Recommended Herbs For Adrenal Fatigue
Licorice is a good herb for adrenal support, and has been known to help the body adapt to sudden changes such as extreme stress. Licorice helps the body feel the effects of cortisol for longer periods, therefore reducing the strain on the adrenal glands.
Another herb that is a known adaptogenic and can help normalize adrenal function is Ashwaganda, commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine. This is very useful in addressing the insomnia that comes with adrenal fatigue.
The Adrenal Fatigue Diet Plan
The foods you eat are your first line of defense against Adrenal Fatigue. The advantage of creating an adrenal-supportive diet plan is that it does not involve a trip to the doctor or naturopath, will likely cost you no more than your regular diet, and will have a host of other benefits for your health too.
There are two basic principles to building an Adrenal Fatigue diet plan. First, you should avoid any foods that will make your Adrenal Fatigue worse. Second, you should actively try to eat foods that will aid your recovery .
Among other things, this means eating meals at the right times, consuming lots of nutritious whole foods, and avoiding foods to which you have sensitivities or intolerances. However this is a broad and complicated subject, so I will try my best to outline the basics on this page.
Here are 8 key elements of an Adrenal Fatigue diet:
If you want some more detailed instructions, I have created a recipe ebook full of delicious recipes for restoring your adrenal health. It contains more than 50 tasty recipes, including Spicy Fried Chicken Livers, Apple Cardamom Muffins, Almond-Crusted Chicken Tenders, Carob Mousse, Grain-Free English Muffins, and Pear & Pine Nut Scones. You can see a sample page here, and purchase the ebook as part of our Complete Package. Enjoy!
Some Simple Adrenal Fatigue Dietary Principles
If your current diet includes a lot of processed carbohydrates, processed meat products, added sugar and soda you are not alone. This is unfortunately the common way that many people eat. This diet is commonly called the Standard American Diet , and it often plays a role in the development of Adrenal Fatigue. So improving your diet should be a crucial part of your recovery. Below are some simple guidelines that you can follow:
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Protect Your Adrenals From The Stress Of Exercise
In the state of adrenal fatigue, the body does not have the supply of hormones needed to maintain energy, performance, and to simply adapt to the demand of rigorous exercise. Running, Spinning, and all other forms of endurance activity will only worsen adrenal fatigue. Choose activities that will not stress your body and that will help to refill energy reserves rather than continue to drain them. Your best options are yoga, walking, and two to three short circuit-style weight-training sessions per week.
Im Turning Off My Computer By : 00 Pm
While reading The Adrenal Reset Diet, I learned that the blue light from computer screens can alter your circadian rhythm and can actually cause insomnia!
Ive always been a natural night owl. But for the past several years, especially, Ive been accustomed to working on the computer at night, up until bedtime. In my mind, this was the right thing to do since it ensured I was spending most of my daylight hours, even as a work-at-home mom, with my children.
However, once I went to bed , I noticed that I had a hard time falling and staying asleep.
In addition to turning the computer off by 9:00 p.m., I am also no longer using my Kindle Firewhich also uses a blue lightto read at night. For Valentines Day, my husband gave me a Kindle Paperwhite, which will satisfy my reading-before-bed needs without killing my sleep.
Ive also installed the flux app on my laptop. This app regulates the color of the computer screen, making it darker at night. Im looking for a similar app for my iPhone.
In addition to turning the computer off earlier than Ive been doing at night, Im also avoiding it first thing in the morning. According to Dr. Alan Christianson, the author of The Adrenal Reset Diet, TV and computer screens are not good in the early morning because they speed up brain waves.
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Adjust The Amount Of Protein You Consume
Start increasing the amount of protein you consume. Instead of 3-6 ounces of protein per meal, try consuming 7-9 ounces of protein per meal. Adrenal hormones break down muscle protein, so if your body is in a state of adrenal fatigue, you are breaking down muscle protein. You may need to replace that with protein by increasing the amount of protein you consume per meal.
What To Include In Your Diet To Support A Adrenal Health
- BREAKFAST! Its important is to make sure your blood sugar is regulated. So eating a good breakfast thats protein rich and/or good fats will do wonders.
Need some ideas for a protein rich breakfast? Try Purely Twins Breakfast Pizza
- Sea salt. I wrote about this here. Sea Salt can definitely help to feed the adrenal glands when they become depleted. Which they do if you are constantly burning them out. When you have any form of adrenal fatigue, your salt levels can become extremely low due to the reduction of aldosterone . So ya, weve been adding pink sea salt to everything!
- Foods that can support digestion and boost immunity That means high in Vitamin C, K, resistant starch, and probiotics.
- Good CARBS/Starch. This can be tricky. I think most people are told to avoid carbs at night, but for us, adding in resistant starch or starchy vegetables can really help with sleep and lower cortisol levels. That being said, its also important to pair those CARBS with GOOD fats in the form of EPA/DHA omegas. EPA and DHA may also have a positive effect on levels of cortisol as well as help fight inflammation.
Id pair Amies white bean portobella bowl with my rosemary orange zest salmon to make a healthy adrenal fighting dinner!
- And last but not least, foods that Support SLEEP. This might include natural herbs as well as foods rich in serotonin .
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How Important Is Following The Adrenal Fatigue Diet For Recovery
Following the Adrenal Fatigue Diet is crucial for recovering from Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, or AFS. Proper nutrition is one of the key components to healing the adrenal glands and there are certain foods that must be avoided to ensure additional stress is not placed on the body.
“Thank You”
“Thank you. An honest response. You are certainly no quack – congratulations for your work in the alternative field. It is certainly hard to find a mainstream medical doctor who knows anything alternative. Even chiropractors have been labeled quacks. Things are changing for the better. Live long, and prosper, Dr Lam. I will continue to refer to your site for quality information.”
Sample Meal Plan For Adrenal Fatigue
- Breakfast : Sauteed greens and onions in 1 Tbsp coconut oil with 2 eggs or 4 oz leftover steak or chicken . Seasoned with sea salt, pepper and other desired herbs. Warm lemon water. Add a side of kimchi or Beet Kvass as a fermented food bonus.
- Snack : Carrots and celery sticks with 2 Tbsp almond butter .
- Lunch : Broccoli and Chicken salad with 1/2 cup brown rice, drizzle with grass-fed butter and spices. Sparkling water with lemon or decaf green tea.
- Snack : 1 oz Beef jerky and small handful cashews and 8-10 Terra chips .
- Dinner : Crockpot stew with more veggies than meat and a side of 3/4 cup baked sweet potato.
- Snack : Piece of fruit or whole-fat organic yogurt OR avocado slices on rice crackers OR small piece of cheese and berries .
- In bed by 10pm
Its amazing to think that our adrenals can take so much control over our lives especially when they are out of balance. When we allow them a chance to heal with proper nutrition, exercise, relaxation and sleep, our bodys natural rhythms will be supported and we will feel young again.
Update: I was recently introduced to an awesome website where you can learn more about adrenal fatigue and get awesome evidence-based information! They also have a great book with WAY more information than I can put into a blog post. I highly recommend.
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What Are The Best And Worst Foods For Your Adrenal Fatigue Diet Plan
The best foods for Adrenal Fatigue diet plan are:
- Pastured meat and eggs
- Real Salt
The worst foods for Adrenal Fatigue are:
If you suffer from Adrenal Fatigue , it is highly recommended to avoid following foods and drinks that are known to amplify stress:
- Coffea, tea, energy drinks .
- Sugar.
- Alcohol
- Fastfood or takeaway food .
- Soda, soft drinks and chocolate drinks.
How To Diagnosis Adrenal Fatigue
If any conglomeration of the above symptoms sounds familiar, your first step is to chat with a healthcare professional. “If you’re experiencing fatigue, it’s incredibly important to get checked out and figure out the underlying reasons,” says Dr. Kurra.
But because many Western medicine doctors don’t recognize adrenal fatigue as a real diagnosis, the type of healthcare professional you seek out may affect the kind of diagnosis and treatment you get. Again, naturopathic doctors, integrative medicine practitioners, acupuncturists, functional medicine practitioners, and anti-aging doctors are more likely to diagnose and treat symptoms as adrenal fatigue than your general practitioner or internist.
If you think you’re dealing with malfunctioning adrenals, Tynan recommends asking your healthcare provider to run something called a four-point cortisol test, which can measure your cortisol levels as well as the daily fluctuations in those levels.
But because adrenal fatigue can cause adrenal hormones to be low but not “low enough to qualify as Addison’s disease” or to bring them out of the “normal” range on a test, confirming the condition is nearly impossible, says Tynan. If the test comes back negative , conventional medicine doctors will look for other underlying causes or treat the symptoms individually.
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Nutrition Is At The Heart Of Your Adrenal Fatigue Recovery
Your Adrenal Fatigue is a whole-body problem.
Your recovery therefore, requires a whole-body solution.
The AdrenalCalm science backed, whole-body protocols, include meditation, exercise, sleep, mindset and of course nutrition & supplements.
Nutritionally balanced, healthy whole-body nutrition fuels your whole-body and so is critical for taking back control of your health & healing yourself naturally.
When you change your diet, to one of high-quality, natural and nutritious foods, you will feel the immediate benefits.
Your body, fueled by the nutrients it needs, will become stronger, balanced and more energized, as it begins to gradually heal itself.
Menu Of Meals For Adrenal Fatigue
What you eat not only affects your energy levels, but how you physically feel as well. While adrenal fatigue is not a recognized medical condition, a healthy diet can help make those feeling run down from the stresses of life feel a little better. Consult your doctor before making changes to your diet, and discuss any ongoing fatigue to rule out an underlying medical condition.
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Is It A Myth
Thereâs no science to back it up. The Endocrine Society, the world’s largest organization of endocrinologists , flatly says that adrenal fatigue is not a real disease. And it says the symptoms of adrenal fatigue are so general, they can apply to many diseases or conditions or stem from everyday life.
And the society says some of the treatments can be dangerous. Improving your diet will probably make you feel better, no matter what ailment you have, but taking unidentified supplements to help your body produce extra cortisol if you don’t need them may cause your adrenal glands to stop working, it warns.
Im Connecting With Real
For the past two years, in particular, my online community has become crowded while my real-life community has been lacking. A few months back, I decided that had to change.
We recently began attending a different church than the one we had been members of for over five years. The church we are now attending is much closer to our home. But it wasnt a move of convenience as much as a move to our own community.
Before, we were in a church family with members scattered all over a five-town suburban radiusand those in our town were in the minority. Now, we worship alongside those who live right down the street. We are looking forward to the community-building this will organically bring to our lives.
Real-life, face-t0-face community is a basic human needespecially for extroverts like me! Dr. Christianson even addresses this in his book:
Humans are social animals having no contact with others can be among the most traumatic experiences. Not only does isolation cause early death, but it also has been shown to lead to obesity. ~Dr. Alan Christianson, The Adrenal Reset Diet
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Recipes To Help With Adrenal Fatigue
All of us struggle with anxiety from time to time. But when stressful days turn into weeks, and those weeks turn into worn-out months, you may wonder if what youre actually experiencing is adrenal fatigue.
The theory behind the hotly debated condition goes something like this: When your body is in a state of constant, chronic stress, your adrenal glands become less effective at producing cortisol, the stress hormone that has multiple functions, from regulating blood pressure to decreasing inflammation. The result? Ambiguous but concerning symptoms that may include unexplained hair loss, body aches, and extreme exhaustion.
Its important to note that this condition is not officially recognized by the majority of conventional medical practitioners, who point to a lack of scientific evidence to support the diagnosis. Many are also concerned that attempts to treat the unproven condition may prevent individuals from properly addressing a deeper underlying health issue.
If youre concerned about any of the symptoms we mentioned earlier and/or are considering taking medications or supplements to address them, step one would be to talk to a health professional.
Learn How To Get Relief From The Consequence Of Constant Stress
If you always feel tense or anxious, your body remains in a constant state of heightened arousal. Constantly overproducing cortisol and adrenaline day after day because of ongoing stress, multitasking, skipping meals, excessive calorie restriction, insufficient carbohydrate intake, too much protein consumption, lack of sleep, or too much coffee will lead to adrenal gland burnout.
In this state, your adrenal glands simply cant keep up with the constant stimulation and outrageous demands for adrenaline and cortisol production, so they simply shut down. When your adrenal glands go on strike, cortisol and adrenaline levels plummet, which can result in many or all of the following symptoms:
- Chronic fatigue, lethargy, or difficulties getting up in the morning, even with sufficient sleep hours.
- Sleep difficulties.
- Needing coffee or stimulants to get going in the morning.
- Feeling better suddenly for a brief period after a meal.
- Cravings for salty, fatty, and high-protein food such as chips, meat, and cheese.
- Intolerance for exercise you may actually feel worse than better from exercise.
- Lowered blood pressure and blood sugar.
- Light-headedness when rising from a sitting or lying-down position.
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What Is Adrenal Fatigue Steps To Overcome It Naturally
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Did you know that chronic stress can affect your bodys ability to recuperate from physical, mental or emotional stress? This is likely why most people have dealt with adrenal fatigue at some point in their lives.
Many proponents of this condition estimate that almost every person can experience adrenal fatigue, also known as hypoadrenia, to some degree at a particularly stressful point in his or her life.
Because the adrenals influence many parts of the body, symptoms of adrenal fatigue can mimic a number of disorders and isnt always easily recognizable.
Adrenal fatigue symptoms, like brain fog, moodiness and trouble sleeping, can be indicative of many disorders and are often overlooked by doctors. But more and more people are starting to realize that a combination of these health issues often indicate the onset of adrenal fatigue.
If you have adrenal fatigue, it can have significant effects on your overall health. Luckily, you can improve this common issue naturally by focusing on your nutrient intake and lifestyle choices.
Identify Food Sensitivities And Intolerances
Why are food sensitivities of importance when you have Adrenal Fatigue? Because they prevent the gut from digesting, absorbing and excreting foods properly. Thats why bloating, constipation, diarrhea and other gut problems are often a first sign of an intolerance. When you are not optimally digesting all the nutrients from your foods, it can leave you feeling weakened and low in energy. Food sensitivities lead to inflammation and promote the growth of unhealthy gut bacteria, weakening the immune system even more.
If you suspect a food sensitivity or intolerance, eliminate the food from your diet for at least a week. Gradually add the food back into your diet. If your symptoms come back, youve found the culprit and then you can avoud that food going forward. Furthermore you can take supplements that strengthen your gut, such as Glutamine, and supplements that improve your digestion, such as probiotics or digestive enzymes.
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What About The Adrenal Fatigue Diet
Most folks with adrenal fatigue are also “prescribed” something called the adrenal fatigue diet. “It’s a specific way of eating that aims to reduce the symptoms associated with adrenal fatigue, while also providing the body with the nutrients it needs to remedy the condition and help you return to a state of health,” explains Tynan. “It’s a way of healing your body from the inside.”
The adrenal fatigue diet aims to stabilize blood sugar and balance cortisol levels by limiting sugar while increasing the intake of protein, healthy fats, veggies, and whole grains .
How is this supposed to help with adrenal fatigue? Refined carbohydrates quickly break down into sugar after you ingest them, which causes a spike in blood sugar followed by a steep decline, explains Tynan. This takes your energy levels on a rollercoasterwhich, for someone experiencing symptoms of constant fatigue and exhaustion, is not good. Energy drinks and other caffeinated items can result in a similar effect, and for that reason, are also off-limits.
On the flip side, healthy fats and high-quality proteins slow the blood sugar rollercoaster and promote stable blood sugar levels throughout the day, says Lopez. Intake of these macros is especially important at the beginning of the day, he says. “Skipping breakfast is a major no-no on the diet. Folks with adrenal fatigue need to eat something in the morning to get their blood sugar up to a healthy level after a night of it dipping.”
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Caffeinated drinks
