When I read the book “Younger Next Year”, it suggested that I take a dietary supplement called Seriphos for adrenal support.  Since both my parents died from adrenal conditions–mom with diabetes and dad from pancreatic cancer, I worried that my family’s adrenal glands might be the weak link in our bodies.  So I bought a bottle and started taking Seriphos.

I noticed two changes after several weeks, though I didn’t connect either with Seriphos.  First, I slept well before Seriphos; but now I’m sleeping hard all through the night.  Second, I get so sleepy after lunch that I cannot hold my eyes open.  Otherwise, no change.  I finally ran out of the supplement.  Before purchasing another bottle, I decided to google it and learn more about it.   I’m glad I did.

By the way, Chuck has no trouble sleeping at all.  One morning I woke up and here is how he was sleeping.  I thought he was so sleepy the night before that he went to bed with his ball cap on.  I was thinking, “How did it stay on all night?  Did he not move?”   Turns out he got up early and then decided to go back to bed.  But I digress.

I found a very interesting article which really helped me fully understand what this supplement does. I also read up on its ingredients. For example, it contains magnesium.  Entitled “What to do if You Can’t Sleep” by Dr. Brian Foley, you can find it here.

Most importantly, though, it showed me that I had been taking Seriphos at the wrong time of the day.  I had been taking it early in the morning before eating breakfast.  The bottle said to take it daily with water 15 minutes before a meal.  I took it as soon as I woke up in the morning.   This article, though, says that I need to take it just before bedtime, and this timing is done for a reason that they explain very well.

I found that the  adrenal glands  are part of the sleep cycle, something I really didn’t understand.  The glands produce a hormone called cortisol which helps support our body’s circadian rhythm. In the morning our cortisol should be at it’s highest. This is what wakes you up and gets you going.

At noon the cortisol  level should drop somewhat. If the cortisol drops too much you will get that afternoon slump and feel like you want to take a nap; and this is why I was getting so sleepy in the afternoons.  I was taking Seriphos in the morning, which drove down my cortisol far too early in the day.

But back to the article.  It said that in the evening your cortisol level should drop slightly again and at bed time it should be at it’s lowest. This is so you feel tired and sleepy. I guess by this time all my cortisol was practically gone, so I slept really well.

To finish the cycle, the article said that during sleep the cortisol should gradually increase until it reaches its peak in the morning when it is time to get up.  It is this burst of cortisol that wakes us.

It seems that our circadian rhythm can get all “messed up” due to stress, work hours and staying up too late, like being on the computer or watching TV. It even said that worrying about things or drinking too much caffeine close to bed time can cause our cortisol levels to stay elevated.

Once the circadian rhythm is out of sink you will not be able to get into that deep healing/fat burning sleep.

So I’m buying another bottle, but I’ll take it in the evenings now.