Your two adrenal glands lie on top of your kidneys and are responsible for producing several hormones including the stress hormones; adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones are produced when we are physically or emotionally stressed in order to prepare and equip our body to deal with stress.

How does adrenal fatigue differ from general day-to-day fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue actually refers to HPA axis dysregulation. The HPA axis stands for hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis which is the control centre for your body’s stress response. Adrenal fatigue occurs when our HPA axis is constantly elevated, which in the modern world can become constantly triggered by stressors such as financial problems, work troubles, relationship/family conflict, the death of a loved one, marriage breakups, insomnia and chronic illnesses. From all these common stressors, your HPA axis becomes more and more activated until eventually it stops responding to the activation signal. So firstly, you will have high cortisol levels and then over time as a survival mechanism your adrenals will stop pumping out as much cortisol. To determine whether you are simply tired or suffering from adrenal fatigue, it is essential to look at your signs and symptoms and get the necessary blood tests to further indicate diagnosis.

Addison’s disease is an autoimmune disease whereby the immune system attacks the adrenal glands. It can cause complete adrenal failure and can be a medical emergency. Adrenal gland fatigue refers to a state where the adrenal gland hormones are still in the normal range, but at the bottom of normal, along with a host of unpleasant symptoms.

Causes of adrenal fatigue include:

  • Insufficient sleep or poor-quality sleep
  • Stress – physical, mental or emotional
  • Overworking without adequate rest
  • Lacking in good fats and consuming too many unhealthy fats
  • Deficiency of vitamin C, magnesium and antioxidants
  • Excess stimulants - Caffeine and/or nicotine
  • Excess sugar intake
  • Repeated and/or extended chemical exposure
  • Chronic illness
  • Over-training

Signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue can include:

  • Feeling exhausted despite getting adequate sleep
  • Unrefreshing sleep
  • Light, broken sleep
  • Intense sugar and/or salt cravings
  • Feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope with life
  • Feeling tired in the morning followed by a burst of energy between 4pm and 8pm
  • Foggy memory and trouble concentrating
  • Poor immunity with recurrent infections
  • Easy weight gain
  • Inability to lose weight
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Poor recovery after exercise
  • Digestive issues (heartburn, flatulence, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea)
  • Stress headaches
  • Blurred vision
  • Allergies

How is adrenal fatigue diagnosed?

Blood tests are available which can measure the levels of the adrenal hormones cortisol and DHEA. If you are low in these hormones or near the bottom of the normal range, this usually indicates adrenal fatigue.

How to treat adrenal fatigue:

  • Reduce stress
    This is an obvious one, but if you suffer from a lot of stress in your life, it is important to find healthy ways to relieve stress. Write down a list of the factors that are contributing to your stress levels and look at ways of rectifying them. If you can’t remove the stressor, at least you can find healthy ways of coping which will make a big difference. Effective methods include yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, reading, listening to relaxing music or catching up with a loved one. You may benefit by taking tyrosine, an amino acid that stimulates the neurotransmitters needed for concentration, memory, satisfaction and mood control. Tyrosine also assists memory and mental performance during stressful conditions.
  • Minimize sugar intake
    Individuals with adrenal fatigue often crave sugary foods to provide a quick energy boost. Sugar can burn out your adrenals and trigger adrenal fatigue if consumed in excess.  It is best to get small amounts of sugar from fresh fruit, and as soon as your energy levels improve you will not crave sugar as much.
  • Eat good quality protein and fats
    Protein is excellent as stabilizing blood sugar levels and sustaining energy levels throughout the day. Good protein sources include chicken, seafood, lean meat, eggs, whey protein powder and legumes (beans, peas, lentils). Healthy fats help to regulate the adrenal glands and can be found in avocados, cold pressed olive oil, nut and seed oils, raw nuts and seeds.
  • Get more vitamin C
    The majority of vitamin C in your body is stored in your adrenal glands. Most people do not consume sufficient amounts of vegetables and fruits to get enough vitamin C. If your diet lacks in vitamin C, your adrenal glands will suffer. If you have adrenal fatigue you will need to consume a minimum of 1000mg of vitamin C per day. Raw vegetable juicing is an excellent way to acquire vitamin C and nutrients in a concentrated form. There are great recipes in my book ‘Raw Juices Can Save Your Life’.
  • Avoid caffeine
    If you are someone who drinks large amounts of coffee or other caffeine-containing beverages then it could definitely trigger adrenal fatigue. Black tea and coffee are generally ok, but we recommend avoiding caffeine altogether if you suffer from adrenal fatigue.
  • Get enough sleep
    Sleep is critical for resting and replenishing the body and people with adrenal fatigue often have poor quality sleep. your adrenal glands will greatly benefit if you can be in bed by 10 or 10.30pm with the aim of getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep. Magnesium is an excellent supplement to take as it helps to promote healthy sleep and relaxation.

You may benefit from taking the highly potent formula called Adrenal Natural Glandular which helps to fight adrenal fatigue.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

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