Adrenal Fatigue is something you may or may not be able to determine you have without the guidance of a physician … and preferably a Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner.
Your adrenal glands are located above your kidneys and produce hormones that control your immune system, regulate your metabolic system and help maintain your blood pressure. Also they secrete cortisol (which is your stress hormone) and help to regulate your stress response in situations.
We Don’t Want to Consistently Live in Your Sympathetic Nervous System!
Consistently, being in a state of constant stress and living in your Sympathetic Nervous System (fight or flight mode) could definitely put havoc on your adrenal glands and cause them to just putter out. Consequently, they just aren’t able to keep up with the demand of producing the cortisol needed to handle the constant stress.
If you have the following symptoms, this could be a sign that you have overworked your adrenal glands and should get medical attention:
- Body aches and muscle weakness
- Exhaustion
- Depression
- Irritability
- Dizziness
- Brain Fog or poor concentration
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of weight
- Craving salt
- Low blood pressure
- Hypoglycemia
If you have a number of the above symptoms, it would be in your best interest to seek medical attention.
What are you to do if you are dealing with Adrenal Fatigue?
- Find a good Find a Functional Medicine Practitioner
- Eat healthy. Poor eating habits can deprive our bodies of the nutrition it needs to combat what the stress is depleting. Staying away from sugar, caffeine and processed foods is critical. Eating healthy fats (olive oil, avocados), protein and complex carbohydrates will benefit from having your blood sugar spike and drop throughout the day and will give you the necessary energy to help you get through your day.
Additionally, foods rich in Vitamins B, C, Zinc and Magnesium will help with Adrenal Fatigue.
- Moreover, managing Stress will be of utmost importance. If you don’t get your stress under control you could do permanent damage to your adrenal glands. Some of the ways to deal with the stress that comes upon you daily could be:
- Prayer and meditation
- Removing the issue from your life (if possible)
- Taking deep breaths and relaxing before responding to the stressful issue
- Using Essential Oils
- Journaling and writing about the issues at hand. Sort of a way to “get it off your chest.”
- Try not to obsess about the issue.
- Talk to a friend or loved one.
- Getting good/restorative sleep is also critical. When we lack good/restorative sleep we deal with brain fog, confusion, lack of motivation, etc. Getting good/restorative sleep detoxes our brain, replenishes our energy and gives our bodies a chance to heal. This is critical.
- While Exercise also helps to reduce the stress in your life. It’s doesn’t have to be totally sweat provoking exercising. Just going on a walk can help reduce the stress in your body, clear your mind and give you a chance to breath some fresh air.
- What’s more, taking herbal Supplements that are called adaptogens are also helpful. They can help your body respond to the daily stressors and/or influences. Some of those adaptogenic herbs would be:
- Holy Basil
- Ashwagandha
- Rhodiola
- Eleuthera
Something Else to Note
Additionally, even if you don’t believe your adrenals are overtaxed, following the above recommendations are scientifically proven ways to manage the stress in your life. Don’t let it get out of hand to cause major health issues.
So, getting on a plan and/or a program just might be what you need to begin dealing with this issue. I’m here to help you … encourage you … and get to you that place of peace, rest and energy in your life. Contact Me if you are ready to get started.
Your Spiritual Life and Health Coach … believing in you!