cortisol Archives – Wild Lyons Wellness

Sugar + Carbs are not causing (insert symptoms or disease here). So what is?

“Laura my blood sugar spikes after eating. I must be insulin resistant, I need to eliminate carbs”

Whoever decided that we needed to keep our blood sugar as low as possible literally has no idea how the body works. Your blood sugar going up after a meal is NORMAL. Shocking I know. We are fearing a natural, healthy response to food.

A genius idea…

How about we supply the body what it needs often and keep it steady throughout the entire day to prevent the blood sugar rollercoaster and stress response?

For as long as I can remember we have been blaming sugar and carbs for every health ailment known to man. How many times have you been told to “just eliminate carbs”

Let me ask you.

How can something be so detrimental to our health when it is what our bodies, our cells, require to function optimally? Really, think about it. Our bodies preferred + optimal source of fuel is glucose (sugar).

It’s all about consuming the right types of sugar + limiting PUFAs.

Hear me out.

PUFAs in your bloodstream compete with sugar + block your cells from being able to metabolize your blood sugar.

When we are no longer giving our body it’s preferred source of fuel, our body begins to release stress hormones to keep you alive + prevent your blood sugar from dropping too low.

First the rise of adrenaline triggers stored PUFAs to be released into your blood stream which then prevents your body from being able to use sugar promoting insulin resistance of the cell + cell death.

Then as cortisol rises + protein breaks down + glucose surges + it is blocked from entering your cells + then this causes more adrenaline to rise, which leads to more insulin resistance + more cell death.

It’s the stored PUFA, released by stress or hunger, that slow metabolism and cause your insulin “resistance,” carb intolerance or diabetes.

You are not addicted to sugar, your body is probably just craving nourishment from over-consumption of PUFAs that have been starving your cells of glucose.

Short term you may eliminate carbs + feel great (bandaid) until you don’t and your metabolism tanks, your thyroid sucks, your liver isn’t functioning, your digestion is terrible, + your hormones are wack.

Ready to join a community of like-minded women ending the war on their bodies and breaking free from diet culture? Ready to finally balance your hormones, understand your body, and become your own health advocate? Ready for unfiltered and uncensored wellness talks? Then you’re in the right place! Click here to learn more + enroll.

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But First, Breakfast

Alright all you matcha drinking, coffee demonizing influencers. I am sure at one point you have been told that coffee is bad for you.

And at another point were told to drink your coffee with some nutrient-void nut juice or black on an empty stomach to boost metabolism.

The controversy about coffee is wild and one of the most frequently asked questions I get.

“Can I drink coffee? Is it good for me?”

I don’t know. Can you?

Well I am happy to report, coffee is good for you. If done right.

Where can coffee drinking go wrong tho?

Coffee is only supportive AFTER a meal. On an empty stomach it will elicit a harmful stress response that then cause a blood sugar shit show and impacts your adrenals, hormones, metabolism and digestion.

Let’s take a look at how this plays out.

You have naturally fasted all night for 10-12 hours.

At this point your body needs fuel. I hear all you fasters. Yes, it does. You are not better than anyone for being able to skip breakfast. Give it some time girlfriend 😉

Fasting in and of itself is stressful and causes your adrenals to pump out stress hormones and cortisol. Your body thinks it’s in a famine, it is scrambling for resources to keep you alive the longer you wait to eat. A drop in blood sugar is the absolute biggest stressor on the body hands down.

Let’s add more fuel to the fire eh?

You now have that morning coffee on an empty stomach. Caffeine also causes cortisol to rise. You are now in a chronic stressed out cortisol risen state, depleting your body of minerals contributing to further stress on your system.

This is when the cascade of effects begin, your blood sugar is impacted, your adrenals are working over-time, your body can’t make hormones and your digestion can’t function because they are not priorities when trying to survive, and your metabolism is wrecked.

You have now set yourself up to be riding the blood sugar rollercoaster all day.

Eating a balanced meal prior to coffee will put out the stressful blood sugar fire and allow your body to view coffee as helpful rather than harmful.

Next time someone hands you a coffee first thing you know better and can now confidently say, “But first, breakfast.”

Stressed is desserts spelled backwards: How sugar is medicine for your hormones

Alright, who’s the asshole that decided to make sugar the bad guy? You fool.

Clearly these people do not understand basic physiology (especially female) and how sugar is utilized in the body or have any desire to help people understand WHY their cells are not using sugar well.

Sugar = energy baby!

And hold your horses. I’m not saying to go pound down a chocolate cake, box of cereal or a donut from costco. Not all sugar is created equal.

But I will tell ya, there is nothing wrong with you for wanting sugar, you are not a sugar addict.

Crave chocolate before your period? That is your bodies desire for magnesium and energy. See? Our bodies are so intelligent. Listen.

It’s funny how lost we get when the stress of life takes over. Funny, that is when we should be listening to our bodies and taking assessment the most.

As kids we always had bedtime snacks, we ate 3 meals a day and 2 snacks, we wanted sugar and comfort foods during times of stress.

Now we think we should get some badge of honor for skipping dessert, avoiding fruit and honey, fighting the urge to have that chocolate, skipping a snack before bed (even tho we are hungry).

A badge of honor for downright starving ourselves of what our bodies need. In the name of what? A society driven perfect body?

Over it.

Sugar is medicine if used appropriately.

As mary poppins would say, “A little bit of sugar helps the cortisol go down, helps the cortisol go down”

How To Actually Balance Your Hormones

I get it.

I’ve been told…

“Fasting is good for you + helps with weight loss + hormonal imbalances”

“Cruciferous veggies everyday will help with estrogen”

“Seed cycling is a great tool to regulate hormones”

“Plant based eating is necessary if you want to feel better, ditch red meat and dairy, it’s inflammatory”

“Low carb will help with your insulin resistance and weight loss goals”

“Work out as much as possible! Oh and make sure it’s fasted in the morning to burn what you ate the night prior”

“Maybe you should try eating 1200 calories a day, you will def lose weight and feel great”

WHAT DA FUCK.

After many trials + errors I realized none of this shit was working and if anything I felt worse. Who’s been there?

Animal foods are far superior to plant foods when it comes to nutrient density. Most plants are estrogenic, depleted of nutrients, heavy metal ridden and contain anti-nutrients. When it comes to hormonal health, it’s all about minerals and nutrients.

Low carb diets only make you more insulin resistant and does not fix the problem of why glucose can’t get into your cells in the first place. And nobody tells you after you are fed up with your unsustainable low carb diet and try to come out of it you will continue to be insulin resistant until you figure out WHY.

Seeds used in seed cycling (sunflower, flax, pumpkin) are PUFAs, they are already denatured by the time they get to store shelves, create oxidative stress + a toxic storm in your 98 degree body. Why in the F are we adding more fuel to the already estrogen dominant fire? Add some toxic makeup, skincare, cleaning products, etc.. and BOOM.

Fasting in the morning? Fasted workouts? Sure why not continue kindling that hormonal shit storm fire. Fasting as a woman + especially fasted workouts are extremely stressful on the body. What is the root cause to almost all hormonal woes? STRESS.

Cruciferous veggies! PILE THEM UP! 3x per day, docs orders! I’m totally down for thyroid induced coma!

1200 calories, sure I’l try it! Let’s see if I can get my already sluggish metabolism just a little bit more sluggish. I think that will solve my problems, but hey I’l be skinny!

Okay, you get the gist. ✌🏼

Your Mineral Status Determines Your Mental + Emotional Health

I know. I sound like a complete nut job.

But what if I told you your mineral levels, ratios + patterns reflect your thoughts, emotions, + behavior.

More often than not, when looking at a clients HTMA results I can determine exactly how their personality + mental health is simply based off their results before even speaking to them.

Minerals are the spark plugs of life. They give every cell in your body energy while also helping your body naturally detox. Minerals are required for every process in the body. Repeat that, REQUIRED FOR EVERY SINGLE PROCESS IN THE BODY.

And where do minerals come from? The food that we eat.

I’m not trying to be an asshole when I talk about superior foods over inferior foods but there is a reason for it. I want you to live your happiest life FULL of all the minerals you need to do so and some foods are just more nutrient dense than others. That’s fact.

The mind-body connection is real. The mind can heal itself of many emotional wounds when it receives what it needs nutritionally and when toxins are released from the brain.

The brain is a biochemical organ. A reduced level fo adaptive energy, high or low blood sugar, and all other stressors affect the brain much more than they affect the body.

High energy and high vitality = adequate mental activity.

If energy is low the body will suppress and block feelings, memories, perceptions, and mental activity.

Your vitality/energy level has an influence on your overall outlook to life.

What causes minerals imbalances, deficiencies and overload?
+ long-term stress
+ heavy metals + toxins
+ tap/well water
+ chemical-laden food supply
+ PUFAs
+ unhealthy lifestyle + eating habits
+ dieting (vegan, keto, etc..)
+ under-eating
+ eliminating foods groups
+ digestive dysfunction
+ supplements (especially vitamin D, ascorbic acid and zinc)

Are you coping with low energy? Eat girl, just fucking eat.

For those of you restricting for weight loss. I hate to break it to you but if you’re miserable AF to be around because your minerals are wack but you “look good” it might be time to re-evaluate.

A fed woman is a happy, stable woman.