Guest: Nora Gedgaudas
Nora Gedgaudas — author of Rethinking Fatigue — stopped by the show to discuss what your adrenals are really telling you and what you can do about it.
Here are my notes:
2:53 – Only Nora could work on 4 or 5 books at once!
5:05 – What are your adrenals and why is cortisol important?
9:19 – How “self abuse” like heavy training schedules and burning the candle at both ends sends cortisol into overdrive.
10:58 – The natural cortisol rhythm — getting you out of bed in the morning and winding you down at night.
12:26 – The BEST test for assessing your cortisol rhythm and output. Plus, the problems with cortisol blood tests.
14:40 – Tired but wired: when cortisol loses its rhythm.
17:27 – Adrenal problems are just about NEVER glandular problems. There’s nothing wrong with the adrenals.
18:45 – Why your hippocampus is particularly vulnerable to elevated cortisol levels and how it leads to cortisol rhythm dysregulation, memory problems, senior moments, and depression.
22:26 – “If you’re taking standard adrenal supplements, it’s not going to do very much.”
25:38 – Your adrenals take orders from the brain. It’s the brain, not the adrenals!
31:50 – Specialized cells in your brain responsible for how much and how little cortisol your adrenals make … and how chronic infections can stimulate or dampen your adrenal output.
42:07 – Why a ketogenic diet is the best diet for adrenal dysfunction. 48:02 – The hidden forms of stress and how their depleting effects on your brain and nervous system.
50:54 – When people go on ketogenic diets, they still may see depressed cortisol on their Adrenal Stress Index (ASI) test.
53:53 – How to find a qualified practitioner to help you get to the root of your fatigue.
58:29 – Order Rethinking Fatigue HERE!
