I used to literally be like the woman in this picture. I would fall asleep at my desk very often by mid-afternoon. I struggled with fatigue and loss of energy consistently. It didn’t matter if I went to bed early or late, I would still feel exhausted in the morning. I lived on coffee and quick fixes to give me what I now call “false energy” to get me through the day.
Of course, there are quite a few things that can be the culprit for fatigue. Some of the more obvious being lack of sleep, anemia, stress, and even things like eating a lot of processed foods which drain us of energy. But in this blog, I am talking about something else…..something which I experienced myself; something I was totally unfamiliar with at that particular time in my life.
Adrenal Health 101
What are adrenal glands and where are they located?
Your adrenal glands play a very important role in maintaining your health. They are incredibly small, about the size and weight of a coin. They are located above your kidneys, just below the muscle tissue of your lower back.
What do adrenal glands do?
Our adrenal glands are responsible for many things that assist in regulating our body and hormones, including thyroid and reproductive hormones. They are also responsible for managing stress, the amount of inflammation in our body, our immune system, our blood sugar levels and the electrolytes in our blood. They influence all the physiological functions processes of the body and help stave off physical fatigue. They literally play an enormous role in our body – and many of us are unaware of the impact they have on us.
Signs your adrenal health is bad
When there is something wrong with our body, it will start to signal us that something needs to be addressed, which is exactly what my body did to me when I was going through this. Here is how your adrenal glands will signal you that something is wrong.
1. Your blood sugar level will either drop or spike suddenly.
2. Your hormones will be all over the place. One moment you are happy and the other moment you will find yourself crying over something that does not even bother you that much.
3. You get sick more often because your immune system will not function properly without healthy adrenal glands.
4. You will be stressed and it will be hard for you to manage your stress levels.
5. Your sex drive will decrease.
6. It will be hard for you to complete your daily tasks because those tasks will require a lot more effort than usual.
7. You will find it hard to keep yourself awake even if you know that you need to sacrifice sleep for a very important task.
8. You will constantly crave food, mostly salty and savory foods, and it will be hard you satisfy your cravings. You will find yourself craving them more even if you have just eaten something.
9. Your body will take longer to heal properly.
10. You will fail to find happiness or excitement in tasks and hobbies that you enjoyed before.
11. You may find yourself skipping meals.
How to improve your adrenal health
If you suspect your adrenal glands may need some care and attention, try some of the following tips.
1. Get your sleep schedule in sync: Make sure that you get quality sleep for 9 to 10 hours. Sleep and wake up at the same times to get your body in a rhythm. It needs to follow a routine to start to heal.
2. Daily exercise: Set aside at least 30 minutes a day for exercise, no matter how busy or tired you may be.
3. Add these to your diet: To improve your adrenal health, add proteins, healthy carbs, zinc, calcium, and vitamins (especially C and D) to your diet. Also increase foods like coconuts, avocados, olives, chia seeds, bone broth, nuts, vegetables, and fish, but make sure you do all of this in moderation.
If you would like to learn more about working with me to improve your adrenal function, or if you are tired of the endless merry-go-round of exhaustion and lack of energy, schedule a free discovery call with me so we can chat and you can get some insights into what is going on with you. Schedule >>HERE<<
ENERGIZING GINGER PEACH BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE
Serves 2
8 oz. water (or 1/2 water and 1/2 coconut water)
A ½-inch piece of ginger root, peeled
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 small golden beet, peeled and chopped
2 stalks fresh celery, chopped
¼ medium cucumber
4 slices frozen peaches
8 ice cubes
Add all ingredients to a blender and turn it on to its lowest setting. Gradually increase the speed and then continue blending until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated into the smoothie. Enjoy!