Something has the potential to really shift your health...
Hello and happy summer! We finally made it!
It's been a bit since I've sent a newsletter. I want to share something that is quite amazing, it has the potential to really shift your health and wellbeing in such a positive way.
Today, we're diving into the fascinating world of adrenal glands and how they influence your overall health. Additionally, we'll explore why saliva cortisol testing has emerged as a fantastic method to assess the state of these vital glands.
Understanding the Adrenal Glands: The adrenal glands, located on top of your kidneys, play a significant role in regulating numerous bodily functions.
These small, but mighty, endocrine glands, which I call your "shock absorbers" produce essential hormones that help control metabolism, stress response, immune function, blood pressure, and electrolyte balance. One of the crucial hormones released by the adrenal glands is cortisol, often referred to as the "stress hormone."
The Cortisol Connection: Cortisol has a profound impact on your body and helps you deal with stress, whether it's physical, mental, or emotional. In small bursts, cortisol aids in focusing your mind and boosting energy levels.
However, chronic stress can lead to prolonged cortisol release, which can disrupt various bodily functions and potentially result in adverse health effects.
The Importance of Assessing Adrenal Health: Understanding the state of your adrenal glands is crucial for maintaining optimal health and well-being.
When the adrenal glands become imbalanced, it can lead to conditions like adrenal fatigue or adrenal insufficiency. Symptoms may include chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, weight gain, weakened immune function, and hormonal imbalances.
Introducing Saliva Cortisol Testing: Traditionally, diagnosing adrenal gland disorders required blood or urine tests, which could only provide a snapshot of cortisol levels at a particular moment.
However, saliva cortisol testing has gained prominence as a more accurate and convenient method for evaluating adrenal function.
This test measures cortisol levels at multiple points throughout the day, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of your cortisol rhythm.
Benefits of Saliva Cortisol Testing:
- Hot flashes: This is a sudden feeling of warmth or heat that can be accompanied by sweating, flushing, and a rapid heartbeat.
- Non-Invasive: Saliva cortisol testing is a simple, painless, and non-invasive procedure. It involves collecting small saliva samples at specific times during the day, typically upon waking, mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and before bed.
- Comprehensive Evaluation: By measuring cortisol levels at various times, saliva testing provides a more comprehensive understanding of your adrenal gland function, including its diurnal rhythm (the natural fluctuation of cortisol levels throughout the day).
- Accurate and Reliable: Research suggests that saliva cortisol testing offers accurate results and correlates well with the free, bioavailable cortisol levels in the bloodstream.
- Personalized Treatment: The insights gained from saliva cortisol testing will give me insight into creating personalized treatment plans to address any imbalances or dysfunctions in the adrenal glands.
Take Charge of Your Adrenal Health: If you suspect adrenal imbalances or experience symptoms related to chronic stress I have attached a checklist for you to run through which may highlight some areas that you may want to pay attention to.
Adrenal Assessment ChecklistI work with the Diagnos Techs Lab, they run this Saliva Cortisol test as well as other functional health assessments.
FYI: You can use your HSA for this test.
If you are interested, send me a reply and I can get you started to correct these imbalances and start moving you into feeling so much better.
Have a fantastic summer!
My best,
Nancy
