What are adrenal hormones?
There are two small glands attached to the top of your kidneys, called adrenal glands. They are essential for life. When you feel physical or psychological stress, these glands release natural chemicals such as adrenaline, DHEA, and cortisol (called adrenal hormones) directly into your bloodstream. How do adrenal hormones affect my health? Adrenals have one of the highest blood flow rates of any tissue in the body–so the hormones they produce can trigger reactions in all parts of your body. One major adrenal hormone is cortisol–a powerful anti-inflammatory. Cortisol levels rise dramatically with stress, prolonging your body’s “fight or flight” response. If your body is producing too much or too little cortisol, you may experience a range of symptoms. See chart (left/below menu) What does DHEA Do? Another hormone produces by our adrenal glands, DHEA (dehydroepiandr-osterone) actually works to balance many of the effects of cortisol on your body, helping it cope with stress. In researc
