Adrenal Fatigue Diet
When your adrenal glands are not working well, you need to adapt the adrenal fatigue diet to catch up with the increased use of nutrients. Adrenal fatigue refers to broad condition where your adrenal glands are not working well. They do not produce sufficient hormones to keep up with the needs of the body. This is actually a traditional belief that the organs become exhausted and as a result, they fail to produce the hormone cortisol.
Introduction
According to alternative medicine, the adrenal glands experience the same tiredness as you feel after your stressful work. The exhaustion of the organs is too mild to be detected by regular laboratory tests. As such, you should not wait for the symptoms to occur before you begin a lifestyle modification. Your adrenals need the same rest and nourishment like you. It cannot be at its best unless you pay attention to its needs.
Functions of the Glands
The adrenal glands constantly respond to the different stimuli from the environment. They work day in and day out. They maintain your fight and flight response, metabolize fat and protein, regulate your glucose level and help you cope up with stress. But in the case of adrenal gland insufficiency, the organs do not respond well to bring back the homeostasis inside your body. They fail to catch up to the demands of your work. If they do not get treated, sooner or later, they will break down and cause you more problems. Now that you can still manage the condition and save them from devastating stress, begin an adrenal gland diet.
Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue
The symptoms of adrenal fatigue are not as obvious as you think. You may look normal on the outside but your adrenal glands are suffering from the inside. But despite the mild symptoms, there are clues to tell that the organs are in bad shape. Morning fatigue, low feelings in the afternoon, unusual cravings for salty food, mild depression, muscle weakness, memory problems, mood swings, increased susceptibility to diseases and increased food allergies should warn you of the need to begin an adrenal fatigue diet.
Dietary Supplements
If you think you cannot get enough nutrients from your regular diet, you can always use dietary nutrients to supply your body with the missing vitamins and minerals. The products are especially formulated to help your body cope up with the stress while your adrenals are on the rest. They are available from your local health shop, alternative medicine stores or from different online sites. You only have to take them regularly to ensure the health of your body.
Adrenal Fatigue Diet
Because there is a strong connection between your health and the food you eat, you have to pay attention to it. Eating the incorrect food will lead to serious health complications. To improve the quality of your life and ensure that you adrenal glands are in good condition, here are the foods that you must include in your adrenal fatigue diet.
- Water
Water is an important component of healthy adrenal glands. It assists in cleansing the body from all the toxic chemicals. Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water everyday helps you flush out the toxins. Make sure that you take the purified form of water. You may also get water from fruits. Fresh fruits juices do not only provide you with liquid sources but also with a good amount of fiber. However, choose the low sugar fruits. Avoid banana, apricot, mango, oranges and grapes.
- Salty Foods
Because of the reduced amount of cortisol, salt is lost in the urine. Thus, it is natural feeling that you will crave for salty foods during the organ exhaustion. To improve your adrenal fatigue diet, incorporate salty foods in your meal. Use iodized salt instead of the regular salt to get other minerals with it. Other experts recommend the use of celtic sea salt for better nutrient absorption.
- Eliminate Caffeine and Alcohol
Caffeine and alcohol add stress to your waning adrenal glands. They present too strong chemicals that even rob off your energy level. If you are a regular coffee drinker or an alcoholic, you may need psychological assistance before you can fully quit the habit. But as long as you are motivated to help your adrenal, you’ll always find the reason to move on.
- Eat More Vegetables
Vegetables are good sources of vitamins and minerals. Always include at least one serving in your meal. Choose green leafy vegetables, squash, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. They are rich in fiber and antioxidant. Just be careful not to overcook them. Otherwise, you lose the nutrients you need and your adrenal fatigue diet becomes useless.
- Protein
Proteins are very important in the repair of tissues. Thus, you need eat foods rich in protein. You can get them from meat, fish, beans, nuts and legumes. Avoid eating proteins from processed products like ham, hotdogs, sausages or canned goods. They are high in artificial ingredients that will stress your glands even further.
- Low Carbohydrate
Carbohydrates are also important components of the adrenal fatigue diet. But go only for complex carbs and avoid the simple sugars. Brown rice and sprouted grains are highly preferable.
- Right Fats
Fats come in good and bad type. When you are on an adrenal fatigue diet, you must choose the good over the bad fats. Fish oil containing omega 3 is healthy for the body. Use olive oil in cooking your food and take one teaspoon of virgin coconut oil everyday.
- Limit Dairy Products
Many people are allergic to dairy products. If you have a known allergy to egg, cheese, wheat soy and chicken, reduce your intake so as not to stimulate your immune system.
The main idea in adrenal fatigue diet is to adapt a healthy lifestyle. You can no longer afford to add stress to your already ailing adrenal glands. You have to know what to eat, how much to eat and when to eat. You should never skip meals. Small, frequent meals are the best to keep you in a well-conditioned state. With the adrenal fatigue diet, you can save your organs from further problems.