Stimulating Adrenal Fatigue

Who does this sound like? I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, I have low energy most days, I have gained some extra weight, I am not sleeping too well at night, I tend to have a decreased libido, I am feeling a bit depressed and I’m not particularly handling stress too well.

It sounds to me like most Americans these days.

So, what’s the remedy for being tired and fatigued: Starbucks, Mountain Dew, or Rockstar.

So, what’s the remedy for the extra weight gain: Caffeine, ephedrine, or even clenbuterol for you veterans.

Now with all of the stimulants circulating around your body, you can’t sleep.

So, what’s the remedy for sleeplessness: Sleeping pills.

And the remedy for decreased libido: Um, no sex (oh no).

How about the remedy for the depression and handling the extra stress: Anti-depressants and Anxiolytics.

Gosh, we have a cabinet full of meds now. Ever wonder what the CAUSE of all of these symptoms might be? Well, I’m going to help you out.

Your adrenal glands are tiny triangle shaped endocrine (hormone producing) glands that sit right on top of your kidneys. Their primary function is to regulate your body’s “stress response.” A stress response is any stress put on your body that forces it to work harder. Examples include exercise, anxiety, and BINGO—stimulants. Stimulants cause your body to induce a stress response, making these tiny glands work harder to pump out hormones called epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Ie: coffee buzz.

The more caffeine we drink and the more stimulants we ingest, the harder our adrenals have to work to keep making stress hormones. And like us, they are not too keen on working overtime. Eventually like all things, if we don’t take care of what we have, our adrenals crash. This is known as Adrenal Fatigue. When this happens, our adrenal glands quit making these hormones and we become tired and fatigued, irritable, we gain weight, we become less interested in sex (oh no), and the reason that we cannot fall asleep at night (besides the caffeine still floating in our system) is that our adrenal glands also produce a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol helps to regulate our sleeping cycle, and when cortisol cannot be produced in adequate amounts, falling asleep seems like a never-ending chore.

So my friends, we are now what we call “a mess!”

It’s time to fix this mix that we have gotten ourselves into, shall we!

First things first, CUT OUT THE STIMULANTS. Yep, you are going to be pretty darn tired for a few days, but remember it’s totally worth your health. (Sidenote: If you are trying to lose weight by taking stimulants, you will actually gain it in the long run. Don’t you remember the story about the tortoise and the hare? Slow and steady weight loss leads to keeping it off.)

Next, follow these simple steps:

1. Go to bed at a decent hour, and allow yourself 6-8 hours of sleep (You may not be able to fall asleep for a few days/weeks, so try taking melatonin or 5HTP an hour before bed).
2. Eat breakfast. Make sure to include a protein and a carbohydrate. Your adrenal glands need nutrition too!
3. Try closing your eyes 3 times per day for 3-5 minutes to quiet your mind; deep breathing exercises are great.
4. We need to begin bringing our adrenals back to life, so stop by your local natural health food store and ask about:-Panax ginseng (Korean Ginseng) , Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng), glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice—not the twizzlers), Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus), Vitamin C, and Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
   sidenote: please check with your health care provider if you are being treated and/or taking medications when thinking about using supplements.
5. Take a good multi vitamin and a B complex (not from WalMart). A few great brands include Pure Encapsulations, Seroyal, and Genestra. (contact your local Naturopathic Physician.)
6. Include fish oil in your daily regimen: 1000mg EPA/DHA per day.
7. Here is a secret to staying stimulated naturally: Rhodiola rosea or D-Ribose.
8. If you are still having a hard time falling asleep after following this regimen for a few weeks, call your Naturopathic Physician and request to have a cortisol challenge test.

And so, there you have it. A few simple tips to get you back on track. Remember, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog. Stay committed, love yourself for who you are and not for what you are. Stay tuned for future articles; living fit and loving your life.