How Healthy pH Levels Can Help With COVID-19

An overlooked aspect of the coronavirus pandemic is the fact that most viruses are pH sensitive. pH medicine offers us a key to treating viral infections that is easy, safe and inexpensive. Shifting a patient's pH, combined with high dosages of vitamin C, vitamin D and other immune boosting support is foundational support to both treat and prevent COVID-19.  

There are many additional treatments like zinc, glutathione, iodine and selenium, even hydrogen, but the first thing we should reach for is baking soda aka sodium bicarbonate, which offers us control of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.

Wherever the body has low voltage (pH), the cells begin to have problems that get more serious the lower the voltage goes. The lower the voltage goes, the lower the pH goes, and the lower oxygen levels go.  Chronic disease is associated with low pH values (acid conditions).  This means that alkaline (higher pH) tissues have more oxygen in them. 

Wherever the body becomes acidic, voltage drops as does tissue oxygen levels. What is pH after all? It is ultimately a measure of redox potential. Redox potential is a measure of whether electrons are available in surplus (and thus are “electron donors”) or whether electrons are positive (and thus are “electron stealers”). Electrons are necessary for life and are needed for health and in high quantities for healing and the growth of new cells.

Dr. David Brownstein wrote, “The human body is constantly removing old and injured cells and replacing them with healthy new cells. This process can only occur if the voltage of the cells is maintained at an optimal level. This process works more effectively when we are young as compared to when we are older. In the body (or in a solution), voltage is a direct reflection of pH, which is a measure of the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a solution, measured on a scale of 1 to 14. A low pH reading (highly acidic) indicates a low voltage state. Conversely, a high pH reading (highly alkaline) means a high voltage state.”

The amount of oxygen in cells is determined by voltage. If a cell has adequate voltage, it will also have adequate oxygen. If cellular voltage is low, the amount of oxygen in the tissues will be low. This applies to metabolism as well. When voltage and oxygen are low, metabolism becomes anaerobic, which means that oxygen is unavailable. The more aerobic metabolism we have the healthier we are.  

So now that you know what pH is you need to know that the Coronavirus needs a slightly acidic pH to penetrate the cell. The simple alkalinization of the blood reduces the cells susceptibility to the virus and this goes for lots of other viruses and pathogens as well.  When we are alkaline we invariably don't get sick or have mild attacks of viral infections and the same is true for bacterial and fungus infections. Studies have shown there is significant decrease in the growth of bacteria and fungi in the lungs of pneumonia patients when sodium bicarbonate is used compared to saline during nebulizer treatments.  

Although the pH of blood ranges from 7.35-7.45, the pH of other body fluids is different. If the pH blood levels drop below 6.9, it can lead to coma. The pH of saliva is ranges from 6.5 to 7.5. After swallowing, the food reaches the stomach where upper and lower parts of stomach have different pH values. The upper part has a pH of 4.0−6.5, while the lower part is highly acidic with a pH of 1.5−4.0. It then enters the intestine which is slightly alkaline, with a pH of 7.0−8.5. Maintaining the pH values of different regions is critical for their function and good digestion.  

Any increase or decrease in the blood pH can lead to inflammation and we know inflammation is the cause of all disease.  Maintaining the right pH is so important to have good health.  The body does this using primarily three mechanisms: buffer systems, respiratory control, and renal control.

Proteins form a part of the buffer system to regulate the pH levels. These proteins can act as electron acceptors or donors because of the presence of basic or acidic groups. Similarly phosphate buffers also help in moderating the levels of pH. Buffers may help in regulating pH during minor physiological changes, such as during breath holding (which increases the CO2 in the blood), exercise (which increases lactic acid in the blood), or when stomach acid is secreted.

The pH of blood during normal conditions is 7.4. However, CO2 dissociates into carbonic acid in the tissues. Thus, presence of more CO2 makes the blood more acidic. That is the reason when we hold our breath for long durations, the CO2 levels increase in the blood lowering our pH leading to fainting. On the other hand with increased pH, the breathing may get slow in order to increase the CO2 levels and reduce the alkalinity. However, low breathing rate could also lead to low oxygen levels which could be detrimental. Thus, respiration provides an important control to regulate the pH levels.  We already know how important breathing and lung support is for the Coronavirus.  For more info on good breathing techniques, click here. 

The kidneys (renal system) regulates the pH of water in your body. The changes in pH induced by the respiratory system are in minutes, while the changes induced by the renal system are in the order of days. If the acidity of the fluids is high, kidney secretes H+ ions, while if the carbonate ion levels are high it retains H+ ions and secretes HCO3 ions. Although this process is slow it can prove an effective mode to regulate pH. One limitation of renal regulation is that the pH of urine cannot be below 4.4 so renal regulation can only do so much. 

Respiratory acidosis occurs when too much CO2 builds up in the body. Normally, the lungs remove CO2 while you breathe. However, sometimes your body can’t get rid of enough CO2. This may happen due to:

• chronic airway conditions, like asthma
• injury to the chest
• obesity, which can make breathing difficult
• sedative misuse
• overuse of alcohol
• muscle weakness in the chest
• problems with the nervous system
• deformed chest structure

Metabolic acidosis starts in the kidneys instead of the lungs. It occurs when they can’t eliminate enough acid or when they get rid of too much base. There are four major forms of metabolic acidosis:

1. Diabetic acidosis occurs in people with diabetes that’s poorly controlled. If your body lacks enough insulin, ketones build up in your body and acidify your blood.

2. Hyperchloremic acidosis results from a loss of sodium bicarbonate. This base helps to keep the blood neutral. Both diarrhea and vomiting can cause this type of acidosis.

3. Lactic acidosis occurs when there’s too much lactic acid in your body. Causes can include chronic alcohol use, heart failure, cancer, seizures, liver failure, prolonged lack of oxygen, and low blood sugar. Even prolonged exercise can lead to lactic acid buildup.

4. Renal tubular acidosis occurs when the kidneys are unable to excrete acids into the urine. This causes the blood to become acidic.

Factors that can contribute to your risk of acidosis include:

• kidneys not functioning
• obesity
• dehydration
• aspirin or methanol poisoning
• diabetes

If you body is too acidic which most people's are, here are some common symptoms:

• fatigue or drowsiness
• becoming tired easily
• confusion
• shortness of breath
• headache
• lack of appetite
• jaundice - yellow skin
• increased heart rate
• breath that smells fruity, which is a sign of diabetic acidosis 

If you think you may have acidosis, you can get blood work to check your pH levels and your kidney function.  Blood work can also check your calcium, protein, blood sugar, and electrolyte levels which are all important levels to know to see if the body is too acidic.  

If you are concerned about respiratory acidosis is you want to test the health of your lungs. This may involve a chest X-ray or a pulmonary function test.

If metabolic acidosis is suspected, you’ll need to give a urine sample. Doctors will check the pH to see if you are properly eliminating acids and bases. 

Now that I know the relationship between pH and viruses I will start checking oral pH in the office to keep everyone healthy.  It's a quick easy thing that can give us a good idea of your overall pH and the health of the mouth which is part of the digestive tract.  Based on the results we may test you for mineral drops, phosphorus drops or add a baking soda drink in the morning on an empty stomach to help become less acidic.  The less alcohol you consume and the more water you drink can also help your pH levels.  Chlorophyl can also be very helpful in supplement form or just increase your intake of green leafy veggies.  Because this coronavirus likes to hit the back of the throat and go into the lungs the less acidic our mouth and throat are the better.  A mouth wash can really help but not the Lysterine types.  You need to get a more natural one and I love Oxy Pulling mouth wash.  It advertises to do Oxy Pulling instead of oil pulling but instead I love to do them together.  The extra oxygen is exactly what the mouth and throat need to kill any germs and keep the body healthy.    

For a Stronger Immune System Take Wellness Blend

There has been a lot of talk in the office about the coronavirus.  Let me rephrase that.  The coronavirus is all we talk about.  I understand the upset and fear.  We ask patients to do their due diligence and wash their hands, sanitize surfaces, don't touch their face etc. AND let the fear go.  Stress will lower the immune system and we don't want that.  Stress management and boosting the immune system with the right supplements is important and at Healing Arts we are doing just that.  Testing each one of our patients for the right immune support is crucial right now.  Every program looks different but to give you an idea of the main supplements that we are seeing people test for are Standard Process's Antronex, Immuplex, and Healing Arts own Wellness Blend.

I created this supplement in 2018 because I wanted one supplement that boosted the immune system and killed everything.  I wanted an antiviral, anti-parasitic, anti-fungal and antibiotic all in one.  Patients were coming to the office not feeling well and I would have to give them 4 or 5 new supplements to help their immune system and it was just too much.  Wellness Blend kills everything because it has kyolic garlic, liposomal vitamin C, mugwort, echinacea, oregano, lysine, eucalyptus, beta glucan and goldenseal.

In China they are using IV vitamin C to treat coronavirus patients and NYC hospitals started including vitamin C last week.  

Dr. Andrew G. Weber, a pulmonologist in NYC, has been giving his intensive-care patients who have been infected with the coronavirus 1500mg of intravenous Vitamin C several times a day - anywhere from 4500 to 6000mg in total - as part of an anti-viral protocol. Compared to the daily recommended allowance of Vitamin C - 90mg for men and 75mg for women - 6000mg is a massive dose.

Nearly all of the Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplements you see at the supermarket or a drugstore are chemically synthesized, meaning that they are not food-derived. Synthetic Vitamin C is created in a process involving cornstarch and volatile acids. Natural Vitamin C is more complex and contains plant compounds like rutin, bioflavonoids, Factor K, Factor J, Factor P, tyrosinase, and ascorbinogen.  While both forms of Vitamin C provide health benefits, depending on the dosage, less than 50% of the synthetic Vitamin C is actually absorbed by the body. The rest is eliminated when you urinate, creating the bright yellow urine which you see in the toilet. Natural, food-derived Vitamin C, on the other hand, is absorbed in its entirety, assisted by the micro- and macronutrients which are co-factors for the absorption of Vitamin C. Vitamin C occurs in a wide variety of foods, but most notably in: citrus fruit (oranges, grapefruit, lemons) kiwi fruit strawberries black currants red and green bell peppers tomatoes cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts) The reason I made Wellness Blend with liposomal vitamin C is that liposomal technology enhances absorption and has higher bioavailability when compared to standard oral vitamin C.  Liposomal technology uses phospholipids from sunflower lecithin to help carry, protect and deliver vitamin C. Garlic kills everything! It is an anti-parasitic, antiviral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial.  The reason I use kyolic garlic is because it's aged and loses it's odor and harshness that sometimes you find with other garlic supplements.  If you want to use garlic cloves medicinally and if you can handle it, chew a raw garlic clove a day with food already in your stomach. You can also take garlic in a tonic (here's my immune boosting tonic recipe you can make at home).  Cooked garlic loses it's medicinal value. One study found that as little as 60 seconds of microwaving or 45 minutes in the oven can deactivate the medicinal properties of garlic.  However, it was noted that crushing garlic and allowing it to stand for 10 minutes before cooking can help prevent the loss of its medicinal properties.  The loss of health benefits due to cooking could be compensated for by increasing the amount of garlic used.

So to maximize the health benefits of garlic: 

• Crush or slice all your garlic before you eat it.
• Before you cook with your crushed garlic, let it stand for 10 minutes.
• Use a lot of garlic — more than one clove per meal, if you can.

 

Mugwort is added into the Wellness Blend not as an immune booster but as a liver tonic.  If the liver is healthy then toxins won't build up.  Keep the body detoxed is important to keep the body healthy. Echinacea not only supports the immune system, it also has been proven to reduce the severity and duration of viral infections. Oregano is a very good antibacterial and is supports the lungs so it's good for any illness with a cough, bronchitis and asthma. Lysine is an amino acid that is anti-viral.  L-lysine works by helping to increase the number of antibodies called IgG. IgG antibodies fight infection, the more we have, the stronger our immune system is.  Studies have found that when lysine and vitamin C are used together, the levels of these antibodies in the blood rises even more.   Eucalyptus leaves and oil have been used for generations as a cure-all for respiratory issues, particularly in removing excess phlegm and mucus from the sinuses and respiratory tracts.  Eucalyptus is specifically good at killing bacteria and candida.   Beta glucan is a soluble fiber that not only boosts the immune system but also is good at lowering cholesterol and improving blood sugar management which is needed for diabetes and pre-diabitc situations.   Goldenseal is also used for the common cold and other upper respiratory tract infections, as well as stuffy nose and hay fever. Goldenseal is also really good at killing parasites and for helping digestive disorders including stomach pain and swelling (gastritis), peptic ulcers, colitis, diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids, and intestinal gas. So as you can tell Wellness Blend has a great variety of different herbs to help with all germs when sick, average dose is 3 a day and as a preventative, take 1 a day.  To order, click here. Stay well!  Stay healthy! Stay safe!

Coronavirus: How to Protect Yourself

At Healing Arts, we are closely monitoring the recent outbreak of a viral infection called the Coronavirus (COVID-19). There has been a lot of news coverage on the Coronavirus and it can be scary not knowing how rapidly it will spread and how it will affect us or one of our loved ones. With all the research that we have done we truly believe it is like any other flu virus but has a way of spreading faster.  The common winter flu infects millions of people every year and kills thousands.  We all have to be cautious but those who have to be extra cautious are the elderly and immune suppressed. Currently in New York there are more than 400 cases of the Coronavirus with one death of an 82 year old woman in Manhattan.  This woman already had emphysema which contributed to her death.  This is like how the flu works every year with the elderly and immune compromised making up the majority of the deaths.  Schools in NYC are to stay open whereas there are 12 cases of coronavirus in CT and schools are closing taking an approach of teaching online, even the elementary schools.  I am so grateful to the teachers who I know worked really hard to implement online teaching in such a short amount of time.   My daughter, in 5th grade, came home and said, 'Don't worry mom.  This is how you do it.' She then proceeded to show me how to log in and look at all her classes set up on a google classroom account.  I was amazed. I am grateful to have childcare so that I can go to work to continue servicing patients.  We will be open in NY and CT until the government mandates otherwise.  It is important now, more than ever, to stay healthy and that includes getting checked regularly for what supplements would be best for your health and having your immune system as strong as possible. However, we do want to take extra precautions at this time to avoid any undue exposure, so we are asking the following from our patients and our team: If you have: Flu-like symptoms, including fever, achiness or a cough Traveled abroad in the last 14 days Recently experienced a shortness of breath  Have come in contact with anyone who has these symptoms PLEASE refrain from coming in for treatment – we will gladly reschedule your appointment after a two-week waiting period.

Don't Weaken Your Immune System DO get sufficient sleep DO drink plenty of water DON'T eat sugar (sugar will weaken your immune system). This would be a good time to start the sugar cleanse. DON'T eat many carbohydrates (carbs turn into sugar, which weakens your immune system)

Avoid Possible Contact With Pathogens (Germs/Virus/Bacteria) DO wash your hands frequently with soap DON'T sneeze/cough into your hands/DO use a tissue or your elbow DON'T touch your eyes, nose or mouth  DO use hand sanitizer without rubbing alcohol (at office for purchase, rubbing alcohol is toxic)

Maintain A Healthy Immune System Chiropractic Treatments: Spinal adjustments have been shown to boost immune function because they serve to correct the spinal misalignments that cause neural dysfunction. Even one adjustment can bring about an immediate immune boost.  Chiropractors were key in 1917 during the Spanish Influenza.  To read more, click here.  Exercise: Just like a healthy diet, exercise can contribute to general good health and therefore to a healthy immune system. It may contribute even more directly by promoting good circulation, which allows the cells and substances of the immune system to move through the body freely and do their job efficiently.

Boost Your Immune System Of course having a healthy diet supports your immune system, but adding key nutritional supplements will strengthen your immune system. I love using Standard Process's Immuplex and Antronex for viral infections and they can be used preventatively as well. IV Vitamin C is what they are using in China as a cure for those infected with the coronavirus.  Don't ask me why the media isn't talking about that.  So taking vitamin C can be a great preventative.  Not all vitamin C is the same quality so make sure your vitamin C comes from food or is liposomal vitamin C.  Zinc is also great for the immune system and because the coronavirus hits the throat first zinc lozenges are a great preventative too. Here is a powerful all natural antiviral recipe that became my favorite remedy during cold and flu season over the last 5 years. This immune boosting tonic recipe is quite easy to make. It’s a garlic, ginger, lemon, honey remedy that’s suitable for the entire family, including kids!  Aids digestion and promotes detoxification too. Ingredients: 2 small fresh lemons (~1/2 cup) – (with the skin or not, cut into large chunks) 1/2 cup fresh ginger – (peeled, cut into chunks) 1/2 cup fresh garlic cloves – (peeled) 1/2 cup raw organic Manuka honey Instructions:Add all ingredients roughly chopped in a blender, pulsing for a few seconds until everything turns into a paste. The mixture contains not only the juice but also the fibers from the whole fruit/vegetable which makes it even more beneficial for your gut microbiome. This immune boosting tonic is best taken on an empty stomach in the morning and/or half an hour before meals or before going to bed. As a preventive measure you can take one or two teaspoons per day based on personal requirement. If you are in the middle of fighting a cold or an acute infection take 1 teaspoon every 3-4 hours. The benefits of this tonic are best experienced if used regularly.  Storage: Store the immune boosting tonic in a seal-able glass container in the fridge. The longer its sits in the fridge the more potent it gets. Essential oils are great too!  They have a faster way of getting into the body and working at the cellular level.  We love doterra essential oils for they test the best and suggest putting oils in a veggie capsule to boost your immune system.  This is the recipe I like to follow if you can't be muscle tested for your specific essential oil formula. 2 drops Frankincense 2 drops Melaleuca (Tea Tree oil) 4 drops On Guard Blend 2 drops Oregano 6 drops Lemon Directions:  Place all drops into an empty Veggie Cap. Take one capsule every 4-6 hours. Be sure to fill each Veggie Cap immediately before ingesting as the essential oils dissolve the capsules very quickly.  Take capsule with food. Repeat daily as desired. Healing Arts has it's own Wellness Blend developed by Dr. Armitstead that contains a 'blend' of great immune boosters.  It has the garlic, oregano,  and liposomal C we already talked about along with echinacea, goldenseal, lysine and more!

Disinfect Commonly Used Areas Lastly, at Healing Arts we want to proactively provide details and transparency around our cleaning processes. We have implemented an increased protocol to regularly and aggressively disinfect counters, chairs, doorknobs, treatment rooms and other frequently used areas of the office. All staff are regularly washing their hands and all patients are welcome to continue using our already established hand sanitizer stations. Our patients have always been our number one priority. We will continue to closely monitor the CoronaVirus and update our practices as needed.

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Best Shower Filter Uses Vitamin C

When I detox patients from chlorine or lead one of my suggestions to stop such toxicity is to get a shower filter. Shower filters are especially needed if I find the chlorine or lead is bothering the patient's skin or hair. I used to tell patients to go to Home Depot or just buy one online thinking that they were all pretty similar doing the same job until recently. I am lucky enough to have a chlorine filter on the main line of my house so all water coming into the house is chlorine free and I know that the house does not use lead pipes so all my water is chlorine and lead free. But it was recently brought to my attention for patients who don't have that option due to living in apartments there are many types of shower filters and my research has led me to suggest that the best one out there is the Sonaki shower filter. It works by the antioxidant power of vitamin C. Vitamin C is the most effective and efficient chlorine and chloramine filtration media on the market.

Sonaki Vitamin C shower filters are lab tested and proven to neutralize 99.9% of the harmful chlorine and chloramine toxins from your shower water! Sonaki shower filter cartridges are composed of 100% organic, pharmaceutical grade Vitamin C. It has 60 days return policy so that if for some reason you don't like it you can get 100% refund. So there is no risk in trying it. Even though the website doesn't say anything about filtering out lead I have never had Sonaki shower water test for lead energy. You can even bring in the shower water to get tested to make sure your body likes it. Shower filters really help patients suffering with hair loss, eczema, psoriasis, asthma, dry skin and irritated, itchy skin.

If You Suffer From Hair Loss

There can be lots of reasons for hair loss and when I work with patients with hair loss, men and women alike, one common reason is there tends to be a circulation problem where the hair roots aren't getting enough blood to them. Without enough nutrients the hair prematurely falls out. What I suggest doing is spending a full minute in the morning and another full minute at night massaging your scalp to increase blood flow to the hair roots. You may find that as you massage in small circular motions using your fingertips, tender spots and it is those spots in particular you want to concentrate on for they are tender due to lack of circulation. You will notice as you massage the tender spots they will become less tender. Continue to do every day, twice a day, for at least 2 weeks in order to see a change.

I also love this supplement called Hair Rejuvenation to give the hair the right nutrition to help it grow.

Sometimes hair loss is due to the body (or hair) not having enough of the right nutrition.  This is why I developed my own hair supplement called Hair Rejuvenation.  It uses black current seed, saw palmetto, dandelion, rosemary, pomegranate, raspberry leaf, vitamin C and vitamin E to give the body the boost it needs to grow hair.  Vitamin C, vitamin E and pomegranate are used for their antioxidants which helps the body have less stress on it from toxins.  Pomegranate also contains punicic acid which stimulates the hair follicles for better hair growth. This will strengthen the hair follicles and stimulates strong and fast hair growth. Also to help detox is dandelion which supports the liver.  Dandelion is also rich with vitamins A, C, B-complex and E. It also contains biotin, iron, sulfur, magnesium and calcium. These all enrich the hair by stimulating and strengthening the hair.   Rosemary has been tested in clinical trials and shown hair growth just as good as Rogaine on men after 6 months of use.  Raspberry leaf supports the hormones while black current seed and saw palmetto are direct hair support.  Hormone support is important because too much testosterone can cause hair to fall out.  Black Currant Seed contains omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids, which help provide moisture for your hair and encourage hair growth and strength. Specifically, the gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in black currant seed oil is an omega-6 acid that can help prevent hair thinning, splitting and dryness.

By taking the oxidative stress off the body, while also supporting the hormones and liver as well as the hair I have seen the best results with my patients’ regrowth of hair.  Unfortunately it takes time and it’s usually only in the 4th month that patients start noticing a difference.  

How to Eat to Manage Stress and the Adrenal Glands

Chronic stress is a major culprit in the lives of New Yorkers, contributing to ongoing cycles of fatigue, poor nutrition, waves of exhaustion, mood swings, and hormonal imbalance. When I ask my patients what they think is the reason for their symptoms, their answers have one common thread: too much responsibility that is impossible to manage. Trying to help themselves through each day, many people find themselves overloading on caffeine, sugary or salty snacks, alcohol, and even sleep aids to manage stress, all of which can disrupt our body’s normal rhythms.

Research shows that when we experience chronic stress, our adrenal glands, or the tiny glands that moderate the stress response as well as regulate other hormones, will suffer. The adrenals, which are the size of walnuts, have an enormous job. They produce many hormones that regulate our body’s functioning, including cortisol, a hormone activated when our stress levels rise, signaling our body to enter a heightened state of emergency. But high cortisol levels are intended to be short term, not remain elevated.

When our cortisol levels stay elevated, people feel like they are stuck in the 'fight or flight' response and it interferes with many functions in our body, including immune function, digestion, sleep, and even the ability to produce other essential hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid hormones. This can lead to high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess abdominal fat, and inflammation. In the meantime, our health is compromised, along with our moods, and even our sex drive.

When the adrenal glands continue to be compromised long term, they have a decreased ability to produce cortisol, and instead produce extra adrenaline, causing us to feel irritable, shaky, lightheaded, and anxious. Adrenal fatigue is a syndrome that can, over time, cause low blood pressure, allergies, and pure exhaustion.

These issues, although very concerning, can also be relieved when adrenal dysfunction is healed. And the good news is, it can be healed. Along with decreasing chronic stress, adjusting our emotional responses to stressors, and changing what, when and how we eat, we can reverse adrenal fatigue. Let’s take a look at some of the dietary approaches we can utilize to not only support our adrenals, but also improve our energy and promote better sleep.

First: Time Your Meals and Snacks

When we go for long periods without food, our adrenal glands work hard to release more cortisol and adrenaline, to try to maintain the body’s normal functioning. When our blood sugar dips for extended periods, this creates a stress reaction, taxing the adrenals. It’s important to know that our body always needs energy, even when we are sleeping. Cortisol works to moderate blood sugar in between meals and at night, so regulating our cortisol levels by eating timely, healthy meals and snacks is key.

Cortisol levels begins to rise around 6 am, peaks around 8 am, and then throughout the day naturally rises and falls as needed. It tapers off at night, and reaches its lowest levels while we are sleeping.

Timing our meals, and how much we eat, can help regulate cortisol and its natural cycle. Eating larger meals earlier in the day naturally helps support cortisol levels, while eating smaller, lighter meals at the end of the day helps maintain hormonal balance.

Exercise will also increase cortisol levels, so enjoying lighter activities while trying to heal adrenal fatigue is important. To keep cortisol levels as smooth as possible, heavier exercise is recommended in the morning or early afternoon when cortisol is higher, and lighter exercise, such as walking or gentle stretching such as restorative yoga, is better in the evening.

The old adage about breakfast being the most important meal is actually true. Eating a nutritious breakfast that includes protein within an hour of rising will help balance your metabolism and cortisol throughout the entire day. But it’s hard to eat when we don’t feel hungry, even if we know it’s important.

Here are reasons we may not feel hungry in the morning:

1) Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) levels can dull the appetite when it enters the bloodstream at a fast rate first thing in the morning.

2) Decreased liver function can accompany adrenal fatigue, which also can quell morning hunger.

Here are some tips to help support your natural cortisol cycle:

-Eat breakfast within an hour of getting up, or by 8 am to restore blood sugar levels that were depleted during the night.
-Eat a healthy snack around 9 am.
-Try to eat lunch between 11 am and noon to prevent a large dip in cortisol levels.
-Eat a healthy snack between 2 and 3 pm to help off-set the natural cortisol dip that occurs around 3 or 4 pm. Many people notice this dip every day and reach for extra caffeine or carbohydrate-loaded snacks, which will actually impede hormonal balance.
-Try to eat dinner between 5 and 6 pm and although it may be difficult at first, try to eat a light meal. Eventually your body will enjoy digesting less food in the evening.
-Eat a nutritious, light snack around 9PM.

Stress and exhaustion, when combined with hunger, can impede our ability to make healthy choices. When we aren’t aware of the effects that too much caffeine and refined carbohydrates have on our bodies, we may not realize we are affecting our hormones and how they function, as well as our sleep patterns by consuming them.

In addition to cortisol levels, our serotonin may also be off balance, signaling our body to rest. That doesn’t always mean sleep — sometimes deep breathing or a 10-minute walk outdoors can help boost serotonin and ward off fatigue.

My patients are always surprised when I tell them to give in to their cravings of salt during periods of adrenal fatigue. Salt cravings in adrenal insufficiency are related to low levels of a steroid hormone called aldosterone. This hormone helps the body maintain salt and water as a way to help regulate blood pressure. When cortisol goes up, aldosterone goes down. Like cortisol, aldosterone fluctuates throughout the day, and is also influenced by stress. Chronically low levels of aldosterone can impact electrolyte balance, and sodium intake is one way to help correct this imbalance.

If you experience lightheadedness when you get out of bed in the morning, you may have low blood pressure. This is a common side effect of adrenal insufficiency, so adding good quality-salt, such as a pinch of Himilayan salt to your drinking water, could be helpful to manage those symptoms.

Vitamins and minerals are essential to restoring adrenal health, and supporting the entire endocrine system. Not only can they help the healing process, but they can provide extra nutrition to our cells, and support proper adrenal functioning every day. Here are some important ones.


Drenamin supports adrenal function and helps maintain emotional balance and energy production
Vitamins C, E and all the B vitamins help regulate stress hormones.
Magnesium provides energy to the adrenal glands.
Calcium and trace minerals including zinc, manganese, selenium, and iodine provide calming effects in the body.

Herbal support is also a consideration when treating adrenal fatigue. Adaptogens are herbs that actually adapt to the individual needs of your body, providing the additional essential support your adrenals need. Begin with the first two herbs listed below, along with B vitamins. If you do not notice improvement within a few weeks, be sure to consult with a naturopathic or functional medicine provider for evaluation and a program that evaluates your specific needs.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Eleuthero / Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Astragalus root (Astragalus membranaceus)
Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis)
Rhodiola rosea
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

It’s amazing to think that the adrenal glands have so much power over our functioning. When they are working properly they offer balance – providing us with energy when we require it, and helping us feel relaxed when it’s time to rest. The burden is great on our adrenals, and they can become impaired under the heels of long term stress. But we can make small choices that can dramatically impact their functioning for the better. With proper nutrition, exercise, relaxation, and sleep, our body’s natural rhythms will be supported. By reducing stress levels, our adrenal glands will work in harmony with us, and our energy and vitality will be renewed.