How are you feeling right now? Happy? Sad? Energetic? Run down? No matter what you’re feeling at this moment, your hormones have a say in it. In fact, hormones run everything in your body. When they’re balanced and working properly, you feel at your best, and all your body systems are in sync. When they are not working properly, nothing is working properly, and you don’t feel well.
Stress affects your body in many different ways. Your endocrine system, the system that works with all your hormones, is one system that really takes a hit when you’re stressed. Let’s look at your endocrine system to see how oxidative stress (stress at the cellular level) affects its function.
How Your Hormones WorkWhile you were dozing off in chemistry class, your teacher was explaining how your body produces chemicals and uses them to control certain functions. The system that coordinates everything going on in your body is your endocrine system. It’s made up of hormones and glands that influence nearly every cell, organ and their corresponding functions. These hormones play a role in:

• Regulating mood
• Growing and developing cells, organs, systems, etc.
• Telling tissues how to function
• Monitoring metabolism
• Controlling sexual and reproductive functions

Think of the endocrine system as controlling body processes that happen slowly over time (growth and metabolism), while the nervous system controls functions that happen immediately (breathing and movement). But they work together to make sure your body is functioning properly.
A gland is a group of cells that selects materials from the blood, processes these materials, and uses them to produce hormones (chemical signals). Endocrine glands release more than 20 major hormones directly into the blood stream where they travel to body parts to make things happen. The major glands in the endocrine system include:

• Hypothalamus
• Pituitary
• Thyroid
• Parathyroid
• Adrenals
• Pineal
• Pancreas
• Reproductive (ovaries and testes)

Hormones are the chemical messengers secreted from the glands. They transfer information and instructions to the body. They are so specialized that even though many different types of hormones move through your body, each type only affects certain cells.
How Stress Affects Your HormonesAs most of us know, the higher our stress levels the more likely our mood suffers which can negatively impact several aspects of our lives including—diet, exercise, sleep and libido. But why?
If you remember from the Stress & Your Health blog post, the cells in your body work best when the environment surrounding them is kept constant. Stress (from either external or internal sources) disrupts the environment around the cells and, if not kept to a minimum, can challenge the body’s ability to correct the disruption. This places cells under stressed conditions (called “oxidative stress”) and interrupts their ability to function normally. Over time, cell malfunction leads to a disruption of entire body systems which impacts your ability to function normally.
When your endocrine system feels stressed from any source, physical or mental, it immediately starts the “fight-or-flight” response by making more adrenaline. These stressors can be any of the following:

• Injury or surgery of any kind
• Illness or infection
• Intense heat or cold
• Allergic response
• Mental stress
• Chronic pain

When these stressors hit, the body starts getting ready to react to danger. Unfortunately, your body thinks that the stress you may be facing involves being chased by a large, hungry animal. It reacts by:

• Increasing heart rate
• Constricting blood vessels
• Dilating the pupils
• Slowing less important bodily functions and moving those resources to other body functions
• Producing cortisol, the “stress” hormone

Cortisol production causes a whole cascade of hormone activity that starts to increase energy and help your body adapt. But if your body is constantly flooded with cortisol, it gets worn out by these continual chemical messages which, if not taken care of, can eventually disrupt normal body functions.
Increased cortisol can even lead to weight gain, especially around the mid-section. That’s because leptin and ghrelin, two hormones that affect appetite and food intake, are constantly directed to be in survival mode. Your body doesn’t know that you aren’t going to starve through a difficult winter, so it gets the signal to pack on the pounds to keep you healthy.


Boost Your Hormone FunctionMaking sure your hormones are functioning correctly leads to better overall physical and mental health. Here are some strategies to keep your endocrine system functioning at its best.

• Eat a healthful diet. Whole-food options such as leafy greens, veggies, fruits, whole grains, nuts, fish, and plant-based proteins can help keep your body operating optimally. Look for foods rich in antioxidants and fiber, and try to avoid foods that have been artificially altered with hormones.
• Limit sugar, alcohol, and excess caffeine. When consumed in excess, these substances can interrupt normal endocrine system function, especially adrenal gland function.
• Get plenty of rest. You need sleep to combat the stress that starts this whole cascade. Sleeping 7-8 hours per night also helps reset your endocrine system along with all your other body systems.
• Exercise—the right way for YOU. For some people who experience high levels of stress, high intensity training is just not the right thing—it can actually raise cortisol levels in certain people. Try yoga or walking, something a little more relaxing. On the other hand, for some people, running, kickboxing, or other high intensity workouts help them calm down. Pay attention to how you feel after your exercise routine and adjust if necessary.
• Get out in the sun! Vitamin D is good for your endocrine system, especially your thyroid hormones. The best way to get your body synthesizing this important vitamin is to get out in the sun for at least a few minutes every day.
• Take Protandim Nrf2 Synergizer – a dietary supplement that works to reduce the oxidative stress that stems from the stressors we encounter on a day-to-day basis. This unique product contains a blend of phytonutrients that stimulate a protein in your body called Nrf2. When activated, Nrf2 reduces oxidative stress by:
  • Removing toxins that cause cell damage
  • Cleaning up damaged cells
  • Improving cell function
  • Activating a protective response that defends against future stress

Guess what it would be if  I could give you just one action item that you can implement tomorrow to start creating a healthy future for yourselves and your loved ones!

That would be to replace your cold drinks with hot beverages, especially in the morning. Fire energy is one of the five elements in TCM, and is stored and needed for the furnace of our body - the heart, small intestines, glandular system and circulatory system. This energy is our vitality to get us up in the morning and keep us going. Just imagine you are trying to build a fire, what’s the worst thing you can do? Pour ice water on the fire! In the morning your body is trying to start the fire for the day, any cold drinks (no matter how healthy they might be –cold milk, juice or smoothie…) will destroy the fire, causing deficiency of the fire energy.

You might wonder whether it’s better to have cold drinks for lunch or dinner, which is what most Americans like to do. In TCM, every organ has its peak activity time. For example, between 11am-1pm lunch time is the time when the heart is the most active. Ice tea or other cold drinks during this time will cause damage to the heart. No wonder why heart disease is the #1 cause of death in America! Between 1-3pm is the time of small intestine which needs the fire energy for digestion and absorption. How many Americans have digestive issues? Between 7-11pm is the peak time for circulation, sex organs and glandular system such as thyroid and adrenals. Other organs impacted by fire energy include lungs, pancreas, spleen, stomach, liver, kidneys, large intestines, and bladder.

If you suffer from any fire-deficiency symptoms such as fatigue, adrenal exhaustion, nervousness, anxiety,  low thyroid, muddled thinking, insomnia, low sex drive, poor memory, indigestion, dry skin, low body temperature, poor circulation, heart problems, depression…then stop cold drinks! This one small change will bring big shifts in your health!

There are many species of yeast and fungi  and numerous types have positive benefits.  For example, yeast helps bread to  rise and triggers the fermentation process that allows brewers to make beer and  wine.  Like mushrooms, yeast microorganisms are a type of fungus.  They are an important part of the mix of organisms needed for soil health. 

Yeasts are also among the dozens of species of microorganisms that inhabit our intestines.  This blend of microbes is known collectively as the intestinal “microflora” and are critical to health.Under the right conditions, however, these normally friendly micro-organisms can multiply out of control and change from friendly allies to nasty little “beasts” that wreak havoc on our health. One yeast that can do this is a little creature called Candida albicans, or candida for short. When candida gets out of control, one develops candidiasis. Other species may also turn beastly, so we’re going to call the problem of excessive yeast in the body yeast overgrowth.

Yeast overgrowth undermines good health because yeast secrete toxins which weaken the body’s immune system. Obvious signs of yeast overgrowth include recurring vaginal yeast infections, thrush, athlete’s foot, nail fungus and jock itch, but yeast overgrowth can also be an underlying factor in chronic indigestion, asthma, allergies, chronic sinus congestion, skin problems like acne and general immune weakness.

Remember that it’s normal and natural to have some yeast growing in the intestines, as yeast is part of the natural balance of intestinal microflora.  However, when the yeast is out of balance and multiplying out of control, serious problems result.  

What Causes Yeast Overgrowth?

Typically, something upsets the natural balance of our intestinal microflora.  Specifically, there are friendly bacteria in the intestines that help keep yeasts in check, the most important of these being Lactobacillis bacteria.  Anything that destroys these bacteria will allow yeasts to grow unchecked.

It is becoming widely recognized that antibiotics upset the balance of the intestinal microflora by killing the
friendly bacteria, but antibiotics aren’t the only reason yeast can multiply out of control in people’s bodies.  Many other chemicals in our environment have negative effects on the intestinal flora.  These include alcohol, chlorinated drinking water, MSG, nitrates and sulfates.  Since yeasts feed on sugar, excess consumption of sugar also plays a role in yeast overgrowth.

Once the yeast is out of control, it secretes substances that weaken the integrity of the intestines (resulting in intestinal inflammation and leaky gut syndrome) and are absorbed into the blood stream, thereby weakening the immune system and causing us to crave more sugar.  It’s almost like the yeasts hijack the body and cause us to want to perpetuate the environment that sustains their existence.

However, you need to be aware that it's not just yeast that can mulitply out of control because of antibiotics and other chemicals and drugs, it's also bacteria.  An overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestines can cause similar problems to excessive yeast.  Fortunately, many of the therapies that work for yeast overgrowth also help to reduce bacterial overgrowth in the small intestines.  Thomas Easley and I did a webinar on this topic, which we are re-recording and will be offering for sale soon.

Anyway, if you do have a problem with yeast, here are the steps to correct it.


Step One: Modify the Diet to Stop Feeding the Yeast

The first and most important step in eliminating yeast overgrowth is to stop feeding the yeast beast. Yeast love
carbohydrates – especially simple sugars. So, to calm the raging yeast beast, limit his food supply!  This means eliminating all simple carbs, sugars and refined grains from the diet for a short period of time (usually 2-4 weeks).

Simple sugars include table sugar (or sucrose), glucose, fructose, corn syrup and even natural sugars like honey,
brown sugar and fruit juices. Refined grain products include, but are not limited to, white flour, white rice, corn chips and breakfast cereals. In order to successfully eliminate these foods from your diet, you’ll have to read labels carefully, as most prepackaged foods contain them.

It is also important to avoid alcohol because it is converted to sugar in the body. In fact, if your problem is severe, you may want to avoid even whole grains, fruits and starchy foods like potatoes for the first two weeks.

It’s also a good idea to avoid foods that contain yeast or mold, such as bread, beer, aged cheeses and so forth. Many experts also recommend avoiding pickled and fermented foods with vinegar. These foods don’t cause yeast overgrowth, but eliminating them for a period of time seems to help get yeast under control.

This diet may seem very restrictive, but it’s going to help you learn to eat healthier in general. Here’s what you should eat.

Have a 3-4 ounce portion of high quality protein at each meal, such as fish, poultry, red meat, eggs, plain yoghurt, nuts or legumes. Meat and dairy products should be organic, as animals raised in non-organic farms are often routinely fed antibiotics, which contribute to yeast overgrowth.

Fill the rest of your plate with low glycemic carbohydrates (non-starchy vegetables) such as green beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, beets, chard, celery, lettuce, radishes and cucumbers. Green foods are especially valuable. You can also eat low glycemic fruits, particularly berries like raspberries and blueberries. 

It is also important to include good fats in your diet. A particularly good fat for fighting candida is coconut oil because it contains a medium chain saturated fatty acid called caprylic acid that helps control yeast. Other good fats are organic butter, flax seed oil and olive oil.


Step Two: Use Anti-Fungal Agents to Reduce Yeast Overgrowth

Now that we’ve cut off the yeast beast’s food supply, we can knock it down using antifungal herbs and supplements. A convenient way to do this is with the Candida Clear Pack. This pack contains three anti-fungal agents, Pau D’Acro, Caprylic Acid Combination and Yeast Fungal Detox, which provide a three-pronged attack on the yeast beast.  Candida Clear also contains packets of Candida Cleanse Enzymes which should be taken between meals to biodegrade dead yeast cells and avoid “cleansing reactions.” Here’s a breakdown of the products in Candida Clear and what they do.


Pau D’Arco bark is one of the most valuable antifungal herbs. It not only reduces yeast overgrowth, it
also tones intestinal membranes and acts as a blood purifier to remove toxins and help clear skin conditions. Besides being part of the Candida Clear pack, Pau D’Arco is also available in capsules, extract and bulk form. Many people have successfully tamed yeast infections with Pau D’Arco alone. When using this herb by itself, one quart of tea or about 8-9 capsules per day is a good dose.


Yeast/Fungal Detox is a blend containing several herbs that reduce yeast overgrowth, including Pau D’Arco, garlic, oregano, and the antifungal compounds, sodium propionate and sorbic acid. It also contains echinacea, selenium and zinc, which help to rebuild the immune system. Yeast/Fungal Detox is available as a stand-alone
formula, as well as part of the Candida Clear pack. Suggested dose for Yeast/Fungal Detox is 1-2 capsules per day.


Caprylic Acid Combination is the third product in Candida Clear that helps to counteract yeast overgrowth. It
contains caprylic acid, a medium chain fatty acid found in coconut oil that is known to have antifungal and immune-enhancing qualities. Caprylic Acid Combination also contains elecampane and black walnut, two herbs known for their ability to combat intestinal parasites. It is also available as a separate product.


One of the problems associated with knocking down excess yeast in the intestinal tract is that their death results in cellular debris that can cause adverse reactions. To counteract this effect (often called a cleansing reaction) Candida Clear contains a pack of enzymes to be taken between meals. These enzymes digest the dead yeast and allow them to be destroyed without adverse effects. Without these enzymes, you have to take much
lower doses of the anti-fungal products to avoid these die-off cleansing reactions.


Step Three: Repopulate the Body with Friendly Bacteria (Probiotics)

The final step in taming the yeast beast is to repopulate the intestines with friendly bacteria or probiotics. Naturally
fermented foods such as yoghurt, raw sauerkraut and miso are good dietary sources of these friendly microbes to use when cleansing, but you’ll probably want to also take a probiotic supplement like Probiotic Eleven – a formula
containing eleven strains of friendly bacteria to help restore normal intestinal flora. Bifidophilus Flora Force is another good probiotic supplement.

Probiotics should always be taken after a round of antibiotics. They should also be taken regularly by anyone on
medications that disrupt and destroy friendly flora. For chronic yeast infections, probiotics can also be introduced into the vaginal area via a douche.