Categories: Adrenals

Fasting and Adrenal Dysfunction

IN THIS EPISODE:

Fasting Isn’t “One Size Fits All”
It is essential to conduct a thorough assessment of your clients’ adrenal function before recommending any type of fasting. This includes evaluating symptoms, conducting a thorough health history, and lifestyle assessment, and examining hormone levels and cortisol patterns as needed. Adrenal dysfunction can manifest differently in each client, and an individualized approach is necessary to determine if fasting is appropriate and how it should be implemented.

How Fasting Affects Cortisol
Fasting can lead to an increase in cortisol production because the body perceives the lack of food as a stressor and activates the stress response, triggering the release of cortisol. The rise in cortisol helps mobilize stored energy from fat and muscle tissues to maintain blood glucose levels and meet the body’s energy demands. However, as the fasting period continues, cortisol levels tend to stabilize or even decrease. This response can be different for different people, so this is where it is important to know your client, ask the right questions, and listen to how your client feels.

The “Low and Slow” Approach
A gentle and gradual approach to fasting in patients with adrenal dysfunction can help assess our clients better. Sudden and drastic changes in eating patterns can place additional stress on the adrenal glands, potentially worsening the dysfunction. Starting with shorter fasting periods, such as intermittent fasting with a restricted eating window, and gradually increasing the fasting window can help the body adapt more effectively and reduce the risk of triggering adrenal imbalances.

RESOURCES:

Kyle Gray

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ReInvent Healthcare

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Ritamarie Loscalzo

Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo is a best-selling author and speaker known for her extensive knowledge, infectious energy, and inspirational message that encourages individuals to become their own best health advocate. She is an internationally recognized nutrition and health authority who specializes in using the wisdom of nature to restore hormone balance with a special emphasis on thyroid, adrenal and insulin imbalances. She founded the Institute of Nutritional Endocrinology to empower health and nutrition practitioners to get to the root cause of health concerns by using functional assessments and natural therapeutics to balance the endocrine system, the body's master controller.

Dr. Ritamarie is a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic with Certification in Acupuncture and is a Diplomat of the American Clinical Nutrition Board. She is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist with a Master’s in Human Nutrition, has completed a 2-year, 500-hour Herbal Medicine Program at David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies and has a master's degree in Computer Science, which contributes to her skills as an ace problem solver.