So, you think you know where your sexual hormones are produced? If you think it’s your ovaries and testicles doing all of the work, you’re wrong. Your adrenal glands are doing a lot of the work. That’s right; those glands that help give you your energy are also the ones responsible for sex drive. And that’s not all they are responsible for.
The adrenal glands release hormones like adrenaline, the hormone used to help give us short bursts of energy and to help us deal with stressful situations; hydrocortisone, also known as cortisol, controls the body's use of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates; and aldosterone which inhibits the level of sodium excreted into the urine, maintaining blood volume and blood pressure. The hormones the adrenal glands produce also help prevent severe allergic reactions and asthma attacks.
When you consume products containing caffeine and other stimulants like guarana (both found in many energy drinks), you are artificially stimulating your adrenal glands, causing them to become over-worked and eventually causing adrenal exhaustion. And to make matters worse, caffeine not only artificially stimulates the adrenal glands, but it also depletes the body of the nutrients it needs for proper adrenal function.
By consuming caffeine and other stimulants you are increasing your chances of a heart attack. Just two cans a day is enough to raise your blood pressure and heart rate. The thing is, if you are lacking energy there is an underlying cause. And coffee, energy drinks and other stimulants are actually making it worse. The key is knowing what feeds your adrenal glands and helps them to function properly so that you will have a higher energy level without artificial stimulation. You just need give your adrenal glands the nutrients they need to function properly so you don’t have low energy.
The nutrients your adrenals need for proper function are Potassium, pantothenic acid, vitamin C, Vitamin B 6, Zinc, and Magnesium. Trace minerals are also key in the proper function of all of the glands in your body. You can get these nutrients either through food, or by supplementing. One supplement you can take is NOW’s Green Phytofoods, the most complete green whole food supplement I have found. It feeds all of the glands of the body, helping you to obtain a high energy level and metabolism in a healthy and natural way.
If you would like to learn more about how your body works and what it needs, there will be a free seminar at Peter Gillham's Nutrition Center on January 23rd at 6:30 pm. Seating is limited, so call and reserve your seat today. 727-462-5770.