Green Goddess Dressing and ADRENAL FATIGUE

Do you crave salt? People with adrenal fatigue crave salt because they often have low blood pressure. The adrenal glands regulate water and mineral balance in our cells. Without adequate quality sodium intake, your blood pressure drops and your adrenal hormones suffer. The adrenal glands are one of the most important organs in your body, yet they are often over looked by the medical professionals. These tiny essential glands secrete sex hormones and stress-response hormones. Internal and external stressors (exercise, lack of sleep, family, work...) have a huge effect on the adrenals and therefore our hormonal (thyroid, progesterone, estrogen, etc.) output.

During stressful events, your adrenal glands secrete hormones that help you body respond to the stressors; increase blood sugar, rate of breathing, cellular metabolism and blood flow. They also produce cortisol (which everyone recognizes as the 'belly fat' hormone), but also estrogen (men produce estrogen from adrenals), testosterone, thyroid and many other hormones; all which regulate metabolism, immune system, reproductive, mineral balance and excretory functions.

Signs of adrenal fatigue:
1. Insomnia (you can fall asleep, but wake up many times throughout the night)
2. Lack of energy
3. Little stressors make you feel anxious
4. Low moods
5. Low blood pressure
6. Bad memory
7. Low libido
8. You lack interest in the things that you use to love
9. Reoccurring infections
10. Asthma or allergies
11. Need coffee or stimulants to give you energy
12. Hot flashes or PMS
13. Loss of menstrual cycle OR prolonged cycle

Elevated cortisol uses up tyrosine, an amino acid found in protein, which is essential for the thyroid gland to convert from t3 to t4 (the more active thyroid hormone).

If there is inadequate thyroid hormone, the adrenal glands are affected and if there is inadequate adrenal hormones, the thyroid doesn't function properly.

Your adrenal glands are your main stress adaptation glands. When you are over stressed and the adrenal glands are over worked, your body converts progesterone into adrenal hormones. This depletes you of
progesterone, which is our anti anxiety hormone. Low progesterone also is the leading cause of anxiety, insomnia and hot flashes.

Zinc is depleted with the use of birth control and high sucralose use. A zinc deficiency causes adrenal fatigue and pms because it is essential for thyroid function (not to mention salty cravings and desiring something sweet after meals).

1. Licorice Root: Is a plant based form of cortisol that helps your adrenals when you are extremely stressed and have run out of your "fight or flight" hormones. I like the product Licorice Plus.
2. Ashwangandha: Is also in the product Licorice Plus. It is known as Indian Ginseng. It helps improve stress tollerance, improve memory and immune function. Ashwangandha also decreases inflammation and helps decrease arthritis. Recent research shows that is helps hormone balance, which is extremely beneficial for my clients suffering from exhausted adrenals, low thyroid, or loss of menstrual cycle (due to stress).
3. Rhodiola: Helps with insomia that often comes along with adrenal fatigue. It is also proven to improve nerve and mental healthy by increasing blood supply and protein synthesis (remember the l-tyrosine we need for adrenals and thyroid!), which decreases fatigue, depression, hypertension and memory issues.
4. Schizandra: Is extremely common in Chinese medicine for restoration of our blood and liver function. It enhances cell turnover, which slows with aging. It is also used as an adaptogenic that counters the effects of insomnia, fatigue, memory and gastrointestinal distress (IBS).

POTASSIUM and Low Carb Diets

I just held another Maximize Your Metabolism presentation and I can't believe we had such a packed house again! You all are so wonderful! One question I had was, how do you get potassium if I don't recommend bananas or potatoes (especially if someone has high blood pressure!)?

Well, dried herbs have WAY more potassium without any of the sugar/starch. And in second place is the avocado!

My top choices for potassium are:
#1: Dried Herbs: Dried Chervil, Parsley, Basil, Dill, Tarragon, Ground Turmeric, Saffron, and Oregano!
 #2: Avocados
 #3: Paprika and Red Chili Powder
 #4: Cocoa Powder and Chocolate Dark chocolate (ChocoPerfection dark chocolate!)
 #5: Nuts: Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pine nuts, Coconuts and Walnuts.
 #6: Seeds (Pumpkin, Squash, Sunflower, and Flax)
 #7: Fish (Pompano, Salmon, Halibut, Tuna)

So try this recipe for a ton of potassium! Even better would be to add some fish to the salad!




"HEALTHIFIED" GREEN GODDESS DRESSING
1/2 cup avocado or organic mayo
 1/2 cup organic buttermilk or coconut milk (more if you desire a thinner dressing)
 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
 1/4 cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
 1 TBS chopped fresh tarragon
 1 TBS lemon juice
 2 anchovy fillets (drained, chopped)
 1 chopped garlic clove
 Celtic sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

 In a processor, purée the first 8 ingredients until smooth. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover and chill. Makes 1 1/4 cup.

 NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per 2 TBS) Traditional Dressing = 155 calories, 15g fat, 0.5g protein, 4.7g carbs, 0 fiber (4.7 effective carbs) ?Healthified? Avocado Dressing = 19 calories, 1.3g fat, 0.9g protein, 1.4g carbs, 0.5g fiber (0.9 effective carbs) ?Healthified? Mayo Dressing = 53 calories, 4.1g fat, 0.8g protein, 3.5g carbs, 0 fiber (3.5 effective carbs)

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