Adrenal Fatigue

What is adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is becoming an increasingly common (yet sometimes disputed) diagnosis used to indicate the depletion of the adrenal glands. If you’re feeling constantly exhausted and under long-term mental, emotional or physical stress, this could be the cause.

Our adrenal glands are essential for our everyday health. They produce hormones that help the body to burn fat and protein, regulate sugar, regulate blood pressure and react to stressors.

In response to stressors, the adrenal glands produce a hormone called cortisol and adrenal fatigue is thought to occur when the adrenals become overtaxed by producing excess cortisol in times of great stress. The theory is following these periods of great stress, the adrenal glands can then no longer produce the levels of cortisol necessary for optimum body function.

What can cause adrenal fatigue?

Any kind of excess stress can cause adrenal fatigue. Experiences such as grief, trauma, and autoimmune conditions are considered to have a possible negative effect on adrenal function. An overuse of antibiotics is also believed to have possible detrimental effects on cortisol production.

Symptoms of adrenal fatigue

Excessive fatigue with intermittent energy drops throughout the day
Trouble falling asleep at night and waking up in the morning
Poor mood regulation
Brain fog
Cravings for sweet or salty foods
Overuse of caffeine and other stimulants
A compromised immune system
Unexplained weight loss

Treatment

Currently there is no pharmaceutical treatment for adrenal fatigue, but suggested natural remedies include lifestyle changes such as a low-sugar, low-caffeine diet, avoiding junk food, a healthy sleep schedule and gives up smoking, alcohol and drugs. Because the adrenal fatigue theory is based heavily on stress, some keys ways to reduce stress include mediation, deep breathing and exercise.

Nutritional supplementation is considered to be very effective in treating specific symptoms, specifically vitamin C, B vitamins, Magnesium, Coenzyme Q10 and Ashwagandha.

Recommendation: Terra Nova B-complex

https://www.relax-ldn.com/product-page/b-complex-w-vitamin-c-100-s

Sources

https://www.hormone.org/diseases-and-conditions/adrenal-fatigue

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-adrenal-fatigue-real-2018022813344

https://www.healthline.com/health/adrenal-fatigue-treatment

https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/adrenal-disorders/adrenal-fatigue