Adrenal Fatigue: Causes, Symptoms, and Natural Remedies
Adrenal fatigue affects many of us without us even realizing it. There's no test to diagnose adrenal fatigue, so it's hard to know if you are suffering from it.
There are, however, symptoms and causes of the condition that can help you assess whether or not you have it.
What exactly is adrenal fatigue and how can you make lifestyle changes to make sure you don't get it?
What Is Adrenal Fatigue?
Your adrenal glands are just above your kidneys. They are responsible for secreting hormones into your body.
These hormones are:
- Mineralocorticoids
- Glucocorticoids
- Adrenal androgens
Those hormone groups include hormones such as aldosterone, which helps regulate your body's water and salt levels, cortisol (the stress hormone) and testosterone.
Without these critical hormones, our bodies wouldn't be able to function correctly and take care of day-to-day processes that keep us alive! It's important that the hormones are released into the bloodstream in the right quantities for us to stay healthy.
If your adrenal glands secrete too much cortisol into your bloodstream, it can cause the glands to become overworked and exhausted. This can lead to the condition commonly known as adrenal fatigue.
What Are the Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue?
If you have adrenal fatigue, it's tough to tell, but you may suffer from some of the adrenal fatigue symptoms such as:
- Excessive tiredness
- Brain fog
- Inability to focus
- Periods of exhaustion during your day
- Poor motivation
- Difficulty sleeping
- Cravings for sugar or salt
- Stress and mood swings
- Hair loss
The symptoms are very unspecific, making it hard for doctors to diagnose adrenal fatigue.
If you think you may have a health issue, go to your doctor and speak to them about your symptoms. They will be able to run tests to make sure you don't have any other illnesses.
Adrenal Fatigue Causes
If you have the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, your body may have upped your cortisol production. This could be a result of excess stress in your life.
If you are constantly in a state of stress, this can cause your adrenal glands to malfunction and cause the symptoms of adrenal fatigue. It could be any type of stress, whether at work, home, or your environment.
One of the best ways to minimize the risk of adrenal fatigue is to try and reduce the stress in your life. That could be done by making some minor lifestyle changes.
A poor diet, lack of exercise and not enough sleep can all contribute to raised stress levels.
To reduce stress in your life, you could ask for better working conditions, try some stress-busting exercises and make sure you are spending some quality time with those you care about. Here are some more ideas for you to reduce your stress levels.
What Are Adrenal Fatigue Treatments?
As adrenal fatigue is not officially recognized as a disease, there are no medical treatments for it.
The best way to treat the problem is with healthy lifestyle changes. You can start by taking steps to reduce your stress levels.
You can also make some small changes to help improve your overall health and live a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Some of the aspects of your lifestyle to look at include:
Diet
If you want to reduce stress and inflammation in the body, you should try to eat as many fresh, whole foods as possible. A healthy, balanced diet is the key to a healthy, happy life.
Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, nuts, beans and pulses and don't forget complex carbohydrates such as brown rice and lean protein such as chicken.
Exercise Levels
Exercising is one of the best stress-busters out there. Simply moving your body can make you feel so much better both mentally and physically.
Try to find an exercise activity you enjoy to make it easier to fit into your routine. You should aim for at least three intense exercise sessions per week.
Your Sleep Schedule
The amount you sleep is so essential for your overall wellbeing. Never underestimate the power a good night's sleep has on your physical and mental health.
Try to get 7-9 hours of sleep a night and minimize distractions to sleep. Remove any technology or phones from your bedroom and make it an inviting zone for sleeping!
Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol causes stress to your body and can cause long-term problems. It messes with your sleep pattern and you often crave unhealthy foods when you've been drinking.
If you drink, try and stick with the recommended daily limits and have some drink-free days during your week.
Caffeine Intake
Excess caffeine can also cause problems with your health and influence stress. If you are tired, it can be tempting to drink lots of caffeinated drinks.
Try sticking to one or two caffeinated drinks per day.
Supplements
Taking supplements can also help you manage your stress levels and general health.
B vitamins, C vitamins, calcium and magnesium, are all important for your hormone production. Take these supplements regularly to ensure you have adequate levels.
You can also try some adrenal support supplements like this one which is focused specifically on healing problems with the adrenal glands.
Take Small Steps to a Healthier Lifestyle
Stress and exhaustion are intrinsically interlinked. If you want to stop feeling exhausted and get rid of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, you'll need to make some small, healthy lifestyle changes.
Use the ideas in this guide or check out our online health education to help you start making small, sustainable, healthy changes to your lifestyle.
Jay Todtenbier is an original founder of SupplementRelief.com in 2010 and has operated the business ever since. He is also a tennis instructor and gospel musician. Formerly he spent 25 years in business development, technology and marketing with startups and major corporations having gone through the tech boom in Silicon Valley in the 90s. He became passionate about, and began studying and practicing Wellness as a Lifestyle after experiencing chronic, personal health challenges including depression, auto-immune disorders, and being overweight that impacted his ability to live a healthy, vibrant life. Since then, he has been an advocate for healthier living encouraging others to live better through making small, gradual changes to lifestyle behaviors relating to whole-foods nutrition, stress management, reasonable exercise, proper sleep, and the use of targeted, high-quality supplements.
Learn more about Jay Todtenbier.
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Eliminating or minimizing Gluten and Dairy from your diet isn't necessary for everyone but some certainly benefit from making these lifestyle changes. Regardless, we all benefit from eating more natural, whole foods and less processed foods. Learn more about gluten-free and dairy-free nutrition options and take advantage of the educational resources, shopping list, and recipes.
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Vitamins and dietary supplements seem to be everywhere, from drug stores to online shops. Single nutrients, multivitamins, fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and weight loss helpers are all considered dietary supplements. There's a lot to choose from, which can make the selection process quite confusing.
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We are what we eat. Studies from reputable health organizations suggest that 40-60% of Americans are living with one or more chronic diseases, which negatively impacts their quality of life, reduces employment productivity, and drives up health care costs.1 Lifestyle choices, in particular, the foods we choose to put into our bodies, are making us sick. However, we do have choices regarding our nutrition.
Learn practical tips for healthy and affordable grocery shopping and consider using a list similar to the recommended natural, whole foods grocery shopping list provided to get you off to a good start!
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Blog Post
What Is Adrenal Fatigue?
Your adrenal glands are just above your kidneys. They are responsible for secreting hormones into your body.
These hormones are:
- Mineralocorticoids
- Glucocorticoids
- Adrenal androgens
Those hormone groups include hormones such as aldosterone, which helps regulate your body's water and salt levels, cortisol (the stress hormone) and testosterone.
Without these critical hormones, our bodies wouldn't be able to function correctly and take care of day-to-day processes that keep us alive! It's important that the hormones are released into the bloodstream in the right quantities for us to stay healthy.
If your adrenal glands secrete too much cortisol into your bloodstream, it can cause the glands to become overworked and exhausted. This can lead to the condition commonly known as adrenal fatigue.
What Are the Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue?
If you have adrenal fatigue, it's tough to tell, but you may suffer from some of the adrenal fatigue symptoms such as:
- Excessive tiredness
- Brain fog
- Inability to focus
- Periods of exhaustion during your day
- Poor motivation
- Difficulty sleeping
- Cravings for sugar or salt
- Stress and mood swings
- Hair loss
The symptoms are very unspecific, making it hard for doctors to diagnose adrenal fatigue.
If you think you may have a health issue, go to your doctor and speak to them about your symptoms. They will be able to run tests to make sure you don't have any other illnesses.
Adrenal Fatigue Causes
If you have the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, your body may have upped your cortisol production. This could be a result of excess stress in your life.
If you are constantly in a state of stress, this can cause your adrenal glands to malfunction and cause the symptoms of adrenal fatigue. It could be any type of stress, whether at work, home, or your environment.
One of the best ways to minimize the risk of adrenal fatigue is to try and reduce the stress in your life. That could be done by making some minor lifestyle changes.
A poor diet, lack of exercise and not enough sleep can all contribute to raised stress levels.
To reduce stress in your life, you could ask for better working conditions, try some stress-busting exercises and make sure you are spending some quality time with those you care about. Here are some more ideas for you to reduce your stress levels.
What Are Adrenal Fatigue Treatments?
As adrenal fatigue is not officially recognized as a disease, there are no medical treatments for it.
The best way to treat the problem is with healthy lifestyle changes. You can start by taking steps to reduce your stress levels.
You can also make some small changes to help improve your overall health and live a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Some of the aspects of your lifestyle to look at include:
Diet
If you want to reduce stress and inflammation in the body, you should try to eat as many fresh, whole foods as possible. A healthy, balanced diet is the key to a healthy, happy life.
Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, nuts, beans and pulses and don't forget complex carbohydrates such as brown rice and lean protein such as chicken.
Exercise Levels
Exercising is one of the best stress-busters out there. Simply moving your body can make you feel so much better both mentally and physically.
Try to find an exercise activity you enjoy to make it easier to fit into your routine. You should aim for at least three intense exercise sessions per week.
Your Sleep Schedule
The amount you sleep is so essential for your overall wellbeing. Never underestimate the power a good night's sleep has on your physical and mental health.
Try to get 7-9 hours of sleep a night and minimize distractions to sleep. Remove any technology or phones from your bedroom and make it an inviting zone for sleeping!
Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol causes stress to your body and can cause long-term problems. It messes with your sleep pattern and you often crave unhealthy foods when you've been drinking.
If you drink, try and stick with the recommended daily limits and have some drink-free days during your week.
Caffeine Intake
Excess caffeine can also cause problems with your health and influence stress. If you are tired, it can be tempting to drink lots of caffeinated drinks.
Try sticking to one or two caffeinated drinks per day.
Supplements
Taking supplements can also help you manage your stress levels and general health.
B vitamins, C vitamins, calcium and magnesium, are all important for your hormone production. Take these supplements regularly to ensure you have adequate levels.
You can also try some adrenal support supplements like this one which is focused specifically on healing problems with the adrenal glands.
Take Small Steps to a Healthier Lifestyle
Stress and exhaustion are intrinsically interlinked. If you want to stop feeling exhausted and get rid of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, you'll need to make some small, healthy lifestyle changes.
Use the ideas in this guide or check out our online health education to help you start making small, sustainable, healthy changes to your lifestyle.
AuthorJay Todtenbier is an original founder of SupplementRelief.com in 2010 and has operated the business ever since. He is also a tennis instructor and gospel musician. Formerly he spent 25 years in business development, technology and marketing with startups and major corporations having gone through the tech boom in Silicon Valley in the 90s. He became passionate about, and began studying and practicing Wellness as a Lifestyle after experiencing chronic, personal health challenges including depression, auto-immune disorders, and being overweight that impacted his ability to live a healthy, vibrant life. Since then, he has been an advocate for healthier living encouraging others to live better through making small, gradual changes to lifestyle behaviors relating to whole-foods nutrition, stress management, reasonable exercise, proper sleep, and the use of targeted, high-quality supplements.
Learn more about Jay Todtenbier.
-
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Stress is a natural reaction to any challenging or threatening event in life. When you're waiting for the results of a diagnostic procedure or when another driver suddenly swerves into your lane, your nervous system releases hormones like adrenalin and cortisol that help to activate the "fight or flight" response. You become more alert, your heart rate quickens, and you breathe faster.
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Physical activity is a great way to facilitate better health and reduce stress. While we are spending more time at home, consider these suggestions to alter activities you are likely already doing, to provide more movement in your daily routines.
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The benefits of regular exercise are endless. Not only does it keep us physically healthy, but it also impacts our mental health. In addition, exercise is proven to reduce our risk of developing chronic illnesses and diseases such as diabetes and dementia.
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Sometimes, stress makes it really hard to fall asleep. I have chronic health issues, a full-time (and then some) job, four kids, a busy husband, and a fluffy dog. Yes, sometimes stress can make it difficult to sleep.
Help for Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Living
Eliminating or minimizing Gluten and Dairy from your diet isn't necessary for everyone but some certainly benefit from making these lifestyle changes. Regardless, we all benefit from eating more natural, whole foods and less processed foods. Learn more about gluten-free and dairy-free nutrition options and take advantage of the educational resources, shopping list, and recipes.
How to Choose the Right Dietary Supplements for You
Vitamins and dietary supplements seem to be everywhere, from drug stores to online shops. Single nutrients, multivitamins, fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and weight loss helpers are all considered dietary supplements. There's a lot to choose from, which can make the selection process quite confusing.
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We are what we eat. Studies from reputable health organizations suggest that 40-60% of Americans are living with one or more chronic diseases, which negatively impacts their quality of life, reduces employment productivity, and drives up health care costs.1 Lifestyle choices, in particular, the foods we choose to put into our bodies, are making us sick. However, we do have choices regarding our nutrition.
Learn practical tips for healthy and affordable grocery shopping and consider using a list similar to the recommended natural, whole foods grocery shopping list provided to get you off to a good start!
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Stress is inevitable in conflict. Ask yourself "Am I stirring the pot, or is this worth the fight?"
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Cognitive decline will happen to everyone as they get older. It involves thinking and processing information at a slower pace, moving slower, remembering less information, and having a difficult time putting together sentences.
The Best Habits for Healthy Sleep
Not sleeping enough can influence your mood, your stress levels, your ability to focus, your relationships, and even cause you to make poor exercise and diet decisions. Want to learn how to get more healthy sleep? Keep reading to learn healthy sleeping tips and habits.
The Most Effective Ways to Deal With Stress Weight Loss
Currently, three-quarters of Americans experience moderate to high levels of stress. In small doses, periodic stress can be good. Stress can improve motivation, resilience, and cognitive function.
Vitamin D and Mental Health
Vitamin D is commonly known as the 'sunshine vitamin.' This is simply because, when exposed to the sun, our bodies produce the vitamin. Let's take a look at what the science shows about how this vital vitamin impacts our mental health.
What's a Sedentary Lifestyle? The Risks Plus the Benefits of Exercise
Are you living a sedentary lifestyle? Many of us are. We don't move our bodies as much as we used to. Here's why a sedentary lifestyle can be bad for your health and simple, positive lifestyle changes to help improve your life.
The information, knowledge, and experience shared on this website is the opinion of SupplementRelief.com. This site and its content is intended to enhance your knowledge base as YOU MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTHCARE DECISIONS in partnership with your qualified health professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any products referred to are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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