There is an epidemic of fatigue running rampant in our society. Every morning, hundreds of thousands of women wake up to find themselves exhausted, overwhelmed, and overstressed. Groggily turning off the alarm, they reach for coffee, soda, or some other promise of energy. They suffer through the day—irritable, on edge, forgetful, depressed, and craving sweets. And then, at night, they have trouble sleeping.
When functioning well, our adrenal glands support us in times of stress. With stress levels sky rocketing, adrenal burnout is becoming an invisible epidemic, affecting over 60% of the American population. It’s the primary cause of fatigue illnesses like chronic fatigue syndrome, mononucleosis, and EBV. Low blood sugar, hypoglycemia, and chronic allergies are often the result of exhausted adrenals. Even weight gain can be directly related to low adrenal function.
The adrenal glands are small, walnut sized glands that rest on top of the kidneys, responsible for producing vital hormones that keep us healthy. These small glands are compromised of the medulla, which secretes adrenaline and norepinephrine to help the body cope with stress by increasing metabolism, and the cortex, which maintains our body’s balance by regulating sugar metabolism as well as a complex array of steroid hormones.
There are common signs of adrenal exhaustion that you should be aware of. These include:
- Excessive sweating or perspiration from little activity
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Heart palpitations, anxiety spells followed by great fatigue
- Brittle, peeling nails or extremely dry skin
- Frequent unexplained moodiness
- Chronic heartburn or poor digestion
- Low energy and low sex drive
- Constantly craving salty foods
- Sweaty hands and feet
- Chronic infections (viral, yeast, fungal, bacterial)
- Premature aging
- Poor sleep from feeling tired but wired
- Muscle twitches
- Dizziness
- Light-headedness upon standing up from a seated position
If you suffer from three or more of these symptoms, it is important to address it. Adrenal dysfunction is almost entirely caused by a poor diet and a high stress lifestyle. Healthy adrenals are necessary for proper thyroid function and a healthy immune system.
There are some natural ways you can strengthen and support your adrenals.
- Plenty of rest is essential for strengthening the adrenal glands.
- Eat a clean diet high in nutrient-dense foods.
- Eliminate sugar and simple carbs. Eat whole grains instead.
- Replace alcohol and caffeine with fresh lemon water.
- Add potassium-rich foods to your diet like sea veggies, bananas, kiwis, and broccoli.
- Eliminate high sodium foods.
- Include Royal jelly daily. It is a super food that provides needed B vitamins.
- Get a massage to reduce stress and help clear adrenal pathways.
- Seek out a holistic health care practitioner for added support
