Adrenal Fatigue: Is that even a "real" thing?
This has to be one of the most important topics I like to discuss with my clients when we sit down for our consult, as well as the most “what is that?" Over the years, more and more people are beginning to question their “ adrenal “ health, and the effects of adrenal exhaustion play mentally, emotionally and physically.
First, let me say that if you are suffering or currently are treating your adrenal dysfunction ( there are several names you will hear in regards to this ), then you will understand that there wasn’t a lot of information or light on adrenal exhaustion especially in the conventional medical system. Adrenal fatigue/exhaustion a few years ago wasn’t considered a “ real “ thing or even a diagnosis. However, more and more research has shown how vital our Adrenal glands are in our body.
Adrenal fatigue is a state within our body when our adrenal glands are overworked, fatigued, and in a constant state of stress. We all know what the word
STRESS means right? We all have experienced stress, and we all know how much that can affect us mentally, emotionally and physically right? Well, guess where are our “stress” hormone is created? Our Adrenal glands!
Cortisol is our stress hormone, and our adrenal glands are responsible for making it as well as releasing it during times of stress! Day to day, think of how much stress we undergo – deadlines, work meetings, kids, disagreements, exercise, negative thoughts, getting chased by a tiger, etc. etc…. Every stressful situation we go through , our adrenal glands release cortisol – our stress hormone which is responsible for the release of adrenaline and our emotional and physical reactions! Our body can only produce so much cortisol before it starts to become fatigued and start to cause “ chaos” as I like to call it in our body.
Generally, the first tell-tale signs of “ adrenal fatigue” are the following :
- Exhaustion ( usually mild to extreme )
- Anxiety
- Food cravings ( salt )
- Emotional ( small things set you off )
- Low immunity ( colds, cases of flu )
- Caffeine intake is high
- Hard time staying asleep or falling asleep
- 3 pm crash in energy
- Dizziness / low blood pressure
Usually, we start to recognise there is something off in our body while we experience 2-3 of those symptoms above. Between the sleepless nights, Starbucks overload and weight gain around our midsections (that is where we store cortisol), we start to recognise that we need to give our body some R&R and seek out professional help (health food stores and naturopaths).
As I mentioned above, this is always the first and most talked about subject when I work with my clients, and generally, I like to push the “ preventative “ method for those who don’t show a majority of those symptoms above. There are lots of ways we can help give our adrenals some support as well as treat them! Things that we do daily can play a significant impact in our adrenal health, therefore preventing other disorders and imbalances in our body (especially when it come to thyroid health and our sex hormones) – Yes, adrenal fatigue can lead to those imbalances as well!
So what do I recommend to my clients you ask? Here are a few of my favourite and personal "To Do's" for adrenal support and health.
ADAPTOGENS
These are your adrenal glands best friends!
Adaptogens are known to help our body respond/deal with stress, helping keep those cortisol levels low. Look for supplements that are known as “adaptogens”! These will help your body during stressful situations, as well as be preventative. A few of my favourite adaptogens are :
Alongside supplementing with adaptogens, I also like to encourage following a healthy diet rich in whole foods and high in B-Vitamins. Our adrenal glands need all the B-vitamins for optimal health and a diet rich in them will help with that.
MAGNESIUM BIGLYCINATE
Our “ anti-stress “ mineral is also essential for adrenal health!
Magnesium is hard to find in our soils these days as well as it is the hardest mineral to absorb in the body! Magnesium is excellent to help those who suffer from insomnia, overacting, anxiety and even leg cramps! Organika’s
Enhanced Collagen Relax contains Magnesium Bigyscinate as well as L-Theanine ( natures anti-anxiety amino acid). This combination is one of my favourite bedtime routines, to help de-stress from a long day, encourage a restful sleep as well as help with adrenal health! Collagen naturally helps increase immunity as well as promote a healthy digestive tract which can also be affected by too much stress and inflammation in our body, Cortisol is always linked to inflammation in our body and can eventually turn into an autoimmune disorder.
Read more about the benefits of Enhanced Collagen Relax in this Product Spotlight.
If you are a suffer from Adrenal Fatigue or curious about whether you suffer from it there is tons of information online and even self-survey tests you can do. Treating adrenal fatigue and helping prevent it is both beneficial and sometimes take a long time; therefore it is essential to work with a health care provider, as your local health food store for guidance in choosing the correct supplements as well as implementing more “ relaxation” routines in your daily life.
A recap of above, here are 6 of my favourite tips for my clients when it comes to Adrenal Fatigue:
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A wholesome diet of dark leafy green vegetables
- Adaptogens: Maca, Ashwagandha, Rhodiola
- Collagen Relax with Magnesium Bigyscinate
- Relaxation: Yoga, Meditation, Hot baths
- Herbal Teas instead of Coffee
-
Collagen Vitality - matcha is excellent for energy without the crash.
For more information in regards to Adrenal Fatigue and your health, make sure to follow up with your natural healthcare provider! There are lots of great recipes and information on
www.organika.com website for my favourite adaptogenic supplements and suggestions to help prevent and treat adrenal fatigue as well as our social media channels! Feel free to send us a DM for more information or any questions in regards to your adrenal health!
-Chelan Wilkins, RHN- Busy mother of two, and Organika's National Education Trainer.
