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Did you know that approximately 80 percent of all Americans have experienced adrenal fatigue to some degree at some point in their lives? We spend so much time and energy balancing family life, careers and keeping up with our daily tasks but we often don’t take time to take care of ourselves. This leads to a chronic state of stress in most cases. Chronic stress, stress that you experience day after day, affects our health negatively. It depletes our energy stores and over time reduces the capacity of the adrenal glands to function giving rise to a health condition known as adrenal fatigue.

Adrenal fatigue is a deficiency of adrenal glands functionality. It is a condition that it is commonly misdiagnosed and is characterized by low energy, cravings, irritability, weight gain or loss and chronic fatigue. It currently affects two-thirds of the world’s population, most of which do not know they have it.

So, how do you if you have adrenal fatigue and what are the symptoms to look for? In this article, you will learn about the 12 most common signs that indicate you may be experiencing adrenal fatigue and how you can heal your adrenal glands. But before we get to that, let’s talk about adrenal glands and how they affect your body as a woman.

Adrenal Glands and Their Function

The adrenal glands are small glands about the size of a walnut that are positioned on top of your kidneys. They release over 50 different hormones that influence nearly every function of the body. These hormones affect effect a variety of functions including energy levels, mental focus and brain fog, libido, metabolism and stress. These hormones, released by the adrenal glands, are the communicators that signal organs in the body to perform a function. For example, when you feel stress, anxiety, or fear, the adrenals release the hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Cortisol and adrenaline are known as the fight or flight hormones. In times of danger they signal you to either fight and defend yourself or run to survive. This fight or flight reaction is completely normal and as soon as the danger has passed, the adrenals stop releasing these hormones so that you can become calm and relaxed again. Cortisol helps the body manage the use of carbohydrates, protein and fat. It decreases metabolism, increases fat stores and suppresses the immune system. Adrenaline, or epinephrine, is released during short periods of stress, shock or fear. It increases heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar levels so that you are able to quickly respond to the immediate danger. These two hormones work together to insure your survival.

While cortisol and adrenaline are the most common known hormones produced by the adrenals, there are many other hormones to support bodily functions. The hormone aldosterone is one that helps the kidneys control the amount of sodium in the blood stream. Ever wonder why people with adrenal fatigue tend to crave salty foods? The adrenals may be having difficulty producing the aldosterone needed to manage sodium levels. Androgens, male sex hormones, and estrogen, a female sex hormone, are also produced by the adrenals. Androgens help the reproductive organs grow, develop and function. Estrogen controls female reproduction and sexual development. Adrenal fatigue and suppressed adrenal function, is often a contributing factor when it comes to problems with sexual development, reproduction and menopause.

All of these hormones are necessary for human growth and development, function of biological systems and to help us survive during times of danger. However, when the adrenals are overworked do to chronic stress, high intake of sugar and a poor diet that lacks the vitamins and minerals the adrenals need to function, something’s gotta give. The symptoms may start small but eventually they will increase in number and severity, potentially doing more serious harm. Let’s take a look at the long-term effect on women’s health and menopause.

How Do Adrenals Affect Menopause?

The adrenals are also responsible for producing estrogen from birth to puberty and then again after menopause. From the time a little girl is born until she reaches adolescence, the adrenals produce the estrogen her body requires. Once she reaches puberty, the ovaries take over producing the required estrogen. This is the first major hormonal shift in a young woman’s life and is often accompanied by some uncomfortable symptoms including cramps, mood swings, and the arrival of her menses or period. The ovaries continue producing estrogen all through our child-bearing years. However, as a woman approaches menopause, the second major hormonal change in a woman’s life, the ovaries pass the baton of estrogen production back to the adrenal glands.

Often, at this point in our lives, we have experienced chronic stress for years. Juggling kids, relationships, careers, aging parents, and life, in general, has created a constant load of stress, and instead of the adrenals only producing the stress hormones during real emergencies, they are often pumping out a constant flow of cortisol as a response to the daily stress we experience. So, when the time comes to transition and goes through menopause, the adrenals are fatigued. They are not able to take on the additional responsibility of producing estrogen too. This creates a constant battle between ovaries and adrenals to produce the required estrogen women need to maintain good health. Unable to make the transition, women often get stuck in perimenopause for many years and experience extreme symptoms, including hot flashes, low libido, mood swings, and irregular menses.

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12 Common Signs of Adrenal Fatigue

Your adrenal glands are important and contribute greatly to your health and well-being. They may be small organs, but they are largely responsible for our overall health. Insufficient hormone production by your adrenals can lead to a variety of health issues and symptoms. Some of these symptoms include:

  • Chronic fatigue
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Mood swings
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Depression
  • Cravings for salt
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Low energy
  • Headaches
  • Weight gain; especially around the mid-section
  • Difficulty losing weight
  • Unexplained weight loss

How to Treat Adrenal Fatigue

Chronic stress and lack of nutrients can cause a lot of damage to your adrenal glands, but the good news is that they can heal. Reducing or managing stress, lowering sugar and alcohol intake, and eating a nutrient-dense diet supports the adrenals to rest and recover so that they can once again function well. Also, getting plenty of sleep, adequate down time and moderate exercise all contribute to healing the adrenals and treating adrenal fatigue. The improved adrenal function ensures you will have more energy, fewer cravings, better sleep, improved sex life and helps you lose and maintain a healthy weight.

As a certified Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP), I have helped clients restore their adrenal glands and optimize their health. My nutritional assessment identify whether or not adrenal fatigue is affecting you and will specifically target any nutrient deficiencies you may be experiencing. Working together we will create a personalized protocol to reduce stress and provide a nutrient dense diet specifically targeted to support healing of the adrenal glands and get back on track so that you feel great again!

Clients experiencing adrenal fatigue that work with me receive an adrenal protocol that incorporates specific dietary and lifestyle changes to help them recover from adrenal fatigue and reduce stress.

LET’S GET STARTED HEALING YOUR ADRENALS! ARE YOU READY?

Schedule a FREE 15-Minute Consultation now to discuss your symptoms and see if Nutritional Therapy is right for you.

Let me be your guide as you move towards the path of “Living Life Healthy and Happy.”