Calm Your Nerves Naturally: A Surprising Solution from Karen Hurd

Consider this scenario: You’re about to give an important speech. You feel your heart racing, your palms sweating, and your breath coming faster—all symptoms of adrenaline coursing through your veins. Or maybe you have to meet your boss, and you’re dreading the interaction, feeling that familiar tightness in your chest and the flutter of nerves.

Now imagine those feelings intensifying. Your chest tightens even more, and your heart pounds so hard it feels like it might leap out of your chest. Your hands are trembling, your mind feels like it’s spinning, and it’s almost impossible to focus. A lump forms in your throat, and you feel nauseated, maybe even dizzy.

When Adrenaline Takes Over: The Spiral into Panic

For some, this surge of adrenaline can spiral further into a full-blown panic attack. Your breath becomes shallow, and it feels like you can’t get enough air. The sense of dread is overwhelming, and you may even start to feel detached from reality—like you’re watching yourself from the outside. In extreme cases, this can lead to sweating, shaking, and an almost paralyzing fear that makes it difficult to move, speak, or even think clearly.

digestive system drawing overlayed on woman's body

The Hormone Behind the Symptoms

Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is the hormone behind these escalating symptoms. Paired with norepinephrine, it’s responsible for your body’s fight-or-flight response—a critical mechanism for survival. But when adrenaline floods your system excessively, it can wreak havoc, leading to persistent anxiety, panic attacks, and physical symptoms that feel impossible to escape.

A Surprising Solution to Soak Up Adrenaline

Karen Hurd, a renowned nutritionist and biochemist, offers a practical and surprising solution to these intense waves of adrenaline: beans. Yes, the humble bean. By eating a few spoonfuls of beans every 20 minutes, you can calm this hormonal storm. The soluble fiber in beans binds to excess adrenaline in your system, facilitating its removal and restoring a sense of calm.

How do beans soak up the excess adrenaline, you ask? Where does this magic happen? It’s all about the gut. Your liver works to remove excess hormones, including adrenaline, by packaging them into bile. This bile, loaded with hormones, is sent to the gut for elimination.

Here’s where beans come in: the soluble fiber in beans binds to the bile, capturing the excess adrenaline and ensuring it is safely escorted out of the body. It’s a simple yet powerful process that highlights just how transformative small dietary changes can be.

From Stage Fright to Spotlight: How Beans Help Performers Stay Calm

It may sound simple, but it works. Actors, speakers, and performers who’ve followed Karen’s advice report remarkable results. “I felt so calm,” they often say. “I could focus, perform, and even enjoy myself.”

If you’re familiar with the grip of adrenaline—whether it’s from a nerve-wracking event, ongoing stress, or panic-inducing moments—know that you’re not powerless. Sometimes, the simplest tools, like a spoonful of beans, can make a profound difference in calming your body.

Imagine how life would feel if you could remain calm in the stressful situations that inevitably arise. How would your experience of life change?