Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Adaptogen Study Confirms Importance in Stress Treatment

By Terryann Niemeyer

NO or Nitric Oxide can be considered one of the most important molecules in the body. Communication between cells in the body depend on Nitric Oxide for direction. Some of the busiest cells in the human body include immune system cells, blood cells, and brain cells.

It's been proven that many of the diseases associated with aging are caused by a Nitric Oxide deficiency. In fact, NO (nitric oxide) is so important that the organs in your body can't function without it. It prevents blood clots and atherosclerosis from developing, helps fight off infections, allows us to think clearly, and even keeps our blood pressure normal.

Nitric Oxide (NO) metabolites are substances that can help the body by balancing its chemistry or biochemistry with regards to Nitric Oxide. A study looking at Nitric Oxide activity was recently conducted on certain adaptogens and adaptogen formulas. The results of the study showed that some of these formulas contained natural forms of Nitric Oxide metabolites.

In the 1940s, a Russian scientist, Dr. Nicholai Lazarev, identified a few select plants out of the thousands studied, that he eventually called adaptogens. To be labeled an adaptogen, the plant or herb had to return the natural equilibrium of the body's internal processes. Many of these plants were found in some of coldest and harshest environments in the world.

Adaptogens are said to help the body fight stress, like that from anxiety, trauma, and fatigue. Dr. Lazarev said that they help increase the body's natural resistance. Specifically, Adaptogens recharge the adrenal glands, which are the body's important mechanism for responding to stress

Stress, poor nutrition, and pollution can all steal our Nitric Oxide. As we grow older, it becomes harder for our body to produce Nitric Oxide. Eating right, sufficient sleep, and being active, all help our body by increasing our Nitric Oxide reserves.

There is a long list of ailments related to insufficient Nitric Oxide within the body. Elevated blood pressure, Alzheimers, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, are just a few.

Many diseases can be treated for and protected against by helping the body increase its levels of Nitric Oxide. It seems that patients respond favorably when we help them raise their levels of Nitric Oxide.

It makes sense that certain adaptogen formulas would activate a high amount of nitric oxide because research has revealed that most high-antioxidant foods nourish NO. Adaptogens can help us combat stress, a nitric oxide killer. They are an effective form of Stress Treatment .

The amount of NO in some adaptogen formulas has been shown to help protect against vascular inflammation, reduce injury from a heart attack or stroke and restore NO homeostasis (a sense of balance) in animal models.

Individual adaptogens and adaptogen blends can usually be found at health food stores. Some of the blends that have been determined to be the most effective in the treatment of stress, actually have clinical studies to back them up.

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