Keeping the Adrenals Healthy
The adrenal glands play a hugely important role in our health. Each one sits just above your kidneys, in the middle of your lower back area, where they manufacture numerous hormones, regulate blood sugar and the body’s mineral supply, produce and maintain the body’s energy levels in conjunction with the thyroid, and produce stress-monitoring hormones
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uch as DHEA, cortisol and aldosterone.
When adrenals run in tip-top shape, we feel upbeat and positive. But adrenals can become depleted of nutrients, especially minerals, during periods of stress. Things that contribute to this depletion include an overly hectic lifestyle, unresolved emotional conflict, environmental toxic exposure and nutritional deficiency.
Ask yourself,
- Do you have difficulty awakening from sleep in the morning?
- Have you recently gained weight, especially around the middle?
- Do you feel like you get every cold and flu bug that's going around?
- Do you have difficulty dealing with stress?
- Do you have a lack of interest in sex?
- Do you frequently feel lightheaded upon standing quickly?
- Do you struggle with poor memory or “brain fog”?
- Do you feel especially tired in the mornings and afternoons between 3-5pm?
- Do you feel the need to snack or eat frequently to maintain a normal blood sugar?
- Do you crave salty foods?
- Do you feel tired between 7-10 p.m. but get a second wind if you stay up later?
- If you are female do you struggle with PMS: heavy bleeding, moodiness, fatigue during menstrual cycle? If you are male, do you feel like your stamina, energy and ability to maintain muscle are decreased?
- Do you frequently have pain in the upper back or neck with no apparent reason?
- Do you notice improvement of symptoms stress levels are lower, such as during a vacation or time away from work?
If you said yes to any of these, read on…
Adaptogens
We've officially entered the "holi-daze" and although that means more fun and good memories being made, it can also add pressures and extra stress to our lives. The nasty effects of stress on our adrenals can last for months, affecting our overall health and immunity well into the winter.
One way to ward off fatigue, anxiety, and those long-term effects of stress (i.e. reduced immune-system function, inflammation and weight-gain) is to use an amazing class of herbal supplements called adaptogens. These super-herbs have the incredible power to improve your response to all forms of stress as well as increase your physical and mental endurance.
As is stated in the name, adaptogens help us adjust to whatever life throws our way. Instead of having one specific action, adaptogenic herbs support your body to regulate itself. It is a unique level of intelligence that only exists in 16 herbs on the planet.
A few popular adaptogens to embrace into your daily regimen at this time of year are astragalus, ginseng, tulsi, rhodiola, and the latest superfood craze, chaga mushroom.
Chaga has received a lot of attention lately because of its newfound use as an energizing coffee substitute.
Some of its medicinal properties include:
- Natural energy lifter without the caffeine
- Immune-boosting, antibacterial and antiviral properties
- Anti-inflammatory action
- Adaptogenic capability to both relax or gently stimulate depending on what your body needs
- Rich in anti-tumor compounds
- Protects the skin from sun damage