As a species, we were not designed to be under the constant stress and energy drain of today’s society. Because of our fast-paced, modern lives we find ourselves always locked in to a fight-or-flight state and ignore the toll it takes on our bodies and minds.
Stress and your body’s reaction to it are actually caused by a hormone known as cortisol, which is created and regulated by your adrenal glands. When your adrenal glands suffer from hormonal imbalance, you develop a condition commonly known as adrenal fatigue.
Do I Have Adrenal Fatigue?
It’s possible that you have adrenal fatigue (also called hypocortisolism) and don’t know it. Some of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue include:
- Dizziness
- Weight gain
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Irritability
- Physical weakness
- Excessive salt cravings
- Excessive sugar cravings
These symptoms are usually caused by a deficiency of the hormone cortisol. Paradoxically, and elevated level of cortisol (also indicative of adrenal stress) can cause similar symptoms. When your body is physically incapable of de-stressing, the effects can be absolutely devastating.
Changes in stress management, diet and nutritional supplements, in particular, are effective for treating adrenal fatigue (adrenal burnout).
Adrenal Fatigue and Diet
An expert adrenal fatigue doctor will put together a well-organized diet that can help you fight adrenal burnout and feel healthier in general.
In addition to certain key vitamins, there are also several substances to avoid as a part of your adrenal fatigue diet. They include:
- High salt foods
- High fat foods
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Tobacco
The best way to deal with adrenal fatigue is to consult with a doctor specially trained to recognize and to treat this modern scourge on our bodies.
