What is the cost of this fast paced lifestyle and our inability to unplug?
Could it be adrenal fatigue?
To understand how adrenal fatigue occurs, let’s take a look at the history. The adrenal glands were designed for a lifestyle that existed thousands of years ago and changed very little until the twentieth century.
The adrenal glands’ main function was to help the body deal with imminent danger and stress. The adrenals are responsible for the fight-or-flight mechanism, which simply means that they give the body a short burst of adrenaline needed to either fight or run away from a dangerous or stressful situation. By design, they are for short bursts of energy and long periods of rest. They are definitely not constructed for today’s chronic and continuous physical and mental stress levels. Over two decades ago adrenal fatigue was a rarity.
Today it is a major diagnosis growing to pandemic proportions due to many contributing lifestyle factors, including high stress levels, poor diets and lack of downtime all compounded by the fact that adrenal fatigue symptoms vary greatly and many sufferers have been misdiagnosed.
Excerpted from the book ~ Misdiagnosed: The Adrenal Fatigue Link
by: Steven M. Zodkoy, DC, CNS, DACBN, DCBCN
Daily living causes much stress, which is not easy on the adrenal glands.
The adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal glands) are the triangle-shaped endocrine glands that sit atop the kidneys. They are chiefly responsible for regulating the stress response through the synthesis of corticosteroids and catecholamine, including cortisol and adrenaline.
When the adrenals are tired, the body may experience a number of different symptoms.
The most common symptoms caused by tired or worn-out adrenal glands are:
- Excessive sweating or perspiration from a little activity.
- Lower back pain and/or weakness or pain, especially on the side.
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Dizziness
- Muscle twitches
- Low blood sugar
- Heart palpitations
- Sensitivity to light, or difficulty seeing at night
- A craving for salt
- Low stamina for stress, and easily irritated
- Excessive mood responses after eating carbohydrates such as pasta, bread, and sugar
- Chronic infections (bacterial, viral, fungal, yeast)
- Low blood pressure
- Light-headedness on standing up
- Tired but wired feeling, poor sleep
- Cravings for sweets and carbs, intolerance to alcohol
- Premature aging
- Dry, unhealthy skin with excess pigmentation
- Lack of libido
- Cystic breasts
- Tendency to startle easily
- Negative response to thyroid hormone
If you suspect you might have tired adrenals, address it right away. Adrenal glands are extremely important to a healthy immune system. They are necessary for proper thyroid function.
Natural Ways to Support Your Adrenals
- Get some sleep. You must rest if you are going to help your adrenals get stronger. That means going to bed every night by 10 p.m. Make this a priority and stick with it. Your adrenals need their beauty sleep!
- Eliminate sugar and processed carbs. Sugar and simple carbs (junk!) put stress on the adrenals.
- Eat clean animal protein foods, organic vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, beans, and grains.
- Quit the coffee habit and drink plenty of fresh filtered water every day.
~ Institute for Integrative Nutrition – Joshua Rosenthal
Would you like to know learn more?
You can find out more in our latest newsletter. Topics like: Superwoman and Superman Syndrome, The Stages of Adrenal Exhaustion, Why am I so irritable and moody? Do you have “raging witch syndrome?” and more.
If you are interested in an individual holistic health coaching session utilizing the First Line Therapy program, Reiki, or an infra-red sauna session in the “POD,” please contact me to schedule an appointment.
Wishing you abundant health,
Liesha Getson
