In our modern, fast-paced world full of countless stressors and excessive stimulation, more and more people have reported feeling overly exhausted.
We’re talking about low energy, tiredness, irritability, inability to concentrate, etc.
Not a great way to feel, unfortunately, fatigue is driving people to the doctors. However, despite being a pretty big health issue, medical personnel are struggling to pinpoint the exact cause of exhaustion in otherwise healthy people.
That said, with blood tests, physical exams, and medical histories proving fruitless, could it be Adrenal Fatigue?
A very possible answer, today, we will look at what Adrenal Fatigue is, plus steps to overcome it naturally.
What are the Adrenal Glands?
Located at the top of each kidney, the adrenal glands are small and triangular-shaped. Their function within your body is to release hormones that regulate the metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, and stress.
Therefore, your Adrenal Glands are very important to your daily life and, you guessed it, overall health.
In fact, they are so important that, if your Adrenal Glands change in any way (produce more or fewer hormones), your body can easily go into an imbalance. And, these imbalances can lead to a large number of health issues, including something called Adrenal Fatigue.
What is Adrenal Fatigue?
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Widely used in the alternative health world to describe stress-induced, hormone-related exhaustion, Adrenal Fatigue was first proposed by Dr. James L. Wilson in 1998. A relatively new idea, Adrenal Fatigue is a theory that links stress to the Adrenal Glands and their inability to properly function.
The science behind it? When under stress, your Adrenal Glands produce the hormone cortisol. This hormone is used to help your body cope with difficult situations, become more resilient, and recover afterward. However, with overstimulation caused by long-term stress, your Adrenal Glands will start to have a hard time releasing proper levels of cortisol. Or, in other words, your Adrenal Glands get tired and stop making this essential hormone. In the end, without enough cortisol, the effect is exhaustion and a whole list of other symptoms.
Who can be affected by this? Anyone can experience Adrenal Fatigue. This is because the potential stressors include diet, anxiety, grief, trauma, overworking, poor diet, too much exercise, autoimmune conditions, overuse of medications, and a number of other things.
What are the signs of Adrenal Fatigue?
- Excessive fatigue
- Low response to stress
- Brain fog
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Energy later in the day
- Food cravings
- Weak immune system
- Hair loss
- Weight gain
- And many more
Can you get Tested For Adrenal Fatigue?
At this point, it is worth mentioning that standard medical professionals and doctors do not accept the diagnosis of Adrenal Fatigue. They dismiss it, because testing ‘normal’ Adrenal Gland function is difficult, and there is no test that can detect small drops in hormone production. But, feeling off, tired, not great, is not normal even if tests say you are fine.
Steps to overcome it naturally
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Now, all of this said, if you are looking to prevent or overcome Adrenal Fatigue, you need to do two things. And, those are, manage stress as well as engage in habits that ensure proper Adrenal Gland function.
Much easier said than done, fortunately, we put together a list of steps you can take to make it easier.
Step 1: Relax The Mind
Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing are great ways to turn off the mind and promote relaxation, the opposite of stress. During each of these practices, your brain is focused, which helps to remove the tensions of outside life. The result is a feeling of calmness that will ultimately lead to less stress! Your Adrenal Glands will thank you.
Step 2: Relax The Body
From getting a massage to sitting in a warm bath or pool, activities designed to release tension and lower your heart rate will ultimately increase the feeling of relaxation. When you feel comfortable, your body will naturally unwind and start to release happy hormones that fight stress.
Step 3: Rest
If you have Adrenal Fatigue you may find it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep. A catch 22, when cortisol is off, it messes with your ability to rest, which in turn causes irritability, moodiness, anxiety, everything that leads to stress. What a nasty cycle. Fortunately, if you are aware of your sleep patterns and work to ensure you rest as much as possible, you can beat sleeplessness. Now, say it with us, to overcome Adrenal Fatigue you must sleep.
Step 4: Empower The Body
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Another way to help reduce stress is to engage in light workouts. This could be anything from taking a walk, going for a swim, dancing, etc. The mental and physical benefits of empowering the body go hand in hand with mood as well as rest. Ditch the phone, tire yourself out, and relax better in the evening. But, beware, hard workouts can increase Adrenal Fatigue. So, keep it light.
Step 5: Change Diet
The fact is, what you consume affects your body and the way it works. In this light, working to overcome Adrenal Fatigue, there are a few things about your diet to consider. First, if you are an avid coffee drinker, you may want to only enjoy a cup in the morning. This is because caffeine spikes cortisol. Second, if you eat a lot of sugars, refined carbs, alcohol, etc. you need to cut back right now. These foods cause inflammation and have toxins that ruin your body's ability to function. Foods your Adrenal Glands like include Kefir, turkey, collard greens, red peppers, and calming teas.
Step 6: Supplement
If you are not taking natural supplements to improve relaxation, it may be time to consider it. The right supplements can actually make a world of difference in how you feel mentally and physically. Some of the most popular for Adrenal Fatigue are Magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, ashwagandha, and B vitamins as well as Alkaline Water made with many of these minerals. Yes, that is right, DYLN’s VitaBeads include natural relaxation ingredients that will help you overcome Adrenal Fatigue.
There is no better time than now!
Today is the best day to start your journey towards true wellness. If you feel overwhelmed by the above steps, take one at a time and slowly adapt your lifestyle. Even the smallest change could lead to a healthier, happier life.
