Is Life Stressing You Out?

Contrary to what you see in many ads for weight-loss products, the stress hormone cortisol does not directly cause weight gain. But I just came across a convincing study showing that stress over long periods can trigger increased insulin. And too much insulin can lead to weight gain.

Remember that insulin is the hormone that regulates fat storage. And many of us tend to eat high-carb, sugary "comfort foods" when we’re stressed. Here’s a better way to deal with stress: Whenever you feel stressed, turn your conscious attention to your breathing.

At first, don’t try to alter your breathing in any way. Just observe it. Do that right now, while you’re reading this. Notice which muscles you are using. Notice the seamless transition from inhalation to exhalation. Feel it in every part of your body. This focus of your attention is therapeutic in itself.

Now, simply take a little longer to exhale. Slowly, smoothly, quietly blow out just a little more air. Feel the physical tension release, and you will forget all about the stress.

This is a source of great power in every sense of the word. Your muscles relax, then recharge. Your mind becomes still, then refocused. Your cortisol levels come down … and you are ready for the world again.

Make this a ritual. Just five minutes of focused breathing twice a day can make a remarkable difference.

Part 2

Last week, DR, a new patient in my clinic, told me she was feeling overwhelmed and had trouble focusing on her work. Her original doctor had given her anti-depressants, but she had come to me hoping for a better alternative.

You may not realize it, but stress and anxiety have a hormonal connection. And, indeed, when DR’s tests came back, her cortisol (stress hormone) levels were through the roof - and her DHEA barely registered.

I call DHEA the "anti-stress hormone." The most abundant product of the adrenal glands, it helps your body produce hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. You have a lot of those hormones when you’re young, but production dwindles with age. By the time you are 65 years old, you’ll only have about 10 percent of the DHEA you had when you were 20.

People with higher levels of DHEA experience:

It is important to get your DHEA levels checked. Your doctor can do this by performing a simple blood test. Youthful levels of DHEA for men range from 400 to 560. For women, levels range from 350 to 430.

After your levels have been checked, you can determine how much DHEA to take. I often use a starting dose of 10 mg daily. DHEA is absorbed well and can be taken at any time, but is best taken first thing in the morning in order to mimic the natural daily fluctuations in your body’s levels.

DHEA is becoming more popular as a supplement, and I regularly use DHEA therapy at my clinic to treat patients who suffer from lack of energy, depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

What’s more, DHEA is very affordable. Surf the Internet and do some comparison shopping. I recently found 300 capsules - at the 10 mg dose - for just $14.99.

[Ed. Note: Dr. Sears, a practicing physician and the author of The Doctor’s Heart Cure, is a leading authority on longevity, physical fitness, and heart health.]

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