Stressed out? Gaining weight? Find out how your adrenal glands
could be to blame
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Your adrenal glands play a vital role in blood
sugar control, thyroid output and weight control. If you have been in 'fight
or flight mode' or had repeated stress in your life then your adrenals may
need extra support through diet and also certain nutritional supplements.
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Inappropriate levels of the stress hormone cortisol affects our
mental, emotional and physical wellbeing and can lead indirectly to weight
problems through influencing the metabolism of sugars, proteins and
fats.
So What Are the Symptoms?
Symptoms of adrenal overload include waking up in the middle of the
night/not able to sleep, fatigue in mornings, afternoon slumps, cravings for
carbs and sugars, need for stimulants such as coffee and chocolate,
irritability, not being able to finish jobs, not being able to shake off a
cold and many more.
The good news is that adrenal fatigue can almost always be relieved.
However, understanding the role of adrenals and the key cause of adrenal
fatigue - STRESS - is vital if you want to fight stubborn weight gain. Low
energy, feeling emotionally unbalanced much of the time, disrupted sleep or
sleeping for less than seven hours a night, inability to lose excess
weight even while dieting, and relying on caffeine or carbohydrates as
'pick-me-ups', are all red flags.
Why Does it Affect Me?
To understand how adrenal fatigue develops, it is important to
understand the original, evolutionary function of the adrenal glands. The
adrenals are walnut-sized glands located on top of each kidney and they are
important control centres for many of the body's hormones. The outer layer of
the gland, called the adrenal cortex, produces various hormones, including
cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which moderates the balance of
hormones in your body, oestrogen and testosterone. The centres of the glands
produce adrenaline, the hormone named after them.
The basic task of your adrenal glands is to rush all your body's
resources into ‘fight or flight' mode by increasing production of adrenaline
and other hormones. When healthy, your adrenals can instantly increase your
heart rate and blood pressure, release your energy stores for immediate use,
slow your digestion and other secondary functions, and sharpen your senses.
With adrenal overload the problem is not the function of the adrenals, but
the overuse of them.
Unlike our ancestors, we live with constant stress. Instead of
occasional, acute demands followed by rest, we're constantly over-worked,
under-nourished, exposed to environmental toxins, worrying about others, with
no let-up. Every challenge to the mind and body creates a demand on the
adrenal glands and the result is that your adrenal glands are in a state of
constant high alert. This creates high levels of cortisol in the body, which
leads to a huge number of health problems, including an inability to shift
weight.
Sustained high levels of cortisol, triggered off by stress, gradually
wears your body down. When the adrenals are chronically overworked and
straining to maintain high cortisol levels, they lose the capacity to produce
DHEA in sufficient amounts. Inadequate levels of DHEA contribute to fatigue,
bone loss, muscle mass loss, depression, aching joints, decreased sex drive
and impaired immune function, as well as thyroid problems and weight gain.
Some symptoms linked to an under active or sub-clinical thyroid include:
What can I do about it?
If you are experiencing unusual levels of fatigue, we would always
recommend that you visit your doctor for advice. Tackling the root cause of
the issues - your stress - is the most important factor in overcoming adrenal
fatigue. However, diet - and by that we mean replacing those 'quick fix'
foods with a balanced menu that incorporates lots of fresh fruit, vegetables,
lean proteins, healthy fats and whole grains - and supplements can also help.
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