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The one thing nobody tells you could be the cause of your weight gain and fatigue
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Do you constantly feel run down and have a hard time losing weight? The problem could be different than you think. - photo by Kristina Tieken
Kristina Tieken
FamilyShare
Published: Jan 26, 2017, 3:50 AM
If you experience fatigue, difficulty concentrating, difficulty losing weight, anxiety or insomnia, you may be experiencing adrenal fatigue. Your adrenal glands can exhaust themselves when you are under high amounts of stress for a prolonged period of time and causes negative reactions through your whole body.

I had recently returned from China when I first experienced adrenal fatigue. My hair fell out in handfuls, I was constantly exhausted from insomnia, I gained weight with no dietary explanation and I had a difficult time remembering anything. I had no idea what was going on with my body! My sister finally came to my rescue and posed the idea of adrenal fatigue. After a year of healthy lifestyle changes, my adrenal glands returned to full health and I had energy again.

What is adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue can affect every single part of your body as your adrenals become depleted from overexertion. Your adrenal glands play a huge part in your body's stress response. They release adrenaline hormones and corticosteroids to help your digestion and immunity. Chronic stress can affect your bodys ability to rejuvenate from the constant physical, mental or emotional stress. According to this adrenal specialist, adrenal fatigue affects millions of people around the world.

What does adrenal fatigue feels like?

There is a lengthy list of symptoms for adrenal fatigue, but below are some of the most prevalent.

  • Excessive tiredness throughout the day
  • Trouble getting up in the morning even after sufficient sleep
  • No energy when doing small tasks
  • Craving salty snacks
  • Energetic in the evenings
  • Dizziness when standing or walking
  • Poor immunity
  • No tolerance of stress of feeling overwhelmed
  • Gaining weight and unable to lose it
  • Reduced sex drive
  • Heavy periods with random breaks during the cycle
  • Unable to retain or remember things
  • Unexplained hair loss
  • Muscle tension
What causes adrenal fatigue?

The specific causes of adrenal fatigue are endless, because everyone responds to stress differently, but below are some other causes.

  • Sleep deprivation
  • Excessive sugar or caffeine
  • Anger
  • Depression
  • Excessive exercise
  • Low blood sugar
  • Stressful experiences (financial hardships, work, relationships, death of a loved one, divorce, surgery, etc.)
  • Poor diet and lack of exercise
  • Exposure to environmental toxins and pollution
Is adrenal fatigue treatable?

You can heal your adrenal glands with simple lifestyle changes to help you gain your energy back and lose unwanted weight.

Here are some ideas:

  • Eat all meals (breakfast is a must)
  • Eat less sugar and more protein
  • Eat healthy fats like avocado, nuts and coconut
  • Avoid all caffeinated drinks to avoid your adrenals being stimulated to produce adrenaline
  • Stay hydrated (add a sea salt or lemon to help activate electrolyte production)
  • Incorporate superfoods into your diet like kefir
  • Take supplements (fish oil, magnesium, zinc and Vitamins B5, B12, C and D3)
Tips to keep those adrenals functioning:

In order to stay healthy and keep your adrenals functioning properly, try these lifestyle tips:

  • Sleep eight hours a night
  • Set a bedtime. Youll get better sleep if you go to bed before 10 p.m.
  • Minimize your stress load
  • Eat a well-balanced diet with little to no caffeine
  • Have some fun and take time for yourself
  • Exercise


The best way to avoid adrenal fatigue is to lead a healthy life. Pay constant attention to your bodys needs and you will keep your adrenal system strong and functioning well. .
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.