Responding to the challenges of daily life can be exhausting. Stressful situations may result in symptoms of fatigue, weakness, low blood pressure, loss of appetite, weight loss, trouble sleeping and lack of motivation. An excessive amount of stress can lead to the condition known as adrenal fatigue.
Why is adrenal fatigue so detrimental to your health? Because the adrenal glands play a vital role in your endocrine system, which is responsible for hormones that regulate our emotions.
Sitting atop the kidneys, the adrenal glands receive a rich supply of blood and secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. When blood pressure falls below normal limits, the adrenal glands respond so that more water and salt are absorbed back into blood circulation, increasing blood pressure. The adrenal glands also produce the hormones responsible for the fight-or-flight response: Epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) as well as cortisol, estrogen and testosterone. Together, these hormones are referred to as the adrenal cascade.
When the adrenal glands fail to produce enough hormones to keep up with the demands of stress, it can lead to the condition of adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal fatigue is simply over-stressing the autonomic nervous system; it is a chronic condition that arises from persistent adrenal insufficiency.
Adrenal fatigue treatment is successful when you mitigate stress and when your body is able to more efficiently produce fight-or-flight hormones. Identifying any underlying causes is the first step in treating adrenal fatigue. Since other medical conditions show similar symptoms, it is best to see a doctor first. Counseling and lifestyle changes centered on nutrition, exercise and reducing stress may be the most effective treatment, but there is a role for medications and supplements.
The most often recommended supplements for treating adrenal fatigue are B-complex vitamins, especially B-5 (pantothenic acid), B-6 (pyridoxine), B-12, vitamin C and magnesium. Recommended natural therapies include licorice root, maca root, golden root, Siberian ginseng and ashwagandha. But do adrenal fatigue supplements really work?
To recover from stress, your body needs good, quality food. Stress forces the metabolism to speed up, which makes it possible to burn through many times the amount of nutrients normally needed. When insufficient nutrition fails to provide all the essential nutrients the body needs, a person will begin to suffer from adrenal fatigue symptoms. But there are certain supplements that can really help.
If you are experiencing brain fog, weakness, fatigue, insomnia or any of the other symptoms, try these effective adrenal fatigue supplements:Physician’s Choice Organic Ashwagandha andKSM-66 Ashwagandha.
Supplements can be very helpful in treating adrenal fatigue. Supplying the body with nutrients such as the B complex vitamins, vitamin C and magnesium will ensure that the adrenal glands have what they need to handle excess stress. Additionally, ashwagandha supplements can help you stay calm by regulating the production of cortisol. When the body has what it needs, stress will not result in adrenal fatigue.
Siphiwe Baleka - Contributing Writer, Physician's Choice