Regaining Vitality through Healthy Adrenals

In the spring time, many people feel a renewed vitality harmonizing with the natural rhythm and flow of nature. Everything is fresh and new; energy abounds and often a new sense of purpose. What if however, you have a high-stress job, a too-busy lifestyle and are feeling burned-out? Perhaps you have suffered the loss of a loved one or relationship. Everyone seems to feel spring-fresh but you! You feel burned out. How do you regain your vitality?

The Adrenal Glands (and how they affect how you feel)

Anatomy and Physiology is where we begin: The adrenals are two little triangular shaped organs that are situated atop the kidneys. They are the major glands the body uses to respond to stress. Two hormones, adrenalin and epinephrine, raise the blood sugar, blood pressure and promote energy production in response to emergencies, often known as ‘fight or flight.’ Longer-acting anti-stress adrenal hormones such as cortisone and cortisol are also produced as is the adrenal hormone, aldostreone, which causes sodium retention and increases the blood pressure. When the adrenals become depleted, the body is unable to handle stress well.

How to Heal from the Effects of Adrenal Overload or Burn-out

With regards to the foods we eat, some people become stress-eaters, while others become stress-non-eaters, neither option a healthy one. Adrenal burnout may be caused by a single event or prolonged circumstances. Recovery from adrenal burnout is certainly possible, but it takes time and usually requires a change in diet, lifestyle, and attention to one's emotional and spiritual health.

A whole-foods (brown rice, not white rice, as an example) diet, preferably organic and seasonal, is an important factor for everyone. Eat a little protein with every meal; eggs, poultry, almond or peanut butter and nuts are good sources. Consume plenty of vegetables, rotating all of your proteins and vegetables so you don't eat the same thing every day. You are more likely to obtain all the nutrients you need and less likely to develop food sensitivities when you rotate your diet. My general rule is, if you eat it today; don’t eat it for 4 days.

Many people have sugar cravings during times of high stress, which by the way includes alcohol. Stay away from processed foods. Be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of pure water a day and obtain plenty of sleep, preferably 8-9 hours per night. The B vitamins, vitamins A and C as well as zinc may be helpful. Just a side note, drinking alcohol on an empty stomach is hard on your stomach lining and burns up B vitamins at a much higher rate, so when you do drink alcohol (certainly not when you are trying to heal yourself) always have something in your stomach first.

Personal Practices that Heal

There are spiritual, emotional and mental health aspects of adrenal burn out that are imperative to regaining your health. A key to recovery from burnout is improving attitudes and values. Negative thinking is a bad habit that eventually wears down the body and of course, affects your health and the health of those around you. Anger, worry and fear place added stress on the adrenal glands as well as the immune system.

Many techniques and choices are available to help shift one's thinking. Perhaps therapy is a good choice for you. Reading inspirational books or listening to beautiful music may be helpful. Chat with trusted loved-ones. Remember that searching for love outside of you is not the answer. Find the love inside yourself first, and then find the companions and activities. Sometimes we can’t trust our own instincts when we are completely burned out. It is important to listen to the wisdom of the body, and not be blinded by fixed ideas and habits that no longer serve us. Most people live their lives based on fear of change and the blessing of burn out is that often an awakening can manifest within you. Adrenal burn out can be a wake up call and the first step to living a simpler life. You don’t necessarily need to sell everything you own and move to a tropical island, but then again, maybe you do! It’s not always running away from life when you choose to make big changes, but running to a new life.

Following are links to simple recipes full of the vitamins that your adrenal glands will love. Take care of yourself.

• Red Pepper “Cheese” Dip
• The Best Kale Salad Ever
  

How’s this one for easy? Sprinkle homemade popcorn (no microwaves please) with a little olive oil, fresh garlic or garlic powder and nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast is high in B vitamins and has a bit of a cheesy flavor.