week building up to 30-45 minutes three to five times each week. Strength training can be added to further preserve body composition.

      Remember that muscle increases metabolism and high body fat slows metabolism. Preserving or even building a little more muscle can have dramatic effects on metabolism.

Beyond Counting Calories for Weight Loss - Sugar Handling Stress & Low Carbohydrate Diets

      Low Carbohydrate diets, like the popular Atkins diet reduce sugar handling stress by restricting carbohydrate consumption. More of the calories are then in the form of fats and proteins which are digested and metabolized more slowly. This causes the calories consumed to be burned as fuel rather than stored as fat. Some of these diet plans combine reducing carbohydrate consumption with reducing calorie consumption. This forces the body to metabolize and burn stored fat. While this practice does induce weight loss, it is not sustainable as a long term, healthy, maintenance diet. Long term diet plans that one can live with for extended periods of time include a balanced consumption of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. It is very important that a good balance be achieved and that the carbohydrates be selected from the low glycemic index list. Carbohydrates with a low glycemic index are converted to sugar in the body more slowly than those with a high glycemic index. This means that the carbohydrate calories are more likely to be burned than stored.

      The glycemic index tables apply to carbohydrates but one does not live on carbohydrates alone. In fact, to maintain a healthy diet, a balance of carbohydrates, fats and proteins is absolutely required. The maintenance of a steady state of energy and a stable blood sugar level require a balance of fats and proteins since both fats and proteins are converted to energy at a much slower rate than even the most complex of carbohydrates.

Correcting Sugar Handling Stress for Weight Loss

      The body converts excess blood sugar into fat because it cannot turn it into energy fast enough. The body also secretes an excess of insulin in response to the high blood sugar level. The excess insulin often causes a severe drop in blood sugar, which causes low energy and a craving for food, especially sweets. This cycle results in a state of chronic fatigue and weight gain. Changing the diet to stop the swings in blood sugar level is more important than counting calories for many individuals and is essential to maintain a healthy weight over the long term.

      Creating a balance of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in the diet and selecting the carbohydrates from the low glycemic index list helps stabilize the blood glucose level, reduces fat deposition, evens out the energy level, reduces appetite, reduces risk of developing diabetes and all of its associated health problems, and generally makes an individual feel better. The cycle of Reactive Hypoglycemia contributes heavily to weight gain and obesity. Changing dietary patterns to avoid glycemic stress reduces the tendency to gain weight, increases energy levels and facilitates weight loss when used in conjunction with other measures. To learn more read Hypoglycemia.

      Certain kinds of supplements should be on your "food list." Your diet and basic grocery list should include broad spectrum vitamin, mineral and trace mineral supplements This is important because many of these vitamins and minerals act as catalysts and components of enzymes which are responsible for converting blood sugar into energy instead of into more fat. Having high energy generally means less appetite and food cravings.

      Restoring insulin sensitivity in conjunction with dietary adjustments and exercise can help an individual lose weight and improve their health. Once you have established dietary habits that give your body a steady supply of glucose and relief from the stress of reactive hypoglycemia, your body may benefit from specific nutritional supplements intended to help re-establish insulin sensitivity.

Warning: Using these supplements can increase your insulin sensitivity. If you are taking insulin, your dose may have to be adjusted accordingly.

      Basic sugar handling Support includes the following supplements. Use these supplements as a preventive for blood sugar regulation disorders as well as support for existing conditions.

Chromium Picolinate - Research studies have shown that Chromium Picolinate can help stabilize blood sugar levels, burn extra fat, and stimulate for formation of lean muscle. In reserch with animals, chromium picolinate increased their lifespan by up to 60%. The chromium reserves in the body tend to decrease with age and need to be replaced. Suggested dosage is one 200 mcg. capsule twice per day.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) - . Conjugated Linoleic Acid is a form of the essential fatty acit, Linoleic Acid. Studies show that supplementation with CLA increases insulin sensitivity, reduces fat deposition and increases the formation of lean muscle mass, especially around the midsection. Recommended dosage: one 1000 mg. capsule, three times daily, 30 minutes before meals.

Biotin - . Biotin is essential for the formation of glycogen and fatty acids. Biotin may be helpful to diabetics or for individuals who suffer from loss of insulin sensitivity. Biotin and Chromium Picolinate act synergistically to lower blood glucose and insulin levels. Recommended dosage: two 10 mg. capsules per day.

Ginko Biloga - . Research has shown that Ginkgo aids in the transport of glucose into cells and improves blood flow into the heart, brain and other organs. Recommended dosage: one to four 60 mg capsules per day.

R-Lipoic Acid - . Lipoic Acid is a powerful anti-oxidant that is both fat and water soluble. It may provide benefits in the prevention and/or support of diabetes, heart disease, cataracts, nerve degeneration, and liver disease. Recommended dosage: one to six 50 mg. capsules per day in divided dosages with meals.

GluControl - . GluControl is a combination products that includes quercetin, N-Acetyl-Cysteine, Vanadyl Sulfate plus extracts of the herbs Galega Officialis (Goats Rue) and Momordica Charantia (Bitter Melon). Goats Rue is a natural source of the active ingredients in the anti-diabetic and life extension drug Metformin. Bitter melon has been shown to reduce blood glucose levels in diabetics and increase glycogen formation in the liver. Recommended dosage: four to eight capsules per day in divided doses.

Taurine - . Taurine is an amino acid needed by the brain, heart, central nervous system and skeletal muscles. It is often low in diabetics. Taurine improves the utilization of blood sugar and potentiates the effects of Insulin. Recommended dosage: one to five capsules per day.

Optimum D - . This formula is specifically designed as a nutritional base for people with diabetes or for those concerned about developing diabetes. It uses a balanced, comprehensive multivitamin/multimineral base with the additional antioxidant protection provided by taurine, N-acetyl-cysteine, lipoic acid, selenium, and vitamin E. Two forms of chromium (from chromium picolinate and glucose tolerance polynicotinate form) team with ginkgo biloba extract (for increased transport of glucose into cells) and gymnema sylvestre (to lessen insulin resistance and lower blood sugar) for superior nutritional support. Now with cinnamon extract. Recommended dosage: nine capsules per day.

Niacinamide - . In Type 1 diabetics, niacinamide helps regenerate pancreatic function by slowing beta cell death. These are the insulin producing cells of the pancreas. Type 2 diabetics notice reduced glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) levels as a result of better glycemic control. In addition, niacinamide has anti-aging effects. Research has revealed a longevity gene known as Sir2 (silent information regulator 2) that produces the protein Sir2p that has been shown to extend cell life. Niacinamide enhances Sir2p activity by increasing NAD. Niacinamide is an inexpensive nutrient that is both safe and effective with a multitude of uses in optimizing physiology and controlling pathology. Recommended Dosage: one to six 500 mg. capsules per day in divided doses.

Porangaba Tea (Cha de Bugre) - . Highly regarded in Brazil as an appetite suppressant and weight loss aid, Porangaba Tea is actually served at stands along the famous beaches of Brazil. Although no published human trials have been conducted, centuries of tradition and anecdotal data have accumulated on Porangaba to support its appetite-suppressant and weight loss properties.

Glabrinex - . Glabrinex is a patent-pending standardized concentrate of bioactive, polyphenol flavonoid compounds and the unique flavonoid, glabridin. Animal and human research indicates supplementing with Glabrinex helps decrease visceral and abdominal fat. Preliminary research suggests it also helps prevent weight gain. Current research indicates Glabrinex works via regulating enzymatic pathways in the liver, reducing fat-storage. Over 10 years ago, researchers reported Glabrinex had antioxidant properties; it reduced oxidation of LDL-cholesterol particles. This is also helpful for circulation and heart health. Clinical and non-clinical research indicates Glabrinex has a good safety profile. The FDA has approved Glabrinex as a new dietary ingredient.

Cortisol Control - . Cortisol Control combines two of the most effective anti-stress blends, Relora® and Sensoril® for maximum control of stress and stress induced eating and snacking. Relora® is a proprietary blend of a patented extracts of Magnolia and Phellodendron. Relora® is used in stress management and for stress-related appetite control. This patented blend is the result of screening more than fifty plant fractions from traditional plant medicines. Relora® is a natural stress management ingredient that helps control stress-related eating. The plant extracts in Relora® bind to several important targets associated with stress. It does not bind to the benzodiazepine receptors that would cause sedation, yet has the relaxing qualities that have been demonstrated in both animal and human studies. In addition, it normalizes hormone levels associated with stress-induced weight gain and eating behavior. Most overweight adults have excessive abdominal fat from stress-related overeating. Relora helps maintain healthy levels of stress hormones and acts as an aid in controlling weight and stress related eating.

Where to Get Nutritional Supplements for Hypoglycemia, Diabetes and Sugar Handling Stress

      For a high quality professional source of Supplements for Hypoglycemia, Weight Loss, and Diabetes:

Get Hypoglycemia and Diabetes Support Supplements from Vitamin Research Products

Exercise for Weight Loss

      Exercise triggers physiological changes that go far beyond simply burning calories. Exercise is essential for achieving effective and long term weight loss. Aerobic exercise increases heart, lung and circulatory system capacity. Weight training and calisthenics build muscle mass which increases metabolism, even when at rest. All forms of exercise increase growth hormone levels and trigger endorphin release. The most important part of an exercise program is consistency.

      Exercise does more than burn calories. It releases endorphins, changes hormonal blance and builds muscle mass. Muscle, unlike fat, uses fat and glucose to produce energy. Muscle mass increases metabolism. Maintaining muscle mass decreases the tendency to deposit fat.

Correcting Neurotransmitter Imbalances to assist Weight Loss

      It has been found that the craving for carbohydrates and the resulting binge eating may be associated with low serotonin levels that accompany weight loss programs. Diets high in carbohydrates favor the production of serotonin. Thus, when there is a serotonin deficiency, the body will crave carbohydrates. This craving can contribute to overeating and obesity. Correcting the serotonin deficiency frequently reduces appetite and contributes to weight reduction. Medications or supplements that boost serotonin levels are sometimes used as weight loss aids.

      SAM-e is the first choice for nutritional support for depression for many. In addition to alleviating symptoms of depression, it is helpful for fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, liver problems and migraine headaches. It also has anti-aging properties and aids in the prevention of heart disease. The usual dosage is: Four hundred milligrams, three to four times daily. Start at a dosage of 200 milligrams twice daily for the first day. Increase to 400 milligrams twice daily on day three, 400 milligrams three times daily on day ten, and finally to the full dosage of 400 milligrams four times daily after 20 days, if required. For more information on SAM-e, read SAM-e.

      Another choice is 5-htp. 5-htp is an amino acid derived from Tryptophane which serves as a precursor to serotonin. 5-htp is considerably less expensive than SAM-e. Some sources recommend that 5-htp dosage be limited to 100 mg. per day. Other sources suggest using up to 300 mg. three times per day to curb appetite. It is advisable to begin with low doses to determine individual response. A low trial dose would be 30 mg. three times per day or less. 5-htp should not be taken in combination with anti-depressant medications unless under the advise of your doctor. For more information on 5-htp, read 5HTP.

Warning: 5-htp, SAM-e, St. John's Wort and other natural depression and appetite aids should not be combined with prescription anti-depressants, SSRI drugs, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, etc. except under a Physicians direction.

Where to Get 5 HTP, SAM-e and St. John's Wort

      For a high quality source of 5-HTP, SAM-e, St. John's Wort and other Health and Life Extension Supplements:

5HTP and other professional depression related supplements from Vitamin Research Products

Correcting Low Metabolism and Low Energy Conditions for better Weight Loss

      The thyroid gland regulates metabolism throughout the body. An under active thyroid gland is called hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism causes a reduction in basal metabolic rate. This means that energy is produced in the body more slowly, calories are burned more slowly, the individual has less energy and it is more difficult to lose weight. Addressing low thyroid activity is one of the strategies employed by professional weight loss clinics. The article on hypothyroidism on this web site describes the symptoms of hypothyroidism and describes a simple test for thyroid activity that you can do at home. It also discusses natural therapies that you can use and monitor yourself. It is not correct to say that hypothyroidism causes obesity, but the two are often associated. To learn more about this, read the article on Hypothyroidism

      Do you have an under active thyroid?. The blood tests for T3, T4 and TSH have improved over the years and are useful diagnostic tools. In some cases, the blood tests may appear normal or near normal and the patient still has hypothyroid symptoms. Because of this, Dr. Broda Barnes developed the basal temperature test as an alternative method of detecting hypothyroid function. This is a simple test that you can do yourself. For instructions, Click Here. Remember that the basal temperature test is a measurement, not a diagnosis. There are other factors that can alter the results of the basal temperature test. These include hypoadrenal function, illness (which can elevate temperature) and menstruation ( which elevates temperature).

      The treatment of hypothyroidism may include thyroid hormone replacement with either synthetic or natural thyroid hormones. Both of these require a prescription. Nutritional support may be of assistance in some cases of hypothyroidism. In some cases, nutritional support can be of benefit to patients who are also using thyroid medication. Individuals taking prescription medications should consult with their physicians with regard to their nutritional support regimen.

      For preventing thyroid disease and nutritional support for a suspected hypothyroid condition:

      (1) Eliminate as many of the risk factors as possible. Bear in mind that while a large quantity of soy foods can depress the thyroid, soy supplements are beneficial for women in the prevention of osteoporosis and other post menopausal conditions. If you do everything in moderation, including using soy foods and supplements, the body can usually adjust. Also bear in mind that the so called "goitrogenic foods" like turnips, brassicas, etc. have many healthful benefits like cancer prevention, etc.

      (2) Engage in stress reduction. Read the article on Stress . Also read the article on Hypoadrenia. Hypoadrenia and hypothyroidism often go together.

      (3) Take nutritional supplements to support the thyroid gland.

      The mineral Iodine is of crucial importance in the nutritional support of thyroid function. Iodine is an essential nutrient for individuals using prescription medications as well as those who are not. For more information on the use of higher doses of iodine for therapy, read the article on Iodine.

      Vitamin E assists in the absorption of Iodine. Vitamin E is an essential nutrient for individuals using prescription medications as well as those who are not.

      The amino acid taurine is also an essential nutrient for the production of thyroid hormones. 200 to 1000 mg. per day is the recommended dosage. Taurine is an essential nutrient for individuals using prescription medications as well as those who are not.

      Forskolin is an extract of an Ayurvedic herb that resensitizes cell receptors by activating the enzyme adenylcyclase and increasing the levels of cyclic AMP in cells. Cyclic AMP is an important signal carrier that is necessary for the proper biological response of cells to hormones. It is required for cell communication in the hypothalamus/pituitary gland axis and for the feedback control of hormones. Cyclic AMP is essential to synthesize and regulate thyroid hormones, growth hormones, cortisol, DHEA, testosterone, melatonin, and other hormones. Recommended dosage: one to two capsules twice per day. It is possible that some individuals taking this herbal extract and prescription thyroid hormones may require less medication. Consult with your physician regularly. It would also be a good idea to monitor yourself with the basal temperature test.

      ATP Cofactors is a combination of Vitamins B2 and B3. These two essential vitamins are combined into a sustained release formula that makes them available to the body for about 24 hrs. These vitamins are the precursors for FADH2 and NADH, the cofactors required to produce ATP, the high energy molecule which is the body’s metabolic fuel. These cofactors play an important role in the oxidation and transport of iodide to tissues (thyroid, muscle, ovary, breast, etc.). Recommended dosage: one to three capsules per day. Consult with your physician regularly. It would also be a good idea to monitor yourself with the basal temperature test.

Where to Get Thyroid Support Supplements

      For a high quality source of Thyroid and other Health and Life Extension Supplements:

Get Thyroid support supplements from Vitamin Research Products

The Cortisol Connection

      Cortisol is an adrenal hormone that is elevated by stress. Chronically elevated cortisol levels contribute to the accumulation of abdominal fat and make it very difficult to get rid of it. Elevated cortisol levels suppress the immune system and the individual becomes more susceptible to infections, both minor and major. Clearly, we would like for our cortisol levels to return to normal.

How to Correct your Cortisol Level

      Stress reduction is an essential part of all efforts to normalize cortisol. Stress is the stimuli that caused the cortisol levels to get out of hand to begin with. Each individual should explore and find the stress reduction techniques that work best for themselves. Meditation, physical activities, attitude changes etc. are good paths to explore. Without stress reduction, all therapeutic and support measures will eventually fail.

      Rest. This may sound obvious but it must be managed and scheduled as a deliberate strategy, choice and course of action. Otherwise it gets forgotten in the busyness of life.

      A low glycemic diet is important. Sugar handling stress increases cortisol levels. Elevated cortisol, in turn, aggravates the sugar handling situation contributing to the development of high insulin levels and ultimately diabetes.

      Nutritional supplementation is very valuable in restoring normal cortisol levels. It is important, however, to recognize if your cortisol levels are high or low. Low cortisol levels are the consequence of adrenal exhaustion or the exhaustion phase of the stress response. High cortisol levels are the result of the response to chronic stress and represent the adaptation phase of the stress response. Both Cortisol and DHEA can be determined by a simple saliva test. See Your doctor to have this test.

Nutritional Supplements to Support Low or High Cortisol Levels

      For basic adrenal support, include:

• A good Complete Multiple Vitamin Mineral Supplement.
  
• Mag-C, one capsule three times per day. This is a source of buffered vitamin C and a source of absorbable magnesium.
  
• Advanced Essential Minerals, two capsules three times per day. Mineral absorption and assimilation can be impaired by stressed adrenal glands. Minerals are essential for energy metabolism.
  
• B5, one capsule per day
  
• B6, one capsule per day

      One of the best known and most effective ways to lower excess cortisol levels is with the nutrient Phosphatidylserine (PS). Phosphatidylserine is believed to facilitate the repair of the cortisol receptors in the hypothalamus. It is believed that the cortisol receptors get damaged by high cortisol levels reducing the ability of the hypothalamus to sense and correct high cortisone levels. Because Phosphatidylserine helps repair the feedback control apparatus, it is useful in correcting both high and low cortisol levels. Phosphatidylserine is also useful for preventing short-term memory loss, age-related dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Typical dosages are one to three 100 mg. capsules per day.

      Adaptogens are an entire category of herbs that assists the body in coping with stress by restoring hypothalamic cortisol receptor sensitivity. AdaptaPhase I from Vitamin Research Products is one such blend of adaptogenic herbs that is based on Russian research. It is a combination of Siberian ginseng, Manchurian Thorn Tree extract, Hawthorn extract, Echinopanax elatum and Schisandra. Typical dosages are from 1 ml. to 4 ml. per day. AdaptaPhase II is an anti-catabolic blend of herbs that can be used to enhance the effects of AdaptaPhase.

      AdaptaPhase II is synergistic blend of ingredients designed to help the body overcome the exhaustion that is experienced by people under such extreme stress. The formula includes soy protein isolate, Rhaponticum carthinoides, Tribulus Terrestris, and Adjuga turkistanica. These ingredients exert profound energizing, anabolic, muscle-building effects. This product is best used in cycles, with each cycle lasting 10 days with a break of two to three weeks between each 10 day cycle. Dosages range from 4-10 capsules per day depending upon the individual's weight and the amount of physical or psychological stress that individual is undergoing.

      CortiTrophin is a combination of adrenal concentrate and glycyrrhizinate. Glycyrrhizinate is a natural cortisol-mimicking extract from licorice. Taking a small amount of CortiTrophin 25-100 mgs/day can be beneficial in treating symptoms of adrenal exhaustion and can provide significant relief from the symptoms of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. To best mimic the body's own physiology, CortiTrophin should be taken on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning. If a second dose is required, it should be taken before lunch. Since CortiTrophin mimics the action of cortisol, one should be very judicious in using it. It should only be used intermittently and if any adverse effects occur, such as water retention or elevated blood pressure, use should be discontinued immediately. Individuals with high blood pressure should be very cautious with this supplement and should consult their doctor. Saliva testing should be seriously considered when using cortisol simulating supplements.

      DHEA is a hormone which acts as a precursor for many other hormones. DHEA levels decline drastically with age. Many anti-aging physicians and programs advocate DHEA supplementation for individuals over 40 years of age. There is some medical controversy regarding this practice. If you are considering taking DHEA supplements, it would be a good idea to use the tests to both determine the need for it and get the dosage adjusted properly. DHEA can also be used empirically to alleviate the symptoms of excess cortisol or hyperadaptosis. DHEA can improve glucose tolerance, convert excess body fat to lean muscle mass, alleviate depression, increase energy and decrease pain in chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia patients, decrease joint pain and fatigue in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, improve mental clarity and enhance overall immune function. Typical doses for DHEA are 10 to 25 mg for women, 25 to 100 mg for men, taken in the morning to mimick the bodys natural rhythm. Note: Dosage should be adjusted based on test results. It is important for men to take a prostate PSA test before supplementation. DHEA supplementation could potentially complicate prostate cancer, so professional medical advice is necessary if the PSA level should be elevated.

      Adrenal exhaustion is more difficult to resolve. Adrenal exhaustion involves a depletion of energy reserves and a loss of resilience. Symptomatic signs of adrenal exhaustion can be as diverse as fatigue, nervousness, anxiety, severe PMS, depression, brain fog, carbohydrate cravings, allergies, muscular pain and tenderness, joint pain and irritable bowel syndrome. The goal of nutritional therapy in this situation is to restore the natural, diurnal release of normal levels of cortisol. The theory is if you provide the body with a small amount of a cortisol-like substance, the adrenal glands can take a rest and have an opportunity to regenerate. Then normal cortisol production will be restored.

Where to Get Adrenal Support and Cortisol Normalization Supplements

Professional adrenal support supplements from Vitamin Research Products

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