When you are sick or experience a traumatic event, your adrenal glands begin producing hormones to counteract the effects that stress has on the body. If the stress is particularly intense or prolonged or if you suffer an acute or chronic illness, your adrenal glands can become so taxed that they are no longer able to keep up with the demands that stress places on the body. This can cause a multitude of problems. You will not be able to metabolize fats, carbohydrates and proteins properly, your electrolyte balance can become imbalanced, you may experience cardiovascular problems, be unable to handle stress, suffer from depression and insomnia, have decreased libido, develop cognitive problems, dry skin, fatigue and weakened immunity.
Chronic fatigue often plagues those suffering from adrenal fatigue. You may feel like you are too tired to get out of the bed, even after a good night’s sleep. This fatigue can be caused by a number of issues that arise during adrenal fatigue. First, your hormones can become imbalanced which can prevent the body from metabolizing the foods you eat into usable energy. Additionally, when fluid levels and electrolytes become imbalanced, it can cause fatigue.
Even with all the devastating symptoms associated with adrenal fatigue, there are a number of things you can do to help relieve the symptoms of adrenal fatigue and help heal your adrenal glands. Seeking the assistance of an integrative physician will help you make dietary and lifestyle changes which are the first steps towards health.
Because your body cannot properly metabolize the foods that you eat and extract the nutrients you need, you may need to take a vitamin supplement. Ensuring you get the correct amount of nutrients is essential to help your body deal with and recover from stress. Holistic Health reports that the following vitamins, minerals and adaptogenic herbs can help counteract the effects of adrenal fatigue and help the adrenal glands heal themselves.
B vitamins
Each of the eight B vitamins helps to improve adrenal fatigue by forming enzymes that are used in the body. Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) provide energy for the adrenal glands and help to modulate the stress response.
Adrenal Glandulars
Adrenal glandulars are supplements made from the glands of animals that are dried and ground and used as a supplement. These supplements are used to help replenish the adrenal glands and normalize adrenal functions. Typically, adrenal glandulars are made from either cows (bovine), sheep (ovine) or pig (porcine).
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that is used by the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. Additionally, vitamin C helps to boost the immune system and destroy free radicals in the body that can damage tissues and organs in the body.
Licorice Root
Licorice root is an herb that can help stimulate the production of a variety of hormones, increase energy levels and improve endurance. This also helps the cortisol produced by the body circulate longer, which helps the body better fight off stress.
Maca Root
Maca is another herb that can help improve cortisol regulation. In addition to this, maca root helps the body uptake hormones into cells, which increases the effectiveness of each hormone.
Magnesium
Magnesium helps to improve energy levels and relieve depression. A magnesium deficiency can cause a number of symptoms, including fatigue, depression, muscle cramping and insomnia.
Probiotics
When the bacteria in the intestinal tract becomes altered and there are more bad bacteria than good bacteria, your immune system can become weakened, leading to more illnesses which can further tax the adrenal glands. Taking a probiotic helps to rebalance the bacteria in the body to improve nutrient absorption and immunity.
Stress can take a toll on the body. Learning how to control and eliminate stress can help you overcome adrenal fatigue. There are number of stress-relieving techniques that can be used to counteract the effects of stress on the body. These techniques include yoga, guided imagery, meditation and biofeedback therapy.
In order for your body to function properly, it must be hydrated. Many people do not realize how much water it takes for optimal hydration levels. In the past, it was recommended that everyone drink 64 ounce of water each day; however, science has discovered that your weight and activity levels should be taken into account instead of the one size all approach used in the past. If you exercise a lot or live in a hot climate, drink an ounce for every pound you weigh. This means if you weigh 140 pounds, you will need to drink between 70 and 140 ounces of water each day.
Eating a healthy diet filled with nutritious fruits and vegetables and drinking plenty of water to ensure you are properly hydrated will help enact the body’s innate ability to heal itself. Couple these with stress relieving techniques to help improve the symptoms of adrenal fatigue.