Food To Eat For Addison's Disease

Addison's disease, also called primary adrenal insufficiency, occurs when your adrenal glands fail to produce sufficient amounts of the hormones cortisol and/or aldosterone. Cortisol helps your body respond properly to stress, promotes healthy blood pressure and helps regulate your metabolism, energy and blood sugar. Aldosterone promotes healthy balance of water and salts in your body. In addition to medical treatments, certain foods might help reduce symptoms, such as mood swings, low blood pressure, nausea, headache and salt cravings.

Fruits and Vegetables

Antioxidants prevalent in fruits and vegetables help your body defend itself against infections and disease. James M. Lowrance, author of "The Everything Adrenal Fatigue Book," recommends that people with adrenal insufficiency consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables for improved energy and immune system function. Emphasize varieties particularly rich in antioxidants, such as berries, citrus fruits, red grapes, kiwifruit, mangoes, cantaloupe, papaya, tomatoes, leafy greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bell peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes and winter squash. Choose whole fruits over juices and dried or canned fruit with added sweeteners, which provide fewer dietary benefits and might offset blood sugar levels.

Fatty Fish

Fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, lake trout, flounder, halibut and sardines, are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, healthy fats known to reduce inflammation. Fish also provide ample amounts of protein. Women's health expert Dr. Christiane Northrup recommends incorporating protein into all of your meals and snacks for improved adrenal insufficiency symptoms. To prevent excessive saturated fat intake, which might worsen inflammation and damage heart health, use healthy preparation methods, such as seasoning fish with natural herbs and lemon juice. Heart-healthy cooking techniques include baking, broiling, poaching, steaming and grilling with non-stick cooking spray or light amounts of olive oil.

Whole Grains

Whole grains are grains that have not lost valuable nutrients, fiber or protein content during food processing. As low glycemic foods, whole grains have a milder impact on your blood sugar levels than refined grains, such as white flour, and promote positive energy levels. For these reasons, Lowrance recommends replacing refined flour products and sweets with whole grain foods. Examples of nutritious whole grain foods include 100 percent whole grain breads and cereals, steel-cut oats, long-grain brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, barley soup and air-popped popcorn.

Low-Fat Dairy Products

Low-fat dairy products, such as skim or low-fat milk, yogurt and cottage cheese, provide rich amounts of protein and nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D. Dairy products also contain tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes calmness and might ease anxiety and help you sleep, according to MayoClinic.com psychiatrist Dr. Daniel K. Hall-Flavin. These attributes are important because attaining sufficient nightly sleep might improve Addison's disease symptoms. Simple ways to incorporate low-fat dairy products into your diet include preparing oatmeal with low-fat milk in place of water and adding low-fat yogurt to fruit smoothies.