Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Keeping with the Rhythm

According to a study done in 2003, links between stress and weight gain were linked. The authors stated that over time the release of stress hormones, like cortisol, can do three major things to cause weight gain:

1. It excites the central nucleus of the amygdale, which is a major part of the emotional brain.
2. It magnifies our satisfaction from pleasurable or compulsive activities, such as EATING SUGAR  
    (which can actually act like a drug in some people).
3. It increases the amount of fat deposited in the abdomen.

#3 is the truest with women that have adrenal imbalance. I have been having this problem for so long, now I am starting to understand WHY I couldn’t drop weight like I use to.

OK! We now know that we can “heal” the adrenals by “light “exercises and by better eating habits. AND it is also important not to let ourselves get too hungry. Remember, my doctor had told me not to go 2 hours without eating when I first wake up in the mornings? Here’s why:

Low blood sugar by itself puts stress on our bodies and can tax our adrenals. Even as we sleep, our bodies constantly need energy. The primary adrenal hormone cortisol serves as a kind of moderator in making sure our blood sugars between meals, especially during the night, stays adequate. Long periods without food make the adrenals work harder by requiring them to release more cortisol to keep our bodies functioning normally.

It seems that cortisol has a natural cycle that works with our circadian rhythm.  Normally, it begins to rise around 6:00 AM and reaches its highest peak around 8:00 AM, then throughout the day it gradually declines, with small upward bumps at meal times, in preparation for nighttime rest. So it’s important to work with the natural cycle to avoid dramatic ups and downs. Eat the majority of foods earlier in the day, and eat an early dinner making it the lightest one of the day. The “night-eating” habit is due to the appetite-stimulating effects of residual cortisol, which unfortunately disturbs our hormone axis…So try to cut out that night time eating.

Giving our bodies the support it needs through natural rhythms by timing meals not only prevents dips in blood sugar, but also minimizes cortisol output and frees up our adrenals to perform their functions and gives us more sustained energy throughout the day!! And life becomes more enjoyable when we have the energy we need!!


  1. no wonder! i keep learning more and more after reading your post, thank you! i must say i often skipped breakfast and sometimes lunch even coz i dont feel that hungry in the morning after two cups of coffee (im sure that's bad too?) hehe and i always have big portion of dinner coz by then i feel like im starving! and had more snacks after dinner while watching tv, i know it's bad but crisps during a movie sounds nice hehe but no more, i've stopped that a week ago and now i start having a breakfast like cereal and lunch and cut down my portion on dinner...thanks again for sharing this, Brenda! xx susan

  2. You're welcome, Susan! I am like you; I keep learning more and more. If I hadn't been so exhausted in the first place, I might have never gone to the doctor or searched for any of the information!! I, too, am changing a lot of bad habits and HOPE that I can get my adrenals back in shape and help someone else along the way.
    Here's to your health,