The Natural Way

When is a diet pill worth $145? What an attention grabber! In this fast paced world this question does cause one to pay attention for just a moment to the pitch that follows. The pitch is for weight loss made easy, with assurances that is not your fault for being 20, 30 or even more pounds overweight. The advertising goes on to talk about a hormone that is the culprit for weight gain, namely cortisol.

If you eat too much of over-processed comfort foods, then cortisol may be elevated in your system. Cortisol isn't from the comfort foods but is produced by glands in your body.

We produce cortisol as a way to stay hyper and on top of things, part of the flight and fight reaction we are hardwired to do. The problem with cortisol starts when we are stressed so often and for so long that we have no relaxation (sometimes called adrenal fatigue).

This is where reaching for cupcakes, chips and sweets come in. Sort of a tasty treat to soften stress. Weight gain follows. Chronically high cortisol harms our brain, immune and cardiovascular systems. It also throws off the delicate balance needed by our hormonal system.

DHEA is another hormone, but essential to our proper everyday health and functioning. Trouble is, DHEA plummets when cortisol levels increase. More stress, fatigue and disease follow.

DHEA supplements are available and useful, but I strongly suggest not using them until saliva or blood testing shows the need. If you supplement with hormones and you don't need to, then your body typically stops producing your natural ones... not good. Additionally, too much can be harmful as well. Fortunately, testing is easy, inexpensive and reliable.

Stress reduction is the key. Doing so without medicines is ideal, but may not be practical. Rhodiola as a supplement is very good, as is aswahganda combined with hoodia.

Other choices are ginseng, B-complex, vitamin C, alpha lipoic acid, phosphatidylserine and my favorite, Moducare, especially for those with allergies.

Of course, following a low glycemic index food plan emphasizing good fats and proper carbohydrates is always a good idea.