Adrenal glands play a huge role in the stress response. Your brain registers a threat whether it is emotional, mental or physical. The adrenal medulla releases adrenaline hormones to help you react to the threat (the fight-or-flight response), rushing blood to your brain, heart and muscles. The adrenal cortex then releases corticosteroids to dampen processes like digestion, immune system response, and other functions not necessary for immediate survival. Your adrenal glands are two thumb-sized organs that sit above your kidneys that are part of the endocrine system. Also known as the suprarenal glands, they are involved in producing over 50 hormones that drive almost every bodily function, many of which are essential for life. Your adrenal glands are also responsible for balancing hormones. These include Glucocorticoids hormones that balance your body’s blood sugar, help with energy and metabolism they help your body handle stress and manage your immune response. Mineralocorticoids hormones maintain healthy blood pressure, manage your blood hydration level, and keep your blood healthy by keeping salt and water in balance. Sex hormones are oestrogen & testosterone. Adrenaline hormones affect your heart health and make sure that all parts of the body are getting blood and convert glycogen into glucose in your liver.
What happens when the adrenal glands stop producing hormones efficiently? Every bodily function is affected and as adrenal hormone levels shrink, the normal energy levels disappear.
Adrenal fatigue symptoms include:
• Waking up tired even after an 8hr sleep
• Depression
• Muscle tension and weakness
• Poor focus (Brain Fog)
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritability
• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Get an energy slump in the afternoon then perk up around 6-7pm with a second wind around 9.30pm, staying up to the wee hours of the morning.
If you’ve experienced any of these adrenal fatigue side effects, take heart, there are now many natural ways to treat and support your adrenal system. Get support the first step is to address your diet, stress reduction and also a combination of supplements. The process can take anywhere between 6 to 9 months or longer. Remember this did not just happen overnight.
Tips to get you started:
• Evaluate what’s going on in your life.
• Say No to those extra requests on you.
• Don’t rely on sugar, caffeine and refined foods to keep you going, because they won’t.
• Do restorative exercises – walking and yoga.
• Breathe deeply even for 5minutes a day.
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Natalia Jones
