Happy Mother’s week! :)
With Mother’s Day coming up this Sunday, we wanted to share a great gift idea with you that was just released today! Dr. Sarah Ballantyne (AKA The Paleo Mom) has outdone herself again. She’s put together an incredible kit called The Paleo Family Toolkit containing all the resources your family needs for optimal health and wellness. This special digital package will only be on sale May 4-9th, so don’t miss out!
Last week we talked about chronic stress and how it can lead to inflammation and chronic disease. This week I wanted to chat about a closely-related topic called adrenal fatigue, since the adrenal glands are oh-so important in controlling inflammation and stress levels (and since Mother’s Day is this week and women are more susceptible to the effects of low adrenal function).
The adrenal glands are hormone-producing glands that sit on top of each kidney, and while they may be small in size, they play a HUGE role in our overall health, energy, and survival. The adrenal glands release the hormones adrenaline and cortisol in response to anything our brain perceives as stressful. When we are constantly ‘stressed out’, our adrenal glands eventually ‘poop out’ (AKA adrenal fatigue).
When the adrenals can’t do their jobs, our bodies lose their ability to control inflammation. As I discussed last week: chronic inflammation –> chronic disease and indeed most “diseases of modern society” (i.e. autoimmunity, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, etc.) share inflammation at their root.
Long story short, stress in its many forms (especially ongoing stress) can slowly deplete the adrenal glands and lead to adrenal fatigue. If you’ve been tired (or downright exhausted) lately, you’re not alone – adrenal fatigue affects as much as 60% of the U.S. population! Other signs include weight gain (or loss), inability to lose weight, craving sweet or salty snacks, disliking exercise, or a general lack of motivation.
So what to do when your adrenals are feeling blue?
As Hippocrates stated over 2,000 years ago “All disease begins in the gut”. So start by cleaning up your diet, and regulating your sleep cycles. Certain vitamins and minerals are essential for adrenal function, which I’ve shared below. Learning to let things go and practicing mindfulness meditation are wonderful ways to reduce stress, which is the ultimate goal in treating adrenal fatigue. Check out the links below for more info on overcoming adrenal fatigue naturally.
“In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.”
–Fred “Mister” Rogers
In good health,
Kinsey Jackson, LMP, MS, CNS®
Paleo Plan Nutritionist
Paleo & Adrenal Fatigue
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Give Your Adrenals a Boost!
 Truly Natural Vitamin C by Healthforce Adrenal glands are rich in vitamin C |  Stress B-Complex by Thorne Research Vitamin B Supplement for Adrenal Support & Stress Management |  Organic Kelp Wild Atlantic Kombu Kelp helps to combat adrenal fatigue while boosting thyroid & detoxification |  Phytisone by Thorne Research Adrenal Stress Response Support Supplement |
Hack Your Stress!
 Inner Balance BioFeedback |  Spire Wearable Breathing Monitor |  Stress Relief Aromatherapy Essential Oil |  Mindfullness For Beginners |
What is Adrenal Fatigue?
 | Of course we face acute stress from time to time in our modern lives but we face a greater threat from chronic sub-acute stress that over-stimulates the adrenal glands and results in chronically elevated hormone levels. Eventually, although the adrenals continue to function, stress hormone output declines and cannot meet demand, creating a condition referred to as adrenal fatigue. During adrenal fatigue, metabolic systems that depend on stress hormone activation such as blood sugar homeostasis, are compromised.LEARN MORE ▶ |