Wellness Carli Kilgore Wellness Carli Kilgore

Having Anxiety? Skip the Caffeine.

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This is the LAST thing people want to hear as a solution to any ailment. However, giving up caffeine or at least minimizing intake can drastically lower your anxiety.

Caffeine is anxiogenic, meaning, it induces anxiety. Drinking that double latte will ignite the wreckless “fight or flight” mode we all know so well by telling the adrenal glands to produce more norepinephrine and epinephrine aka adrenaline. It literally stimulates your nervous system (which may already be frail) leading to:

  • Jitters/Increased heart rate

  • Adrenal burnout

  • Insomnia (which can further increase anxiety)

  • Loose bowels

  • Diuresis + Dehydration

  • Moodiness/ Nervousness

  • and more

If any of these (and many more symptoms) plague you, then consider an easy morning swap! I encourage you all to try an energizing adaptogen blend (think rhodiola, cordyceps, eleuthero, or ginsing) if its that energy pop you are looking for! All of these and more can be found at Sun Potion.

What are coffee alternative to consider?

If you froth up some almond milk and add a touch of honey, these morning combinations will leave you never missing that coffee!

And for those of you who are not willing to give up the caffeine, try Matcha! This green tea powder can give you energy without the other negative side effects of caffeine and with its EGCG content, can help fight free radical damage! Just be careful, due to its caffeine content it can may induce anxiety.

Be well!

Carli

Carli created WELLNESS BY CARLI to combine her love of real food with her knowledge of functional medicine. These article are to share what she has learned to hopefully help you heal and feel your best!

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Wellness Carli Kilgore Wellness Carli Kilgore

Adaptogens: Why you need these now.

Adaptogens. Why you need these now.

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Do you experience?

  • Fatigue

  • Mood Imbalances (anxiety, depression, etc)

  • Lack of motivation

  • Lack of Focus

  • Low stamina/endurance

  • Compromised immune system (get sick often)

  • Digestive dysfunction (IBS-C, IBS-D, IBD, etc)

  • Hormonal imbalances

  • Dry Skin

  • Nutritional Deficiencies

  • Thinning Hair

If any of these (any many more symptoms) plague you, then you need to add some Adaptogens to your regimen.

What are adaptogens?

Adaptogens are herbs found in nature that help us adapt to Allostatis, this is the body’s effort to retain homeostatis under prolonged or chronic stress. Adaptogens are botanical interventions that have been used since ancient times to counteract physiological adaptations to the stress response. They support normalization of stress-induced biochemical changes and provide a safe intervention to regain health and balance. Adaptogens provide an elevated stress resistance.

Brief History of Adaptogens:

Adaptogens were first used around 3000 BCE for medicinal purposes by TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine,) and usually reserved for Chinese Royalty, Also used for Ayervada and later they were used by Vikings and Olympians, due to their ability to oxygenate the blood, increasing energy and stamina for battle and competition.

The term “adaptogen” was discovered in 1940s by a Russian toxicologist and referred to as a substance that “increases the state of non-specific resistance.” They quickly grew in popularity as they were discovered to support a healthy stress response and bolster stress resilience. 

What does this mean? I like to think of them as a personal stress thermostat. When your house gets warm, the thermostat makes and adjustment to cool the house down. When the house gets cold, warm air will blow---keeping a constant perfect 71 degrees. Like a thermostat, adaptogens give us what we need. They either lift us up (stimulating) or calm us down.

Why do we need Adaptogens now more than ever?

In 2011, a study showed that 75% of adults experience moderate to high levels of stress and that 54% of people are concerned for the amount of stress in their lives. Where do you think those numbers are today??

Without going into the full details of the Autonomic System (ANS), just know that psychological or physiological stress can have a harsh impact on our entire body leading to an overactive or under-active HPA Axis. Kind of like a domino effect, when individuals experience chronic stress—whether real or perceived, the body thinks its under attack. This level of stress leads to inflammation (which suppresses the immune system) and can easily progress into disease.

COMMON OVERACTIVE STRESS RESPONSE SYMPTOMS:

Easily irritated

Difficulty breathing

Agitation

Insomnia

Anxiety

Intolerant

Difficulty concentrating

 

COMMON UNDER-ACTIVE STRESS RESPONSE SYMPTOMS:

Fatigue

Poor appetite

Decrease Libido

Hypersomnia

Inflammation

Suicidal thoughts

Low self-esteem

So how do Adaptogens help??

Adaptogens support a healthy stress response and bolster stress resilience.  Different adaptogens share similar properties but they differ according to their individual organ system affinities and HPA axis effects. They also are opposite of “an ill for a pill’ as they each have numerous pharmacological effects and indications. Here are just a few things adaptogens provide us:

·      Beauty (hair, skin, nails support) + Longevity

·      Rich Source of B Vitamins

·      Anti-aging support (skin tonic)

·      Digestive support

·     “Chalcones” which stimulate nerve growth (Great for post-op or neuropathy from chemo or diabetes)

·      Can speed up wound healing

·      Supports spiritual well being

·      Can increase breast milk flow

·      Purifies the blood/detox support

  • Anti-depressant support

  • Memory Enhancement

·      Natural Thyroid Treatment (stimulates T3 and T4 production)

  • Helps increase “Natural Killer Cell” activity –aka beats pathogens and increases the immune system

·      Creates sense of calm

·      Suppress angiogenesis---the growth of tumor cells

·      Helps balance adrenaline (norepinephrine + epinephrine)

·      Indirectly liver support

·      Improved Blood Glucose Levels

·      Improved cholesterol levels

·      Stress reduction

·      Hormone balance

·      Can help with: asthma, arthritis, chronic fatigue, anemia, infertility, depression, and high blood pressure

So you can see why these can help just about everyone no matter what is ailing them. And just so you know: Adaptogens are just plants and are non toxic, so they are safe for every day use! Adaptogens also work best when taken consistently over time….so bring on the herbs!!

Carli

Carli created WELLNESS BY CARLI to combine her love of real food with her knowledge of functional medicine. These article are to share what she has learned to hopefully help you heal and feel your best!

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Stop believing that as we age, our energy levels have to decrease 🪫⁠ ⁠ If you’re dragging through the day despite doing all the “right” things—eating well, sleeping decent(ish), taking your supplements—it’s time t
Red light therapy? Spoiler: It’s not just a wellness trend 🚨⁠ ⁠ Red light therapy (or photobiomodulation) works by stimulating your mitochondria—the energy factories in your cells—to work more efficiently. That means better healing
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Peptides: the powerhouse tools you didn’t know your body was asking for.⁣⁠ ⁠ These short chains of amino acids act like tiny messengers in your body supporting everything from hormone balance to fat metabolism to inflammation control.⁣⁠ ⁣⁠ I us
⁠ Edit⁠ You don’t need a diagnosis to deserve support.⁠ ⁠ One of the biggest gaps in conventional medicine is the difference between normal and optimal. Traditional lab ranges are designed to catch disease — not dysfunction. But what abou
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Start, Learn, and Heal: Right From Home 🏠✨⁠ ⁠ You don’t need a plane ticket or an office visit to start healing.⁠ With my virtual workshops, you can begin your wellness journey wherever you are, on your own time, with expert support, and step-
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Chronic stress doesn’t just drain your energy — it alters your biology.⁠ ⁠ When your body stays in fight-or-flight mode, stress hormones like cortisol become dysregulated. Over time, this can:⁠ ✔ Disrupt gut integrity⁠ ✔ Alter how your im
GLPs are everywhere, but are you getting the support you really need?⁠ ⁠ Boutique clinics, social media influencers, and online providers are pushing GLP-1 prescriptions like candy right now. Quick scripts, trendy promises, minimal follow-up.⁠ ⁠ But
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Just because it’s on the shelf (or in your Amazon cart) doesn’t mean it’s safe, effective, or even what it says it is.⁠ ⁠ Here’s the reality: supplements are not well-regulated. Many brands skip quality control, contain filler
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