Have low metabolic energy?

Sometimes symptoms are conflicting — low or high blood pressure, depression or anxiety, stubborn weight gain or loss, very dry or oily hair and skin, and an over- or under-active immune system. But while symptoms vary, the root cause is lack of sufficient energy for proper bodily function, causing each body part to malfunction in its own special way.

by Julia Busch — 

A wide variety of seemingly unrelated symptoms — hair loss, forgetfulness, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep problems, slow healing, dulled senses, feeling cold and fatigued — can result from low metabolic energy (LME). Symptoms can include nonspecific aches, weak ligaments and bones, sexual dysfunction, numb hands and feet, pallor in light skin, darkening in dark skin, autoimmune problems or frequent infections, as well as skin, sinus, bladder, bowel and yeast problems.

Sometimes symptoms are conflicting — low or high blood pressure, depression or anxiety, stubborn weight gain or loss, very dry or oily hair and skin, and an over- or under-active immune system. But while symptoms vary, the root cause is lack of sufficient energy for proper bodily function, causing each body part to malfunction in its own special way.

“The underlying problem, however, is typically low thyroid or adrenal function, and usually both,” says Bruce Rind, N.D. “While adrenals help us manage stress and maintain stability, the thyroid turns on energy.”

When the thyroid is the only cause, one’s complexion is usually reddish and the outer eyebrows thin. In this condition, a person is sluggish, depressed, sleeps excessively, gains weight easily, tends toward high blood pressure and infects easily. On the other hand, if poor adrenal function is the problem, one is typically pale with full eyebrows, thin, anxious, easily startled, has insomnia, low blood pressure, allergies and auto-immune problems.

However, most LME individuals have both low thyroid and adrenal function with mixed symptoms. One telltale sign is easy weight gain, first to the abdomen or hips, which is very difficult to lose. And if both the thyroid and adrenals are weak, the adrenals must be repaired first.

To support your repair, avoid emotional stress (good or bad) — from overexuberance to horror movies and negative feelings. Also, avoid stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, diet pills, nicotine, etc. Eat more protein and non-vegetable fats. Supplement with amino acids. Limit carbs, especially sugars. Avoid food allergens such as wheat and dairy, even if you crave them. Rest more with a regular sleep schedule. Avoid overwork, over-exercise and sleep deprivation, all of which stress the adrenals.

Julia Busch is president of Anti-Aging Press, Inc., editor of the “So Young™” anti-aging holistic newsletter and author of 10 books. 800-SO-YOUNG, 

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 24, Number 5, October/November 2005.