Yep, I really did order myself up some ground up bovine adrenal glands, and yessiree Bob, I plan to start ingesting them today.
I’ve been struggling with some pretty significant physical fatigue issues in the past year, which have gotten notably worse lately. I’m having my thyroid tested on February 9, and I will be shocked if I am not found to be hypothyroid. As I have mentioned, I am also currently making some big changes in the way I eat, and last week I began taking a bunch of specific vitamins and supplements that I am told I may need.
However, Ye Olde Internetz informs me that many folks who are physically recovering from a prolonged, super high stress period of their lives (raising hand high) can also benefit from taking this disgusting sounding item that arrived today – cow adrenal glands in pill form.
So here goes nuthin’…
So have any of y’all ever taken a dessicated animal glandular supplement? What did you think? Did it help you as you hoped or was it a disappointment? Did you have any negative side effects? Do you still take it? I’d love to hear from any of you who have tried this weird type of supplement.
I used this and several other Standard Process supplements after a difficult birth and postpartum recovery because I was completely depleted and exhausted. I didn’t notice any improvement, but I also wasn’t able to make other lifestyle changes like more sleep and exercise, so who knows. I hope it works for you! The only supplement I really believe in is live probiotics (pills), the kind in the refrigerated section. Essential after any antibiotic use.
Hey Katie! I too suffer from adrenal fatigue. I’m gluten intolerant which means my thyroid has been comprimised from years of eating gluten. Since the adrenal gland works hand in hand with the thyroid mine got pretty well shot from years of abuse!
I’m currently under the care of a wonderful holistic doctor/herbalist names Susan Fiddler at Riverdell Herbs in Maryville. She has me taking the very same bovine adrenal you just ordered! However, a visit to her is what I suggest. Otherwise you may end up taking too little or too much of the adrenal supplement.
Good luck in your quest for health!
I hope this works for you, but as a medical professional I am extremely skeptical. I am not sure what is contained in the “dessicated adrenals”, and was unable to find an adequate description online.
My concerns are as follows: one, if they are suggesting that you are ingesting working hormones that the adrenals make, this is likely impossible for two reasons – as hormones are typically proteins, they would be denatured by the dessication process, rendering them unusable by the body. Second, when we consume food (or pills), the contents are broken down and absorbed in a multitude of ways. Proteins are broken down into small bits in the stomach by both acid and certain enzymes, and then further broken down into single (or small) amino acids in the small intestine. There is no mechanism for absorbing specific larger proteins or hormones, so they will either get broken down into parts (like any protein you eat) or get excreted as feces.
If the contents of the supplement are specific vitamins and minerals, I would guess that these are all part of a healthy balanced diet. I also would not be incredibly surprised if you have hypothyroidism (female, difficulty losing weight, fatigue), but it would be highly unlikely that anything was wrong with your adrenals, aside from possibly a prolonged period of stress leading to an overproduction of cortisol (one of the body’s stress hormones), which can ALSO lead to weight gain and fatigue. But the solution for that? Stress reduction.
I think you are probably equally well off with increasing your sleep, getting the recommended amount if exercising (are you still doing couch to five K? I fell off the bandwagon in November after a month of bronchitis), plenty of water, healthy diet, and limiting caffeine if possible.
Glad to hear you are going to see your PCP, I will be interested to hear what she suggests!
Actually, just thought of another thing that makes me question this – yes, the adrenals produce hormones, but they do not store them. The human body (and, I would also assume, the bovine body) is genius at making exactly what it needs in terms of hormones and enzymes at the time that it needs them. So while the mechanisms for making particular hormones exist in the adrenal glands (but for reasons I discussed in my previous comment, would not work after being dessicated and ingested), it is not a storage center for excess hormone.
I should also acknowledge that, while I love endocrinology, I am not an endocrinologist. Nor do I have any undying love for supplements. I find that well-performed controlled studies tend to find natural supplements to have little to no impact on health (with a few notable exceptions). I would be happy to do a quick survey of medical literature to see if there is any word on this….
I took powdered thyroid of some creature. Cow or maybe pig. It was recommended for me for PPD.
I took a wonderful supplement called Seriphos to support my adrenals. It helped me immensely. My ND did a saliva test to check my cortisol levels and discovered I needed the support. I hope your supplements help!
Is your doctor recommending taking this? I wouldn’t start anything new until you get your blood tests done as new medications or supplements could possibly alter your blood test results.
I’d second this. Do the blood tests *before* you change anything you think might affect it!
Well, who needs any kind of bovine supplement when G will shuck the “torn” for you?!
I will just put in that cutting back on carbs is very useful as you mention, and that Pritikin still works for me when I need to get back in control and drop a few. Of course Pritikin is big on carbs, but the good kind–fruit and veg–not the processed kind. Last year, when I dropped 30 pounds in an instant because of stress, I also developed a wicked good breakfast sandwich based solely on trying to stay nourished to teach ballet and not get sick. It has evolved into something rather more palatable now, and I still make one every morning–I eat half, and then have the other half with a bowl of brothy soup for lunch. HCB loves it so much he thinks it is marketable. I give you, Deb’s Amazing and Astounding Breakfast Sandwich: two slices of yummy, crusty, whole grain bread, which you will toast. On one slice you will spread hummus (Tomato Head–yum). Then you will add something green and leafy–maybe baby kale, or arugula, or even radicchio (because nutritionists tell us to “eat the rainbow”), or spinach–LOTs; a couple of thin slices of your favorite cheese; a bit of hot sauce or salsa if you wish; a slice of lean turkey; a sunny side up egg to which you have added extra egg whites for additional protein without additional fat; a slice of tomato when they are yummy and not wintry; and some sprouts. On the other slice of toast you will spread a little orange marmalade or other preserves that you are in love with, to add a bit of sweet to the savory. Slice it in half and put the other half in a ziploc for later. That is a lot of protein that will stay with you for a long time. You can also sprinkle your favorite herbs on one of the slices–I love dill and black pepper on mine.
Brava for you for taking charge; I know you will have success and continue to feel better.
I’d wait until after your physical and testing to start taking anything like this. Would also be careful of adding too many new things or changes at once, as it might make it difficult to determine what might be effective and is helping. Good luck.
Katie, please don’t take supplements recommended to you by people on the internet.
Firstly, you have not been diagnosed with anything yet — go to your doctor, have your tests, and find out what is wrong.
Not to scare you or anything, but when I was in my 20s and was exhausted, after stressful events, turned out my body was busy growing a cancerous tumor. But everyone was recommending one crazy treatment after another that did not help the underlying problem one iota. (The lesson was that in many cases, you cannot cure yourself, despite what the internet or a naturopath may say.)
Secondly, most supplements don’t work. Even vitamins. More and more research is revealing that what we don’t get from our food our lifestyle is not well absorbed by the body.
Thirdly, there are next to no regulations guaranteeing the quality of this stuff.
Fourthly, you should not be following a fad diet that eliminates a key food group — no wonder you are getting even more tired. It’s a lifestyle change — hie thee hence to Weight Watchers and stop the fad.
And finally, listen to Leslie.
In case you’re talking about the Atkins diet – to be fair, it does not eliminate a key food group (if you mean carbs; if you mean something else, then never mind; I’m not an Atkins expert.)
To me, it sounds like a nauseating diet plan because there’s way too much meat and fat for my taste. I hate to imagine the lead-in-my-stomach feeling (I don’t need to lose weight, so I’m not tempted to try it for that reason. Or any reason, really.)
I doubt that many nutritionists would disagree that Americans tend to eat way too much sugary/starchy food and way too little fiber.
I agree with Monika 100 percent.
You do really need to find a good doctor, maybe one who even specializes in adrenal fatigue. Get tested and go on their recommendations. While agree that just randomly taking supplements is not generally a good idea and doesn’t often benefit, under a doctor’s testing and supervision I have brought my Vit D and ferritin (stored iron) up. I was tested and found low, took the appropriate supplements and was subsequently retested. I have also taken (again, under a doctor’s testing and care) natural dessicated thyroid hormone for hypothyroidism (a condition which is as medically mismanaged as birth and breastfeeding).
And, let me give a very loud ringing endorsement for weight watchers! I wholeheartedly agree that no major food group should be eliminated unless medically indicated to do so.