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Viraclear EPS has been the subject of over 20 clinical studies involving more than 9,000 patients – including 3,900 children. Taken at the first sign of symptoms, ViraClear EPs 7630 has been clinically shown to speed recovery in a variety of conditions, including the common cold, sinusitis, and bronchitis.

You may look and act relatively normal with Adrenal Fatigue and may not have any obvious signs of physical illness, yet, you live with a general sense of unwellness, tiredness or “gray” feelings. People suffering from Adrenal Fatigue often have to use coffee, colas and other stimulants to get going in the morning and to prop themselves up during the day.

With each increment of reduction in Adrenal function, every organ and system in your body is more profoundly affected. Changes occur in your carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, fluid and electrolyte balance, heart and cardiovascular system, and even sex drive. Many other alterations take place at the biochemical and cellular levels in response to and to compensate for the decrease in Adrenal hormones that occurs with Adrenal Fatigue. Your body does its best to make up for under-functioning Adrenal glands, but it does so at a price.

The Adrenal Stress Index is a test of Adrenal function.

It can determine the functioning of the body’s stress gland. Each Adrenal gland is composed of two separate functional entities. The outer zone, or cortex, accounts for 80% to 90% of the gland, and secretes Adrenal steroids (Cortisol, DHEA(S) and Aldosterone). The inner zone, or medulla, comprises 10% to 20% of the gland and secretes the catecholamines adrenaline and nor-adrenaline. Cortisol, DHEA and adrenaline are the three main Adrenal stress hormones.

The Adrenal Rhythm & Its Importance

The human Adrenal gland does not secrete its steroid hormones at a constant level throughout the day. The hormones are actually released in a cycle with the highest value in the morning and the lowest value at night. This is easily understood by looking at Figure 1. This 24-hour cycle is called the circadian rhythm. An abnormal Adrenal rhythm can influence many functions of the body, some of which are listed below.

1. Energy production

Abnormal Adrenal function can alter the ability of cells to produce energy for activities of daily living. People who have a hard time rising in the morning or who suffer with a low energy level during the day often have abnormal Adrenal rhythms and poor blood sugar regulation.
The maintenance of a stable blood sugar level depends on food choice, lifestyle, Adrenal function and insulin activity. This panel measures stress hormones and insulin to help ferret out causes of fatigue, cravings and obesity.

2. Muscle & joint function

Abnormal Adrenal rhythms are known to compromise tissue healing. Reduced tissue repair and increased tissue breakdown can lead to muscle and joint breakdown with chronic pain.

3. Bone health

The Adrenal rhythm determines how well we build bone. If the night cortisol level is elevated and the morning level is too high, our bones do not rebuild well and we are more prone to the osteoporotic process. Stress is the enemy of the bones. In postmenopausal women, the effect of stress worsens due to the female hormone imbalances.

4. Immune health

Various immune cells (white blood cells) cycle in and out of the spleen and bone marrow for special conditioning and possible nourishment and instructions. This immune system trafficking follows the cortisol cycle. So, if the cycle is disrupted, especially at night, the immune system is adversely affected. Short and long-term stress is known to suppress the immune response on the surfaces of our body as in lungs, throat, urinary and intestinal tract. With the reduction in the surface antibody (called secretory IgA), the resistance to infection is reduced and allergic reactions are believed to increase.

5. Sleep quality

The ability to enter REM sleep cycles, i.e. regenerative sleep, is interrupted by high cortisol values at night and in the morning. Chronic lack of REM sleep can reduce the mental vitality and vigor of a person and induce depression.

6. Skin regeneration

Human skin regenerates mostly during the night. With higher night cortisol values, less skin regeneration takes place. So, a normal cortisol rhythm is essential for optimal skin health

7. Thyroid function

The level of Cortisol at the cell level controls thyroid hormone production. Quite often, hypothyroid symptoms such as fatigue and low body temperature are due to an Adrenal maladaptation.

Please call the office for more information on assessing your Adrenal function.

What does organic really mean? In order to label a food as organic, the grower or producer must follow certain standards. Organic farms and food manufacturers regularly undergo inspection to ensure that they are complaint with the USDA’s regulations on organic food. Organic food must be grown without the use of sewage sludge or synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. Irradiation is not permitted, nor is genetic modification. For organic dairy products and meat, the use of antibiotics and hormones is not permitted.

What are the benefits of buying organic foods?

One of the biggest reasons people choose organic foods is because of health considerations. Using organic foods can decrease the amounts of chemicals, pesticides, extra hormones, and antibiotics that you and your family are exposed to. Organic farming is also better for the environment. It reduces the number of chemicals that enter the water supply, does not result in the development of resistant pests, and is better for the topsoil.

What about the term “natural”?

If a label says the food is natural, does that mean it is organic? Natural does not mean organic, and it may not even mean healthy! There are no real requirements that manufacturers or farmers must meet in order to label their food as “natural”. This term is not regulated by the government, and so any manufacturer can use the word on its products. One example is the soda pop 7-UP. Although the 7-UP label says that 7-UP is “natural”, it still contains citric acid and high levels of sugar. Just because something says “natural” doesn’t mean it’s a healthy choice!

So, do you really have to buy everything organic? Not necessarily. Here’s why:

Some fruits and vegetables are especially high in pesticide and chemical content, while others are fairly low. Try to focus on buying the items that are higher in pesticide content organic, while buying less contaminated foods non-organic. Research shows that the highest content of PCBs or pesticides was found in dairy products, meat and fish, but the PCBs that were most toxic were found in vegetables. Some examples of fruits and vegetables that are high in pesticides are strawberries, apples, and spinach, while some that are lower are corn, bananas, and avocados. If you do eat highly contaminated produce, consider peeling it. Although some valuable nutrients and fiber will be lost through peeling, many surface chemicals will also be discarded. At the website of the Environmental Working Group, click on the Shopper’s Guide to find a wallet-sized shopping card and see a complete list of fruits and veggies and where they stand according to pesticide content.

As usual, our mothers were right!! I know, it sounds too slimy and smelly to be good for you. However, fish oil has more to offer than most people realize. Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are essential fatty acids (EFAs) that our bodies are unable to create on their own. Therefore, we must obtain EFAs from food. Most people do not get enough of these polyunsaturated fats from their diet. This is why supplementation with fish oils can be so important to our health. EPA and DHA play a key role in brain development, nervous system function, and eyesight.

They also play a protective role in the body, reducing the risk of developing high blood pressure, arthritis, cancers, and heart disease. In fact, a large amount of research on omega-3s has focused on their effects on heart disease. EPA and DHA are linked to lower triglyceride levels, decreasing one’s risk for atherosclerosis. These two fatty acids can also decrease inflammation in the body, improve immune function and promote skin, hair and nail health.

Recent clinical research has shown that not only the quantity of fat in the diet, but also the type of fat affects body weight and metabolism. Diets rich in omega-3 oils result in healthier body weight and metabolism as well as the best body composition in terms of fat/muscle ratio. In addition, fish oils act as strong antioxidants throughout the body and improve the oxygen delivery to cells thus improving aerobic performance. If purchasing fish oil, make sure it is from a reliable source, free of environmental contaminants (pesticides and heavy metals), and contains vitamin E to protect and preserve the oil. It is important to store your oil in a cool location, away from direct light.

Feel free to contact Dr. Riley Jones with any questions regarding information in this article.

- Patricia

- Maryellen, Weare, NH

- Annie

Dr. Jones and Naturopathic medicine sounded like an alternative that fit my desire not to be tied to phamaceutical “treatments”. I can’t say enough about Naturopathic medicine. With consideration for my whole physical and mental being, Dr. Jones worked with natural supplements to help me fight the inflammation that caused me to feel like an “ol’ lady”. PMR left me after 4 or 5 months. I continue to take suppplements that keep my immune system strong. Naturopathic medicine involves much more than the treatment of symptoms. Dr. Jones is going to get to the bottom of the problem—FOR SURE!

Thank you Dr. Jones. – Marie, Pembroke, NH