Chronic Stress & the Adrenal Connection

The adrenal glands are primarily known for the production of our stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline.  But they are literally a hormone factory and significantly affect the function of every tissue, organ and gland. They produce our anti-aging hormone DHEA, our reproductive hormones: estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, as well as aldosterone which regulate our sodium and potassium.

The basic task of your adrenal glands is to rush all your body’s resources into “fight or flight” mode by increasing production of adrenaline and cortisol.  The problem occurs when we are constantly in the “fight or flight” mode and we begin to produce too much cortisol and adrenaline.

If you are living your life in constant stress and always on the go, you are constantly in the “fight or flight” mode which triggers your body to burn calories from carbohydrates and proteins (lean muscle), and NOT stored body fats. The constant squeeze on the adrenal glands will cause your heart to race, your blood pressure to increase, your digestion to slow down and your immune system to go on alert.  More importantly, it will affect your metabolism, which controls your energy and your ability to lose weight.

However, when the body is in the “resting-digesting” mode, it will burn stored body fats for energy. This is important because you get two and a half times more energy when you burn fats instead of carbohydrates or proteins. This is why it is so important to manage your stress but more importantly to know where it is coming from so that you can create some positive changes to avoid future problems.

    Get Sleeping!

Make Your First Prioirty to begin getting at least 7-8 full hours of sleep per night. You should be in bed, lights off no later than 11pm, but the golden hours of sleep for the adrenals is 10pm – 4am. Aim to start going to bed 15 minutes earlier each night until if have found your desired goal. You may actually need to establish a nighttime routine for yourself much like you would for a child.

What You Can Do Nutritionally To Re-Balance Your Adrenals?

  • Consume plenty of fresh raw fruits, rich-coloured veggies, lean poultry and deepwater fish.
  • Eat brewer’s yeast, brown rice, legumes, nuts, seeds, avocado’s, olive and coconut oil, wheat germ, nutritional yeast, and whole grains.
  • Make sure that grains are whole or ancient grains and not in flour form. Try quinoa, brown rice, amaranth, millet, spelt and kamut for some healthier alternatives to white or plain whole wheat versions.
  • Include garlic, onions, shiitake mushrooms and barley. These foods contain germanium, a powerful stimulant to the immune system.
  • Avoid alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, artificial sweeteners and other excito-toxins as they are highly toxic and stressful to the adrenals and other glands.
  • Avoid fats, fried food, ham, pork, processed foods, red meat, soda, sugar & msg.
  • Make sure to include a good quality B complex supplement (nourishes the nervous system) as well as Vitamin C 3,000mg daily, Vitamin D 3,000-5,000IU daily and a good source of Essential Fatty Acids.
  • These supplements are a good BASE to start with and then once your body’s absorption is up than you can talk to your health care provider/nutritionist about a more adrenal-specific supplement.

Stay tuned for my next post on my favorite exercise tips for balancing out adrenals!

Posted in Nutrition, Uncategorized, Womens Wellness Group