Your adrenal glands, about the size of walnuts, sit atop your kidneys. They produce the hormones cortisol, norepinephrine and DHEA. These hormones, according to Dr. Christiane Northrup, assist in your response to daily life. Norepinephrine is the flight-or-fight hormone, cortisol increases energy and appetite and helps deal with stress, and DHEA offsets cortisol's effects. If your life has been too stressful for too long, your adrenal glands may be exhausted and in need of support.
Pork, Peas and Rice
The journal "Alternate Medicine Review" states a multi-pronged approach may help with adrenal exhaustion. This includes a good diet rich in foods high in thiamine, or vitamin B1. Thiamine helps offset any cortisol responses produced by stress. It cites clinical results where thiamine was used successfully in protecting the adrenals from exhaustion during surgery by reducing cortisol levels. Foods high in thiamine include wheat germ, fortified cereals, lean pork, peas, enriched long grain white rice and long grain brown rice.
Milk, Yogurt and Avocados
Pantothenic acid, or vitamin B5, deficiency is shown to compromise adrenal functioning, explains the "Alternate Medicine Review." Foods such as milk and yogurt may deliver a healthy dose of pantothenic acid to your adrenals to help reduce cortisol secretion during stressful events and boost adrenal functioning. Other foods that are good sources of pantothenic acid are avocados, chicken, eggs, lentils, sweet potatoes, broccoli, lobster and raw mushrooms.
Clams, Mussels and Crab
During periods of stress, sleep deprivation may be a sign of adrenal exhaustion, caused by the disruption of cortisol secretion. The "Alternate Medicine Review" notes that to reset your circadian rhythm, or sleep cycle, a combination of light and vitamin B-12 may be effective. It adds that vitamin B-12 may help your adrenals modify cortisol secretion to effectively put your sleep rhythm back on track. Eating foods such as steamed clams or mussels, crab, salmon, beef, milk or chicken may help increase your levels of vitamin B-12.
References
- Christiane Northrup, MD: Adrenal Exhaustion
- "Alternate Medicine Review"; Nutrients and Botanicals for Treatment of Stress, Adrenal Fatigue, Neurotransmittor Imbalance, Anxiety and Restless Sleep; Katheleen A. Head, et al.; 2009
- Linus Pauling Institute: Thiamin
- Linus Pauling Institute: Pantothenic Acid
- Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamin B12
