Dr. Karla has furthered her education in the most current scientific breakthroughs in functional nutrition. We now offer even more testing including DNA testing along with saliva, urine & blood chemical testing. Using those test results Dr. Karla can help you restore balance to your body to feel your best.

Lose Weight, Gain Health

Dr. Karla Parkhurst D.C.

The crazy pace of life in today’s society can take a toll on our health.  Add to that the very stressful economic times we are living in and it is no surprise that stress related health problems are increasing.  The most common symptoms of stress are headaches, fatigue, muscle tension, loss of sleep, irritability and digestive trouble.  Chronic stress is also a major cause of weight gain.  Many studies continue to show us that we are growing around the waistline in America.  Managing your stress levels and ultimately the chemicals your body produces in response to stress can help you lose weight and gain health.

Chronic stress, whether physical or emotional, causes the release of many different chemicals in your body which are primarily secreted by the adrenal glands.  These glands are the stress handling glands. They produce a variety of hormones and neurotransmitters to help us handle the stress in our lives. Adrenal glands can become fatigued in response to long term stress; this then causes chemical imbalances that contribute directly to weight gain and increase cravings for foods that are high in sugar, salt and fat.

Cortisol and Epinephrine
Cortisol levels, which directly affect metabolism, are responsible for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels between meals and helping to break down fat when we exercise.  When we don’t have healthy levels of cortisol, we store fat instead of breaking it down.  This fat will end up primarily in the belly. Epinephrine, another stress chemical, is also required in breaking down fat. It is very difficult to lose weight without healthy amounts of both of these chemicals, which are the first line of defense for our bodies in stressful situations. Cortisol and epinephrine tend to become imbalanced first and for many people are the reason for weight gain in times of stress.

Cortisol also has a direct effect on healthy hormone levels in women.  Estrogen and progesterone balance is crucial for optimal metabolic rate. If a woman is in an estrogen dominant state, she will store more fat and actually diminish her amount of free thyroid hormones, which will further slow down her metabolism. Women can become estrogen dominant in many ways. Synthetic HRT and birth control pills as well as environmental exposure to estrogens found in food and other sources cause estrogen dominance.  Excess cortisol production can deplete progesterone levels and cause estrogen dominance.

Dopamine and Serotonin
Dopamine and Serotonin levels are almost always diminished in people who are dealing with long-term stress. These chemical imbalances are known by increased cravings; especially for carbohydrates. The body releases Serotonin in response to eating carbohydrates, which is where the term “comfort food” comes from. When Serotonin is released, we feel good. Dopamine is released in response to drinking alcohol, which also makes us feel good.  It is easy to see how low levels of these neurotransmitters can lead to weight gain.

Testing Hormone Levels
Fortunately, we now have the ability to test for the levels of these chemicals in the body, through saliva and urine testing.  If you are dealing with tired adrenal glands and you have been unable to successfully lose weight, there are solutions.  Once the chemical imbalances have been identified, we can naturally and safely rebalance them and get you on a path to healthy weight management and increased energy.  The process is simple and benefits can be felt in as little as 2-3 weeks. Healthy adrenal glands will improve the quality of your sleep, energy levels and mood as well as help you reach and maintain your ideal weight.

For more information attend our upcoming class on January 12, 2010  -
5 Secrets to Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle & Permanent Weight Loss, call us at 616.392.9500.