{Please welcome Jedha from Good Food Eating, sharing crucial information about Adrenal Fatigue, something I think is epidemic.  Her list of Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms should be a help to everyone in these stressful times. Please read this and pass it around. It's important info for sure.}

If you are:
– tired
– stressed
– wanting a whole healthy life

this post is for you.

And for those you love.

What's all the Hubbub about Adrenals and Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal fatigue is epidemic.  And the adrenals are affected by so much and affect so much, you really can't afford not to pay attention to these glands and how they are functioning.

Adrenal fatigue is a stress condition where the adrenal glands become fatigued, tired, exhausted, and in the later stages of progression the adrenals can even become dysfunctional.

Adrenal fatigue is a rising phenomena and yet it’s not something that medical doctors frequently detect or test for.

Trust me, I know I’ve had it myself and had to research far and wide for information. In the end this was great because I managed to overcome it, and I also wrote a book about it and have gone on to help other people overcome it too.

Adrenal fatigue is a condition that has far reaching effects when it comes to our health.

It’s not just feeling tired. but all the other things that start to become compromised as a result of high cortisol (our stress hormone).

Another thing to be aware of is that if you have thyroid issues, your adrenals have usually become compromised first. So in order to effectively address thyroid problems you have to heal the adrenals as well.

And if you’re a woman entering peri-menopause or going through menopause right now, the health of your adrenals has everything to do with the severity of your symptoms because the adrenals take over hormone production from the ovaries.

If the adrenals are shot, your adrenal fatigue symptoms will be worse.

So let’s get to know a thing or two about the adrenals to get an understanding about just how important it is to get a hold of our stress and our health.

What Are the Adrenals?

The adrenals are two small glands that sit slightly above and adjacent to the kidneys. They are part of the endocrine system and produce around 50 different hormones.

Yes, these two little glands are very busy!

The hormones in our body are chemical messengers that are secreted by the various glands of the endocrine system. We do also produce hormones from places other than our endocrine glands but these are the main hormone producers.

Hormones are activated by altered conditions in the body. Hormones have many roles but essentially they are there to maintain balance in the body so that your body keeps functioning the way it should.

Amongst other hormones the adrenals produce cortisol, progesterone, testosterone, adrenaline, norepinephrine, aldosterone, pestrogen, dopamine, DHEA, and sex hormone precursors. The adrenals are our central energy centers and are involved in many important bodily functions including blood sugar regulation, brain alertness, stress adaptation, sex hormones and sex drive, and helping to moderate the body’s mineral balance.

Cortisol is the predominant hormone that is activated under stress and what often happens at first is it becomes hyperactive and it can also become erratic. In the later stages people can find themselves with low cortisol and completely dysfunctional hormones.

So it’s best if we catch things early by understanding the symptoms of adrenal fatigue–that way you can start doing something about it.

Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

Some adrenal fatigue symptoms are:

• tiredness in the morning and the need for caffeine and stimulants to get you going
• slump in the afternoon between 2-4pm and the need for stimulants to keep you going
• a second wind around 6pm and more energy at night
• being tired and exhausted all the time
• feeling tired yet wired
• feeling like you have to push through all the time
• difficulty getting to sleep, waking frequently, or poor sleep
• dizzy spells when you stand from a sitting position
• poor memory or inability to concentrate
• strong cravings for sugar, refined carbohydrates, and stimulants
• craving salty foods
• feeling wrecked by the end of the day
• anxiety
• feeling generally rundown or overwhelmed

Additional Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

• Fatigue
• Allergies
• Insomnia
• Blood sugar lows
• Panic attacks
• Memory problems
• Aches and pains
• Depression
• PMT, menopause and fertility problems
• Digestive issues
• Headaches
• Sensitivity to cold
• Addictions to sweet or salty foods

As you can see adrenal fatigue can have varying affects on the body, mind and soul!

It sounds daunting, but there’s A LOT we can do to minimize the stressors in our life and I’ll be sharing a post about that very soon.

Additionally, you can read here for Adrenal Fatigue Diet helps.

In the meantime I hope you’ve found this information helpful and that you share with others to help them on their health journey as well.

Please note – neither Jedha nor Adrienne are doctors. Please consult with your physician before making any changes to your diet or exercise or supplement regimen.

Have you or do you suffer with adrenal fatigue?
Please feel free to leave your comments below.

About the Author

Jedha Dening is the Nutritionist and Health Coach behind Good Food Eating. She’s also a Mom, passionate writer, and lover of good food that’s also good for your waistline. Jedha is host of the Good Food Eating Podcast, author of the Adrenal Fatigue Handbook, and creator of various other nutrition and health programs. With over 10 years experience in health and wellness, Jedha is passionate about taking care of people’s nutrition and health so they can feel fantastic everyday. When she’s not cooking, researching or writing about nutrition, she can usually be found in the great outdoors gardening, bushwalking, or kayaking.