Feed Your Glands – The
Adrenals
© 2000,
Sara B. Ducey
December
2000
www.saraducey.com
Most of us are unfamiliar with our adrenal glands. We take for granted the sophisticated work done by this pair of glands located on top of our kidneys. The adrenals produce the stress hormones. These hormones help our bodies deal with the minute-to-minute stresses we encounter.
The adrenals,
for example, help out with body temperature regulation, blood sugar levels, and
immune function as well as with the “fight or flight” response that most of us
learned about in biology class.
·
The adrenal glands are small, pyramid shaped glands,
perched atop your kidneys
·
The center of the adrenal gland, the medulla, makes the
hormones adrenaline = epinephrine and norepinephrine
·
The outer part of the adrenals, the cortex, makes the
hormones cortisol, DHEAs, aldosterone, and small amounts of the sex hormones,
estrogen and testosterone.
Adrenal Insufficiency = Adrenal Under activity
A person whose adrenals are
working poorly may be unable to tolerate cold, and stay cold for hours after
they’re back in a warm environment; they may suffer from hypoglycemia – because
it is the adrenals which are to boost blood sugar in between meals; and they
may suffer out of proportion from daily stresses.
The typical sufferer is tired,
dizzy and fatigued. Over time they may
have disabling chronic fatigue. A fair
number (but certainly, not all) of those who have chronic fatigue syndrome are
actually suffering from inadequate adrenal function. These people may be over consuming coffee and eating a lot of
salt to make up for their adrenal gland insufficiency. This will only serve to damage these glands.
A person with
poorly functioning adrenals will be fatigued, exhausted and poorly able to deal
with stress. They may be irritable,
depressed and will likely also seem to be quite anxious. Some of these folks will be so anxious that
it tires you to be with them – Imagine then how they must feel?!
Some people have
damaged their adrenals through poor nutrition, excessive drinking and smoking,
chronic stress, or a combination of these stresses. The adrenals can be nourished, and brought back to better
functioning through diet and supplementation.
There are a few
local doctors who work on this adrenal insufficiency issue, but the mainstream
doctors typically reject this diagnosis unless the adrenals have shut down
almost entirely. Complete adrenal
failure is called Addison’s Disease.
This is more extreme than the condition called adrenal insufficiency or
underactivity.
Symptoms of a Underactive Adrenal Function:
·
Low blood pressure; and dizziness upon first standing;
·
Low blood sugar = hypoglycemia;
·
Poor tolerance to cold;
·
Irritability, depression and high anxiety levels;
·
High levels of good cholesterol! Weird, but apparently true;
·
Achiness;
·
Poor response to stress;
·
Recurrent infections/ difficulty getting over infections;
and
·
FATIGUE! à
Disabling chronic fatigue
Feed Your Glands!
Foods That Support the Adrenals
Not surprisingly eating well can
help support the function of the adrenal glands. So the advice here is not unlike the advice I often hand
out. Eat fresh, whole, organically
grown foods.
·
Select many green leafy vegetables
·
Increase the number of servings of fresh fruits and
vegetables (helps increase the potassium in the diet)
·
Seek super foods such as:
Brewers yeast, wheat germ, fresh sprouts
·
Eat deep-ocean fish 3x per week
·
Eat nuts, seeds and legumes
·
Choose whole grains rice and grains
·
Eat lots of garlic, onions, and mushrooms – especially shitake
mushrooms
Avoid:
·
White flour, sugar, sodas and refined foods
·
Caffeine
·
Alcohol
·
Smoking
·
Environmental toxins
And:
·
Avoid stress
·
Learn to relax and
·
Exercise
Feed Your Glands!
Nutrients and Supplements That Support the Adrenal
AMINO ACIDS |
|
|
L-Tyrosine |
Aids adrenal function |
Do not take tyrosine if you are taking an MAO inhibitor
drug |
VITAMINS |
|
|
Vitamin B Complex |
All B Vitamins are important for adrenal functioning – B5
or pantothenic acid is particularly important |
|
Vitamin C with bioflavinoids |
Very important for adrenal gland function – high amounts
of vit. C are stored and used in this gland. |
During stress you use and lose high amount of vitamin C
in your urine – you need to replace it |
Vitamin B12 |
|
May have to take sublingual (under the tongue) or take
injections |
Take a comprehensive multi-vitamin and mineral supplement
|
Go to a reputable health food store and purchase a name
brand product. |
I recommend the Apothecary Pharmacy in Bethesda. (301) 530-0800 |
MINERALS |
|
|
Magnesium |
Supports the nervous system |
|
Zinc |
|
|
SUPPLEMENTS |
|
|
Coenzyme Q10 |
Powerful antioxidant |
|
Glandulars – raw adrenal glandulare and raw adrenal
cortex glandular |
To rebuild and repair the gland |
|
HERBS |
|
|
Chinese Ginseng (Panax ginseng) and Siberian Ginseng
(Eleutherococcus senticosus) |
Promote adrenal health and enhance resistance to stress |
|
Other Issues to Consider:
·
Treat any thyroid dysfunction that may exist
·
Check sex hormone levels
·
Treat bowel infections (yeast, bacterial or parasitic)
·
Diagnose and manage food allergy
·
Deal with sinus allergy
·
Consider B12 deficiency
·
Diagnose and treat depression
Suggested reading on adrenal dysfunction:
·
Enclycopedia of Natural Healing, revised second edition, ©
1998, Michael T. Murray and Joseph Pizzorno, Prima Publishing.
·
From Fatigued to Fantastic! © 1996, Jacob Tietelbaum, Avery Publishing
·
Prescriptions for Natural Healing, edition, by Balch and
Balch