Common Symptoms

Female hormone imbalances such as abnormal estrogen or progesterone levels can contribute to acne. In the digestive system, food sensitivities are implicated in skin conditions. An overworked liver cannot properly process toxins from poor diet, environmental exposure, or from the digestive tract, and this toxic build up can manifest as acne or skin rashes as toxins are excreted through the skin.

The most important regulators of your immune system are your stress hormones. Chronic stress weakens your immune response, making you more susceptible to frequent sickness and allergies. The majority of your immune system is in and around your digestive tract, so any disruption in digestive function will weaken immunity. In addition, having many food allergies is a sign that the integrity of your digestive tract could be severely compromised, meaning that food particles “leak” into your bloodstream and are attacked by the body. This chronic stress causes the immune system to work overtime and leads to excessive adrenal hormone production and eventually, exhaustion. Allergies are a well-known side effect of liver toxicity. In the detoxification system, if your liver is overburdened from processing toxins it can become unable to process antigen-antibody complexes. As antigen-antibody complexes that build up, allergies develop as a result.

Chronic stress causes your adrenal glands, which are charged with producing hormones to help you adapt to stress, to burn out. With exhausted adrenal glands that can no longer help you adapt to stress, you may experience anxiety, panic attacks, or a decreased ability to handle daily stress. Stress hormones also regulate the cells that line the digestive tract. An increase in these hormones decreases the integrity of this intestinal lining, resulting in digestive problems. Under chronic stress, in fight or flight mode, our normal capability for clearing the body of toxins is diminished. In survival mode, the liver’s detox enzyme pathways become clogged, resulting in a systemic build-up of toxins.

Bloating can result from food sensitivities, which tax the immune system, affecting adrenal hormone production. When you consume foods to which you are sensitive, the immune system sees them as foreign invader and attacks the food particles. This chronic stress affects adrenal hormone production. In the digestive system, food sensitivities and intolerance and parasitic infections can weaken the integrity of the intestinal lining, causing bloating and a number of other digestive symptoms. In the detoxification system, chemical toxicity may cause the body to hold excessive fluid in an attempt to buffer the harmful effects of these harmful substances. This results in weight gain due to bloating and fluid retention.

Excess stress hormones and low thyroid hormones can contribute to brittle or thinning hair and nails. Improper absorption or breakdown of proteins in your digestive system means you do not have the raw materials to generate healthy hair and nails, causing lackluster locks. Liver toxicity can also affect hair and nail health, leading to dullness or brittleness.

Low levels of adrenal and thyroid hormones can cause constipation, as can some female hormone imbalances. Food intolerances, infections of the digestive tract, and pathogenic overgrowth cause constipation, and these issues then tax the adrenal system. When the digestive lining is inflamed, digestion is compromised, and sluggish digestion leads to constipation. In the detoxification system, a congested liver due to poor diet and exposure to toxic substances means insufficient bile flow that contributes to constipation.

High cortisol contributes to unstable blood sugar levels, causing spikes and dips throughout the day. Blood sugar crashes can leave you fatigued, irritable and craving more sugar or carbohydrates. In the digestive system, food sensitivities lead to food cravings, since we often crave the foods to which we are sensitive due to the pleasurable endorphin release that occurs when the offending food is consumed. A toxic liver is not able to appropriately process hormones that regulate blood sugar and the female cycle, leading to daily cravings or craving at a certain time of the month, typically for chocolate!

Frequently depression is related to adrenal or sex hormone imbalances. Lower than normal levels of DHEA, cortisol, testosterone, estrogen or progesterone will trigger a biochemically-induced depression. Hormonal imbalances cause immune suppression, which opens the door to chronic infections. In the digestive system, one of the well-established side effects of food intolerances and food allergies is depression. Inefficient protein digestion deprives the body of amino acids needed to manufacture key neurotransmitters. In the detoxification system, the inability to eliminate harmful chemicals or heavy metals from body tissues allows these toxins to build up to harmful levels. Many of these substances, such as mercury, have an affinity to and easily penetrate brain tissue. Build-up of heavy metals damages brain cells and can cause depression.

Diarrhea is a common side effect of stress in the early stages of adrenal fatigue, when high cortisol levels contribute to a wired and stressed feeling. In the digestive tract, diarrhea, acute or recurring, can signify the presence of a parasitic infection. When overburdened with toxic chemicals and heavy metals the detoxification system can attempt to dump waste products through excessively loose stools

Spacey thinking or difficulty concentrating is a sign of adrenal fatigue. In the digestive system, food sensitivities and an overgrowth of yeast can cause foggy thinking or concentration problems as toxins travel from the digestive tract, to the blood and to the brain. If your detoxification system is overwhelmed or burdened by an overload of toxins, sustained concentration or focus may be difficult as many toxins have an affinity for the fat tissue the surrounds and protects the brain and nervous system. If these toxins penetrate into nervous system tissue, focus and concentration suffer.

Low cortisol and thyroid hormones can cause dry skin. In the digestive system, improper absorption of essential fatty acids and proteins from diet can cause dry and dull skin and can affect the skin’s ability to regenerate. The skin is a major organ of detoxification and with an excess toxic burden people can experience areas of dry or irritated skin.

Fatigue can be related to food sensitivities, hormonal imbalances, blood sugar problems, and underlying infections in the digestive tract. Adrenal and thyroid hormones regulate energy levels, and when these levels drop, fatigue results. In the digestive system, food sensitivities and unstable blood sugar due to the over consumption of carbohydrates and sweets contribute to fatigue. Chronic, undetected low-grade infections in the digestive tract that weaken immune function and contribute to low cortisol levels are a leading cause of fatigue because the body is constantly fighting the infection. In the detoxification system, the inability to eliminate heavy metals and chemicals stored in the body can contribute to fatigue.

Gas can result from food sensitivities that tax the immune system, affecting adrenal hormone production. When you consume foods to which you are sensitive, the immune system sees them as foreign invaders and attacks the food particles. This chronic stress affects adrenal hormone levels. Infections in the digestive tract cause dysbiosis and low stomach acid, leading to compromised digestion. When food is not properly broken down, it may putrify and cause gas and bloating. Protein putrifaction leads to the release of approximately 33 known carcinogenic compounds into the bloodstream. These toxic compounds then need to be eliminated from the body, putting a large burden on the liver.

Headaches can stem from blood sugar irregularities and abnormal stress hormone levels as well as from female hormone imbalance. Low progesterone can cause frequent or cyclical headaches. In the digestive system, food allergies or intolerances to gluten, soy, or dairy are chief culprits in causing headaches as the body’s allergy response is triggered. When your liver becomes overworked and congested, the body’s detoxification pathways are compromised, and this backup of toxins in the body can cause recurrent headaches.

Insufficient stomach acid production leads to undigested protein sitting in the stomach. This undigested protein putrifies, or rots, and releases organic acids that contribute to heartburn. Evaluating and correcting stress hormones through diet, lifestyle changes, stress management and supplement programs can restore normal stomach acid production. Food intolerances to gluten and cow’s milk can trigger heartburn. Overeating, lying down after large meals, and emotional stress can all lead to an improper function of the valve between the stomach and esophagus. Incomplete closing of that valve will lead to the symptoms of heartburn as the contents of the stomach come in contact with the delicate tissue of the esophagus. Many toxins in the body are eliminated through bile which travels through the gallbladder. With sluggish or overly viscous bile backing up in the liver/gallbladder system, heartburn and indigestion and a metallic taste in the mouth can result.

Cortisol has anti-inflammatory properties and therefore problems with this hormone lead to uncontrolled inflammation and joint pain. The inability to absorb sulfur containing compounds from cruciferous vegetables leads to a weakening of joint and cartilage tissue that can result in joint pain and instability. Liver toxicity eventually leads to uncontrolled free radicals which generate tissue damage and inflammation, leading to joint pain and swelling.

High levels of the hormone cortisol literally “fry” brain cells, destroying them and contributing to memory problems. The inability to digest and absorb nutrients that produce our brain’s neurotransmitters can also lead to memory problems. Toxic heavy metals such as lead and mercury have an affinity for nervous system tissue and can negatively impact memory retention.

Adrenal hormone imbalance that underlies proper female hormone production can cause menstrual irregularities. Low progesterone levels can cause amenorrhea, irregular cycles, PCOS, and endometriosis. Chronic infections in the digestive tract weaken immune function and cause abnormal adrenal hormone levels, and these hormones are the precursors to female hormones. The liver is the organ in the detoxification system that must metabolize hormones, and a congested liver due to diet, environment, or hormonal birth control can cause high circulating hormone levels and irregular cycles.

Dropping hormone levels contribute to migraines. Some women may experience migraines associated with their monthly cycles as estrogen levels suddenly drop, or low progesterone levels the week before your period may lead to migraines. Dropping estrogen and progesterone levels in peri-menopause can also cause migraines. The food allergy or sensitivity response in the digestive system can cause migraine headaches. In the detoxification system, heavy metal toxicity and overwhelmed detox pathways can cause migraines.

Female hormone imbalances may cause nausea. In the digestive system, nausea is a common side effect of a bacterial overgrowth and may also signify that you are consuming food to which you are sensitive or intolerant. When the body has an excessive burden of toxins the gallbladder and liver become backed up and can trigger nausea.

The responsibility for hormone production shifts from the ovaries to the adrenals during peri-menopause. Peri-menopausal symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes and insomnia interfere with the immune system’s critical repair work accomplished during the sleeping hours. Addressing your body’s digestion and assimilation is an important first step in hormone balancing. Infections in the digestive tract can tax the body’s immune system, leading to abnormal adrenal hormone levels. If our chief detoxification organ, the liver, is overworked, the normal breakdown of hormones fails to take place, a common underlying cause for hormonal problems. Women who experience poor reactions to taking birth control or using traditional hormone replacement therapy often have underlying toxic livers.

Adrenal hormone imbalance that underlies proper female hormone production is the leading cause of PMS. Low progesterone levels can lead to the bloating, headache, and irritability associated with PMS. Unstable blood sugar, over consumption of carbohydrates and sweets, poor digestive function, and food sensitivities all contribute to female hormone problems. Chronic undetected infections, particularly in the intestinal tract, weaken immune function, and are a leading cause of adrenal hormone and female hormone problems. In the detoxification system, women who have taken birth control or hormone replacement therapy have placed an extra burden on the liver detoxification pathways as the body tries to eliminate the hormones from an external source. Many women who react poorly to birth control or HRT or even natural hormone programs have liver detoxification issues.

In the early stages of adrenal fatigue, cortisol levels remain high during chronic stress. High cortisol levels, especially at night, interfere with sleep. Female hormone imbalances, such as low progesterone, and sudden drops in hormones during peri-menopause can lead to sleep disturbances. Parasites in the digestive system may be more active at night, causing a cortisol surge that can affect sleep. Impaired digestion also means you are not absorbing proteins that your body converts into neurotransmitters to foster normal sleep patterns. In your detoxification system, the liver is most active at night; if it is overworked and congested, sleep can be affected, especially between 1am and 3am.

Balancing the hormones that control blood sugar in your adrenal system is absolutely essential to losing weight and keeping it off in a healthy manner. The inability to digest and absorb nutrients leads to food cravings and overeating. Poor digestion means poor absorption of nutrients, causing cravings and over consumption until basic nutrient requirements for protein, fats, vitamins and minerals are met. Poor diet and digestive health can lead to yeast overgrowth, which can cause excessive consumption of carbohydrates and sweets. In the detoxification system, chemical toxicity may cause the body to hold excessive fluid in an attempt to buffer the adverse effects of these harmful substances. This results in weight gain due to bloating and fluid retention. Toxins also accumulate in fat tissue and the more toxic your body becomes, the more bodyfat you will accumulate.