The adrenal glands sit over the kidneys, where they play a significant role in the body, secreting more than 50 hormones necessary for life, including adrenaline, cortisol, DHEA, progesterone and testosterone. The adrenal glands are responsible for many of the functions we need to stay alive and healthy. As the manufacturer of adrenaline, they are also the first glands to fail during prolonged or intense periods of stress.
Symptoms of adrenal exhaustion:
- Cravings for foods high in salt and fat
- Increased PMS or menopausal symptoms
- Mild depression
- Lack of energy
- Decreased ability to handle stress
- Muscular weakness
- Increased allergies
- Lightheadedness when getting up from sitting or lying down
- Decreased sex drive
- Frequent sighing
Causes of adrenal exhaustion
- Excessive stress, an important cause of burnout, can be from many sources. Mental, emotional or spiritual stress may be a major factor. Financial, family or other stress may also contribute to burnout.
- Nutritional Deficiencies are a common cause. When under stress, the need for nutrients is much greater. Carbohydrates, when excessive in the diet, put pressure on the adrenals. Diets low in protein may also create deficiencies. Inadequate or poor quality water affects the tissues. Most diets are low in nutrients required by the adrenals. These include B-complex vitamins, vitamins A, C and E, manganese, zinc, chromium, selenium and other trace elements.
- Toxic metals and chemicals often play a large role in adrenal burnout. A healthy body has the ability to eliminate many toxins on a daily basis. However, as adrenal weakness develops, the body’s ability to eliminate all toxins decreases. This produces a vicious cycle in which weaker adrenals impairs the elimination of all toxins, which then further weakens the adrenals.
Treatment of adrenal exhaustion
Adrenal fatigue can be alleviated by the following:- Eating a natural whole-foods diet
- Avoiding junk food
- Drinking good quality water
- Eating five to six servings of vegetables each day through juicing or adding them to meals
- Avoiding white flour and other processed grains
- Adding sea salt to your diet, replacing your table salt
- Taking 2-5 grams of vitamin C each day
- Taking a high strength B-complex supplement
- Taking good quality fish oils
- Adding liquorice root extract, rhemania, rhodiola, ginseng, oats, withania and/or kelp to your diet
- Replacing toxic chemical products used around the house with non-toxic alternatives
- Spending some time in the sun each day
- Doing something fun each day
- Getting lots of rest
- Laughing
- Exercising
- Avoid stressful peopleor situations
Naturopath Tanya Marinovic
Tanya is a practising Naturopath and dedicated mother of two, so she knows how easy it is to exhaust your adrenals and how you can rebuild and repair them Learn more about Tanya here