How to Support Adrenals?

Are you feeling tired and dizzy? Do you have food cravings and feel hungry no matter how much you eat? Do you have difficulty recovering from exercise?

If you experience these symptoms, you might have problems with your adrenals. Also known as suprarenal glands, these glands play multiple roles in your endocrine system, a system that provides your body with the hormones it requires to stimulate essential processes.

Your adrenal glands produce adrenaline, cortisol, testosterone and other hormones that influence your metabolism. They also manage your body’s ability to cope with stress. If these glands are not working properly, you may experience weight gain, poor sleep, fatigue, sugar cravings, and depression.

How Your Adrenals Function

The adrenal glands produce the two hormones that regulate the “fight or flight” response in your body when you’re stressed. They also release cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol increases blood sugar levels and depresses the immune system. Common problems associated with high cortisol levels include:

• Sugar/salt cravings and hyperglycemia
• High blood pressure
• Suppressed immunity
• Bone and muscle loss
• Weight gain, e.g., fat on hips, face, and neck
• Diabetes and insulin resistance
• Chronic fatigue
• Acne and other skin infections
• Suppressed thyroid function

People who are constantly exposed to stressful situations face a higher risk of stroke, heart attack, hypertension, and digestive problems. When stress becomes chronic, your body enters the adrenal resistance phase. This may cause serious health problems ranging from obesity and musculoskeletal issues to altered glucose metabolism. Poor functioning of the adrenals can affect your everyday life and cause premature aging.

Simple Ways to Support Adrenal Glands

These stress glands are your body’s primary “shock absorbers.” Every time you lose your job, move to a new city, or end a relationship, your adrenal glands react accordingly. The cortisol levels increase, which lead to mood disorders, poor blood circulation, and reduced immunity. The only way to prevent these problems is to eliminate as much stress as possible from your life and learn to cope with the rest as best you can.

The following tips can help you reduce the negative effects of taxed adrenals:

• Eat well: Adopt a balanced diet that includes fish, lean meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats. Reduce your daily carbohydrate intake and eat good fats. Studies indicate that fats are extremely important for adrenal function. Limit your daily intake of sugar, caffeine, chocolate, sodas, honey, and high-carb foods. A nutritional coaching session with a naturopathic physician from our team at Water’s Edge Natural Medicine can help you choose the right foods for your hormonal constitution so your body can heal itself.

• Exercise: Another great way to soothe your adrenals is to exercise at least three times a week. Yoga, meditation, stretching exercises, jogging, swimming, and team sports can help you reduce stress and lower cortisol levels. If you have a stressful job, assess your career options and follow a different path. Get more rest and try to reduce stress in your life. Do the things you enjoy the most and schedule “me time” as part of your daily routine. You’ll be amazed at how your quality of life improves as you remove small stressors and allow yourself to cope naturally with the challenges that do arise.

• Herbal medicine: Botanical medicines, bio-identical hormone treatments, detox cleansing, and even life-coaching sessions can assist your body with processing external stressors and healing itself.

• Acupuncture: This ancient Chinese therapy promotes wellness by improving the flow of Qi, or life force energy, through the use of small, fine needles.

Supporting your adrenals is vital to maintaining a healthy, balanced body and mind. For more advice about how naturopathic medicine can help to soothe your system, contact our expert team at Water’s Edge today!