Feeling Like a Sloth? Your Adrenals Could be to Blame
If you often feel tired, have low energy and no matter what you try you can’t lose weight, weakened adrenal glands might be to blame. Your adrenal glands are the walnut sized, triangle-shaped endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys. They’re main responsibility is to produce the hormones required to manage both physical and emotional stress.
Fatigued or overtasked adrenal glands can cause a whole host of problems in your body. I experienced several of the symptoms listed below before I brought balance back to my body and mind.
Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue
Excessive sweating or perspiration from little activity
Lower back pain and/or knee weakness or pain, especially on the side
Dark circles under the eyes
Dizziness
Muscle twitches
Low blood sugar
Heart palpitations
Sensitivity to light, or difficulty seeing at night
A craving for salt
Low stamina for stress, easily irritated
Excessive mood responses after eating carbohydrates such as pasta, breads and sugar
Chronic infections
Low blood pressure
Light-headedness on standing up
Tired but wired feeling, poor sleep
Cravings for sweets and carbs, intolerance to alcohol
Premature aging
Dry, unhealthy skin with excess pigmentation
Lack of libido
Cystic breasts
Tendency to startle easily
Negative response to thyroid hormone
If you suspect your adrenals are overtasked address it right away with your healthcare provider. Healthy adrenal glands are extremely important to a healthy immune system and are necessary for proper thyroid function.
Here are the 5 natural ways I supported my adrenals:
1. Get Some Sleep.
You must rest if you are going to help your adrenals get stronger. That means going to bed every night ideally by 10 p.m. Make this a priority and creating this routine will help your body to repair and restore itself. Your adrenals need their beauty sleep!
2. Eliminate Sugar and Processed Carbohydrate.
It was a ritual for my husband and I to reward ourselves with a Caramel Macchiato after an hours workout. Little did we know that we were undoing all the time and hard effort we just put in. Not to mention the blood sugar frenzy we were causing! Needless to say we have since stopped that! Sugar and processed carbohydrates put stress on the adrenals and wear them out. Additionally, hormones produced from your adrenal glands help regulate your blood sugar levels. If they’re worn out, they won’t be able to help regulate your blood sugar, which is key to maintaining a healthy weight, energy levels, and immune system.