How To Finally Overcome Adrenal Fatigue
I want to be clear, you cannot supplement yourself out of adrenal fatigue.
You need to identify and treat the underlying or root cause. Only then will supplementation be effective. To overcome adrenal fatigue for good the best place to start is with the food you eat. Check out my online course to help you identify exactly which foods you should be eating to overcome fatigue!
Now, I want to hear from you.
What supplements have you found helpful in treating adrenal fatigue?
What supplements made your symptoms worse?
Leave your answers in the comments section below!
The Complete Guide To Adrenal Fatigue Supplements
One of the most frequent questions AFS sufferers ask is: What adrenal fatigue supplements should I take? This is a very good question that we hear often from our nutritional coaching clients, but unfortunately, the answer is not simple.
First, if you are asking this question, you need to consider how you are expecting supplements to fit into your overall health goals. Do you only want fast relief? Does it seem easier than changing your diet? Or do you truly do have a strong foundation for recovery and supplements will just be an added support?
As you consider taking supplements, make sure that you are not taking the shotgun approach. This is by far one of the most common yet biggest mistakes we see people make in their effort to feel better faster. Its basically where you take a bunch of different supplements, without planning or research, hoping that some combination will work. This poses two problems:
Where To Buy Vitamins For Tiredness And Fatigue
Vitamins for tiredness and fatigue are vastly available in a variety of healthcare and supplement brands in the UK. We always advise opting for brands that have a reputable name in the health and supplement industry to ensure you are putting the highest quality products into your body.
Health stores such as Holland and Barrett are a great place to look as they possess a leading name for supplements in the UK health market and offer a whole host of options when it comes to vitamins for fatigue.
Natures Best have built a respectable reputation within the vitamin industry. They are very selective about what they will and wont stock for instance, they emphasise their exclusion of any products featuring endangered herbs, goldenseal, libido boosters, emu oil and many more potentially unethical products.
Alternatively, online retailer Amazon is also a reputable name for vitamins for fatigue it offers a huge variety of brands of products at competitive prices. However, it is worth noting that Amazon themselves stress the importance of only buying from verified manufacturers on the site who possess a detailed manufacturer profile.
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Common Causes Of Nutrient Deficiencies
If a visit to your doctor and lab tests reveal you are deficient in one of the above nutrients, your doctor may recommend short or long-term supplementation. Nutrient deficiencies are often caused by poor nutrition, but they can also be caused by malabsorption disorders in which the small intestine isnt able to absorb the nutrients from food.
According to Mayo Clinic, the most common cause of B12 deficiency is lack of intrinsic factor, a protein produced in the stomach necessary for B12 to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Lack of intrinsic factor can be inherited or it can result from an autoimmune disorder. B12 deficiency can also be caused by restrictive vegan and vegetarian diets, since animal foods are the only reliable dietary sources of the vitamin.
In addition to malabsorption issues and poor diet, folate deficiency can be caused by excessive alcohol intake, since alcohol decreases absorption. Certain medications, such as anti-seizure medications, can also affect folate absorption. Lastly, pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as kidney patients undergoing hemodialysis, are more likely to be deficient in folate because they have increased nutrient needs.
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Adrenal Stability By Pure Essence
Features :
- SUPPORTS A HEALTHY STRESS RESPONSE: The adrenal glands play vital roles in supporting energy, vitality and general wellbeing. Adrenal Stability supports your adrenal glands so they can support you. Its Adaptogen herbs provide profound nutritional support for both the adrenals and nervous system while also supporting healthy stress hormone levels.
- ADAPTOGENS SUPPORT HEALTHY ENERGY LEVELS, SLEEP PATTERNS, MENTAL FUNCTIONS: When stress rears its head, the adrenals produce higher levels of hormones like cortisol and epinephrine. These hormones elevate blood pressure, heart rate, etc., and weaken digestion, immune response and the reproductive tract. Adaptogens help you recover more quickly from these negative effects of stress, and Adrenal Stability is a remarkably potent adaptogen blend.
- THE PURE ESSENCE DIFFERENCE Pure Essence products are made in a cGMP certified facility in the United States from the worlds cleanest, purest ingredients. In our 25 years in business, we have received over a dozen best of category awards from Natural Foods Expo, Whole Foods Magazine, Supply Side, Vitamin Retailer, etc. Every product is guaranteed to your complete satisfaction.
- CLEAN, PURE, NON-GMO, ALLERGEN FREE Adrenal Stability is free of all common allergens. It contains no wheat, gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, dairy, soy, etc. It is 100% plant based, vegan nutrition.
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Gaia Herbs Adrenal Health Organic Ingredients
Gaia Herbs is one of the most reputable supplement brands in the business. Gaia Herbs operates out of North Carolina and, since their founding in 1986, prides itself on maintaining rigorous organic standards and working with likeminded farmers. Frequently prescribed by practitioners, we like the fact that Gaia Herbs has a long corporate history and that they are explicit about their commitment to healthier standards. In addition to adrenal fatigue supplements, Gaia produces a number of other supplements for other conditions.
Clients who have used Adrenal Health report a wide range of improvements. As with most decent adrenal fatigue supplements, most people report decreased levels of stress and higher levels of energy throughout the day. Interestingly, users of this supplement relay improvements in the tone and moistness of their skin and decreased mental cloudiness. Ashwagandha is sometimes associated with improved appetite control and it was also cited as a reason that people like the Adrenal Health supplement. Some people also reported improved depth and quality of sleep.
While the state the serving amounts for a few ingredients on the bottle, Adrenal Health does not have explicit serving amounts of their proprietary adaptogenic ingredients listed. Important ingredients in the Adrenal Health supplement are ashwagandha, holy basil , rhodiola, schisandra and wild oats milky seed.
B: B Vitamins + Blood Sugar Balance
B vitamins: Not only do your adrenal glands require B vitamins in order to do their job, but stress actually causes your body to use up your B vitamins at a quicker rate than normal. That means that when youre under stress, you need extra B vitamins. B vitamins such as B1 , B5 , and B12 all directly affect your adrenal glands cortisol response to stress. Vitamin B3 and B12 also play a role in your sleep/wake cycle which can be affected by stress and cortisol.
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Tip: Eat animal protein like meat, seafood and eggs to make sure youre getting enough B vitamins in your diet. Typically at least 3 servings/day but this varies from person to person.
Blood sugar Balance: Keeping your blood sugar stable helps decrease stress on your adrenal glands and promotes a healthy insulin curve. The goal is to avoid the blood sugar roller coaster that is caused by spikes and dips in blood sugar due to high sugar intake, lack of fats and fiber, lack of exercise and dehydration. The spikes and dips that create that blood sugar roller coaster lead to inflammation, stress, anxiety, and poor energy, focus, and sleep.
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Tips: Eat balanced meals regularly. You want fat and protein and fiber at every meal.
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Avoid sugary foods and beverages, and any foods marked fat-free or low-fat as these tend to cause a spike in blood sugar which leads to an inevitable dip in blood sugar.
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Also make sure to exercise and drink plenty of water!
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The 3 Best Supplements For Adrenal Fatigue
In my naturopathic practice, I treat fatigue on a very regular basis. No one likes to feel tired and out of commission, and often a month-long adrenal program can have immense benefits in getting people up and over the hump. Here are the 3 supplements that I think really work for fatigue. Dr. Wilson was the first person to identify this combination, but in 13 years of practice using a number of different protocols, I still think its the protocol that works the best for adrenal fatigue:
Primary Adrenal Fatigue Supplements Toolbox: Vitamins And Minerals
Lets start with the more mild adrenal fatigue supplements, which include a variety of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are gentle enough to be taken if your AFS is in early stage 3 or earlier. However, for most people in the late phases of stage 3, any kind of supplement may be too much. What works for one person may backfire in another.
Vitamin C
Subclinical vitamin C deficiency is probably the most prevalent deficiency we see in AFS. The adrenal glands actually contain one of the bodys highest concentrations of vitamin C, and so, if theres deficiency, thats also where its needed the most.
For healthy individuals, the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C is 75 mg for women, and 90 mg for men. But, if you have AFS, you will need much more, generally speaking. However, depending on the person, vitamin C can also trigger adrenal crashes if not properly used. So do be careful. There are also various delivery systems and potency that has to be individualized. Over-reliance on vitamin C and using a one-size-fits-all approach is a common recovery mistake.
One of the symptoms of AFS is lowered immunity, and often, AFS is triggered by the presence of concurrent infections, especially stealth viruses that destroy tissue. These can include the Epstein Barr virus and Lyme co-infections. Vitamin C is known to be an immune booster that can help fight off such infections and inflammation.
Glutathione
Pantothenic Acid and Pantethine
NADH
Vitamin E
Inositol
D-Ribose
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Supplements For Adrenal Fatigue
There is no shortage of supplements marketed for adrenal fatigue. Unfortunately, most of them have little to no research backing their claims.
Many of the herbs discussed below are known as adaptogenic. An adaptogen is considered to be balancing. They can stimulate or suppress the same organ tissue depending on what is needed.
Below, youll find a list of adrenal fatigue supplements that have research supporting their reported benefits.
Integrative Therapeutics Cortitive Practitioner Favorite
If you are looking for an adrenal fatigue supplement that is often prescribed by integrative medicine practitioners, Integrative Therapeutics Cortitive is worth a look. This adrenal fatigue supplement has a long history of being marketed directly to practitioners but is also available for purchase by the public. Vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free and wheat-free, this adrenal fatigue supplement features eleuthero root extract along with Coleus forskohlii, rhizome and licorice extracts mixed with a combination of other vitamins. They do not break out the specific serving amounts of the herbal components of their proprietary combination.
A recently updated formulation, feedback on this new version of Integrative Therapeutics Cortitive is still coming in but it shows promise. Ingredients in Integrative Therapeutics Cortitive include Coleus forskohlii, Eleuthero, Licorice, Pantothenic Acid , Rhizome, Riboflavin , Thiamin , Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C . The combination of ingredients focused on reducing adrenal fatigue along with other vitamins helps make Integrative Therapeutics Cortitive a more complete adrenal fatigue supplement.
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Have A Nutritious Breakfast
When youre experiencing adrenal fatigue symptoms, you should not skip breakfast.
Try to eat within an hour after waking up. If you wait longer than that your blood sugar levels crash and this causes excess production of cortisol.
Also, your breakfast should be healthy and nutritious. This means you should include healthy carbs, fats, and protein.
For example, you can try chickpeas, sweet potato, or quinoa breakfast bowls to which you can add your favorite ingredients, like different herbs, veggies, nuts, and seeds.
Or, if youre in a hurry you can mix up a quick nutritious smoothie with your favorite veggies and a handful of berries.
This will kick-start your normal bodily functions and keep you full for several hours.
Avoid having sugary foods in the morning since these will spike your blood sugar levels. But once that sugar rush is over, youll feel tired and craving more sugary snacks.
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How Chronic Stress Contributes To Adrenal Fatigue
It is estimated that 75-90 percent of visits to primary care physicians is related to either acute or chronic symptoms of stress. Stress is the natural response of the body when it feels that it is in danger.
Imagine that you are about to be attacked by a bear. The body shuts down processes like digestion and pumps out stress hormones to make you more alert to run for your life. Once the danger has passed, the stress hormones decrease and everyday processes like digestion resume.
This scenario is called the fight or flight response and it is critical for dangerous situations. However, in todays fast-paced society with long commutes, deadlines, financial obligations, sedentary lifestyles, the fight or flight response is happening all day, every day.
Unfortunately, this chronic low-grade stress is a recipe for developing adrenal fatigue, which is the underlying culprit to many chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and immune insufficiency.
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Adrenal Dmg Cortisol Management
A relative newcomer to our experience , Adrenal DMG has come out of the gate with favorable early responses. Designed with cortisol management in mind, Adrenal DMG packs a lot of quality ingredients into an adrenal fatigue supplement offered at a reasonable cost.
Adrenal DMG has been reported to help with stabilizing energy levels, reducing anxiety and improving the length and quality of sleep. Other infrequently reported effects included a stronger immune system, better endurance and improved skin health. Some people also reported fewer food cravings .
Adrenal DMG features a number of active ingredients, including dimethylglycine, Sensoril , licorice root powder, adrenal cortex, policosanol and echinacea purpurea herb extract. Additionally, cranberry, grapefruit seed, wild cherry bark and garlic bulb extract round out the formulation.
Adrenal DMG pills are relatively easy to swallow but it is beneficial to take them with lots of water. The company behind Adrenal DMG also offers a 100% money back guarantee in the event that you do not like the product.
The garlic in Adrenal DMG may leave a garlic aftertaste which is somewhat unpleasant when getting it from a supplement. Coffee lovers may need to kick their coffee addiction while using this Adrenal DMG. The Adrenal DMG smell may also take getting used to.
What Factors Do We Use To Rank Supplements
1 Price: Whats the price of the supplement? Whats the cost per serving? At Eating Enlightenment we value quality over price. However, all else being equal, then price comes into consideration.
2 Reviews: How many reviews for each product? Whats the average rating? How many third party reviews? We strongly believe in third party reviews. Many supplement companies list positive reviews on their website, but third party reviews include negative comments. We always go with third party reviews.
3 Reputation: How reputable is the brand behind the supplement? How long has the brand been around? Whats their mission? We believe that a companys intention is highly important and should be one of your top purchasing decision factors.
4 Taste / Absorption = Whats the taste? How quickly does your body absorb the supplement? Do reviews mention any negative side effects like an upset stomach?
5 Perceived Therapeutic Effect = What beneficial effects or feelings does this supplement promote?
6 Food Allergens = Does the company provide allergen info?
7 Science / Certifications: Does the company list transparent scientific studies on their website? Do third party certifications test the companys supplement for quality control? How many certifications does the company have?
8 Pros/Cons: What are the pros and cons of each supplement? How is the supplement unique? For what situations is this supplement best?
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Adrenal Fatigue: Myths Vs Reality
Adrenal fatigue is not recognized as a medical condition by the Endocrine Society or other medical guidelines. There are no laboratory tests to diagnose adrenal fatigue.
Because there are many health conditions that can cause extreme fatigue, other testing must be done to rule out potential underlying causes, such as:
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Nerve disorders
- Nutrient Deficiencies
Cortisol saliva testing or blood tests may be ordered by your healthcare provider. The results are a snapshot of your cortisol in that moment, and may or may not accurately reflect the whole picture of your symptoms.
Even though adrenal fatigue is not an official medical diagnosis, that does not mean that what you feel is not real. Symptoms like extreme fatigue can negatively affect your daily life.
The field of endocrinology, which manages hormones and the glands that make them, does not recognize adrenal fatigue. But endocrinologists still know how essential the adrenal glands are to human health.
Symptoms of adrenal fatigue may, in some cases, be due to something known as adrenal insufficiency.
Primary adrenal insufficiency is caused when the adrenal glands are damaged. This includes Addisons disease.
Secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs because the adrenal glands are not told by the pituitary gland or hypothalamus in the brain, via the hormone ACTH, to make enough hormones. This can happen for many reasons, including withdrawal from steroid medications like prednisone.
