Hi there, thanks for letting me know!!! I checked and it works fine, it's not expired but it's on a forum. I guess a person has to join to see that file.
I have decided to copy and paste all the info instead. Here it is:
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Adrenal Malfunction and How to Improve It
© Copyright Bee Wilder May 28, 2006
Revised August 13, 2006 (minor correction)
What Your Adrenals Are and How They Function. . .
Excerpts from: “What You Should Know About Your Glands”, John Tintera, MD;
http://www.westonaprice.org/archive/tintera.html The adrenals are part of the endocrine system of glands which are the chemical "policemen" that regulate the functioning of our bodies and minds. Your body has two adrenal glands, called “adrenals” that rise somewhat like mushrooms, one from the top of each kidney. Your adrenals are part of the body’s endocrine system. The endocrine system is connected by the blood steam and it includes:
Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland (located in the head)
Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands (located in the neck)
Adrenal Glands (two glands located above the kidneys)
Endocrine Pancreas (located against the back wall of the abdomen near the stomach)
Gastrointestinal Hormones
Gonadal Hormones (the gonads are the primary reproductive organs; the testes in the male and the ovaries in the female)
Placental Hormones (formed in the lining of the uterus)
Other Endocrine Tissues and Hormones
The adrenal glands produce chemicals that maintain life, nothing less. These chemicals convert what we eat and drink from chemical substances which are useless to us, into substances which cause our bodies to function, grow and change, and provide the materials for necessary repairing and rebuilding.
Take steak, because it is rich in protein. But it is beef protein and as such does nothing for people. The body has to break it down chemically into basic amino acids. Then the body, through enzymatic reactions, has to put those acids together again, in other ways. The result is human protein which our bodies can use and have to have. Fats, minerals, and carbohydrates (sugars and starches) have to be individually constructed, too, from the materials contained in foods and drinks.
Now, we reach a most essential point; what goes in as alien proteins and fats* aren't exclusively converted into human proteins and fats. Among the end products are human carbohydrates which, having been " manufactured" after many chemical steps, is changed by two more steps into basic body sugar, glycogen, for storage, primarily in the liver and secondarily in muscle tissue, and by one more step into blood sugar, glucose.
*Alien proteins include fractionated amino acids, hydrolyzed protein, processed protein powders, etc., and alien fats includes all vegetable oils and fats, except olive oil, which includes margarine and oils and fats derived from such plants as canola (rape seed), soy, safflower, and corn.
Many of us rough up our adrenals with super refined carbohydrates. In the intestines these carbohydrates become glucose, which is absorbed into the blood where glucose is already in precise balance with oxygen.
This shoots up the blood sugar level. The balance is destroyed and the body is in crisis. Hormones pour from the adrenal casings and marshal every chemical resource for dealing with it. Most important is insulin from the endocrine "islets" of the pancreas. This hormone is concerned specifically with holding down blood sugar level, in "antagonism" to adrenal hormones concerned with keeping it up. All these chemical matters proceed at emergency pace, with a to-be-expected result. Going so fast it goes too far. The bottom drops out of the blood sugar level, and a second crisis comes out of the first.
Pancreatic "islets" have to be shut down. And so do some of the "departments" of the adrenal casings. But other adrenal hormones must be produced, to regulate the reversing of the chemical direction and get the blood sugar level up again.
Eating the highly refined carbohydrate (say, a candy bar) gave you a quick pickup, all right, while the added glucose was being absorbed into the blood. But this surge of energy was succeeded by a "letdown" feeling when the bottom dropped out of the blood sugar level. Until it was brought up again you were listless and tired; it required effort to move or even to think. Your poorly energized mind was vulnerable to suspicions, even to hallucinations. You could have been "all nerves" and your irritability, enormous. The severity of the crisis-followed-by-crisis depends upon the weight of the glucose overload.
After a number of years, the end results are damaged adrenals. They are whipped, not so much because they've been overworked, as because they've been made to jerk about out of balance (chemically speaking) so many, many times. The overall production of their many hormones is too low, and the amounts produced don't work like they should. This disturbed function is reflected all around the endocrine system.
When stress comes your way, you're likely to "go all to pieces" because you no longer have a healthy endocrine system to deal with it. And your day-to-day efficiency is very poor because you "never seem to get anything done."
All this is the extreme, of course. There are all degrees of rough treatment of the adrenals, and of the consequences of rough treatment. But it illustrates what I mean when I say it is quite possible to improve disposition, increase efficiency, and change personality for the better. The way to do it is to leave the highly refined, rapidly absorbable carbohydrates alone, and I mean cane and beet sugar in all forms and guises, all cereal flours which means breads, pies, cakes, spaghetti, macaroni, etc., all refined cereal products such as cold and hot breakfast cereals (except oatmeal), the quickly absorbable carbohydrate vegetables, potatoes, corn, and rice, all sweet "soft" drinks, and all alcoholic beverages.
The carbohydrates which keep the adrenals healthy are those which are slowly absorbed and are the bodily conversion products of proteins and fats and of green vegetables. Carbohydrates are absorbed more slowly when consumed with “good” fats.
Symptoms and Consequences of Malfunctioning Adrenals
From:
http://www.mercola.com/2000/aug/27/adrenals.htm • Low body temperature
• Weakness
• Unexplained hair loss
• Nervousness, anxiety & confusion
• Irritability & mental depression
• Hypoglycemia
• Inability to concentrate
• Excessive hunger
• Moments of confusion
• Indigestion
• Poor memory
• Feelings of frustration
• Alternating diarrhea and constipation
• Osteoporosis
• Light headedness
• Palpitations [heart fluttering]
• Dizziness that occurs upon standing
• Low blood pressure
• Insomnia
• PMS
• Craving for sweets
• Dry and thin skin
• Headaches
• Scanty perspiration
• Alcohol intolerance
What Affects Adrenal Function
Excerpts from:
http://www.westonaprice.org/askdoctor/steroids.html The hormones that our adrenals produce are all derived from our best friend – cholesterol*. Yes, cholesterol is the precursor to all the valuable adrenal hormones that help us deal with stress, inflammation and trauma, and that help our body heal.
*Cholesterol is a steroid (fat-soluble organic compound) lipid (fat), found in the cell membranes of all body tissues, and transported in the blood of all animals. Cholesterol plays a central role in many biochemical processes.
Therefore adrenal malfunction is a fat deficiency. So the first step is simple and logical: eat more fat, especially cholesterol-rich fats contained in animal meats, eggs, fish, especially butter, which also contain all of fat soluble vitamins A, D and E. The adrenals cannot make adrenal hormones out of cholesterol without vitamin A.
Second, our adrenals regulate sugar balance. You will make their job much easier if you don't eat any simple sugar and limit your total daily carbohydrate consumption. Read “Life Without Bread” by Wolfgang Lutz or The Optimal Diet at:
http://homodiet.netfirms.com to learn more about this.
Third, cut back on caffeine and caffeine-related substances (such as the bromine in tea) as much as possible. Caffeine works by stimulating the adrenals making them work doubly hard to produce "chill out" hormones.
Fourth, the two major nutrients the adrenals also need to do their job are vitamin B6 and vitamin C. B vitamins are highest in liver, and vitamin C is high in vegetables like broccoli and green peppers. There is much more vitamin C available from these vegetables than from any fruits.
The adrenal gland is the processor of stress in our bodies. It is there to help us adapt. When we become exhausted by life, on a mental or physical level, our adrenal glands often fail to keep up, and illness follows.
How to Help Your Adrenals
The most important way to help your adrenals is to eat a diet that is nutrient-rich and is high in animal meats, fish and eggs, and high in good fats, with a low-carb intake. The ratios of protein to fats to carbs are according to The Optimal Diet ratios (see articles in the Folder “Candida Diet”). “Good” fats are particularly important for adrenal function, as noted above.
Do not consume “alien proteins and fats” which clog up the endocrine system Alien proteins include fractionated amino acids, hydrolyzed protein, processed protein powders, etc., and alien fats are all vegetable oils and fats, except olive oil, which includes margarine and oils and fats derived from such plants as canola (rape seed), soy, safflower, and corn.
Do not consume caffeine, i.e. coffee, caffeinated tea, chocolate, soft drinks, etc.
Do not consume sugar, including fruit, and high-carb foods.
Eat liver at least twice a week to obtain enough B vitamins, and eat foods that are high in vitamin C, i.e. animal meats, broccoli, green peppers, greens, lemons, parsley, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, etc. Please see the Folder “Food Lists & Nutrient Contents” in our Files for a list of foods that contain vitamin C.
“Dry skin brushing” is a detoxifying method that can be done daily. It is very effective in stimulating and decongesting the lymphatic system, and helps the liver and adrenal glands function. It is a way to exercise the lymphatic system and get it flowing and moving properly. See the “Dry Skin Brushing” article on how to do it, and what kind of brush to buy.
Do rebounding exercises on a mini-trampoline at least twice a day.
Drink sea salt and lemon juice in water at least 6 times as day (1/4 teaspoon of a good ocean sea salt plus the juice of ½ of a fresh lemon in 6-8 ounces of water; three of them with meals to aid digestion.
Cup your hand and tap hard on the skin overlapping the adrenal glands for 2 minutes daily.
Stand in the shower with your back facing the spray, allowing it to beat down on your adrenals (just above your kidneys). Do 3 minutes of the hottest water you can stand, followed by 30 seconds of the coldest water, once daily.
Do reflexology: The reflex point is located 2 inches above and 1 inch to the right side of the belly button, and also 1 inch to the left side of the belly button. Rub these two points vigorously for 1 minute 3 times a week. These spots will probably be tender if the adrenals are malfunctioning.
Stimulate your thymus daily by thumping it every day – your thymus is located just behind your breast bone. Using your knuckles thump it 20 seconds per day (about 20 times). Thump it firmly but not too hard so it hurts.
Stay off medications containing cortisone and epinephrine. If you are taking them you need to wean yourself off of them gradually.
Get out in the sunshine. Sunlight striking on the skin makes vitamin D which helps malfunctioning adrenals. In order to achieve optimal levels of vitamin D, eighty-five percent of body surface needs exposure to prime midday sun. (About 100-200 IU of vitamin D is produced for each 5 percent of body surface exposed; we want 4,000 IUs per day.) Light skinned people need 10-20 minutes of exposure, while dark skinned people need 90-120 minutes.From the “Miracle of Vitamin D” -
http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/vitamindmiracle.html Get out in the fresh air and let fresh air circulate in your home. Air charged with “good” ions, called “negative ions”, is healing to the adrenals. This kind of air is abundant in the forest and mountains and at the seashore. Showers also provide these good ions.
Get plenty of sleep.
Decrease stresses in your life as much as possible. During stressful times lie down and relax. Place your hands on your forehead over your eyebrows. Stay like that for 10 minutes. It can be very calming.
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