Because of the widespread effects of the adrenal glands, any disruption to these walnut-sized organs can have a major impact on a wide range of body systems. Equally, adrenal fatigue can have a major impact on your nutritional requirements. You should consider your intake of potassium in particular to maintain a healthy mineral balance.
Adrenal Fatigue
After a period of chronic stress, tissues in the adrenal gland may start to fail due to overwork. The Environmental Illness Resource website notes how several forms of stress may contribute to this overload, including psychological worry, poor sleeping patterns and chronic infection. Although many mainstream practitioners refuse to acknowledge the syndrome, a range of scientific studies show how long-term stress can cause adrenal fatigue. When this occurs, the tissues produce less of particular hormones. This results in symptoms such as low energy levels, disturbed sleeping patterns, increased allergies, regular infections, cravings for sugar and salt, dizziness upon standing and low blood pressure.
Potassium Balance
The ratio of sodium-to-potassium remains important for everyday health, with the former osmotically holding fluid in the space outside of your body's cells and the latter doing the same inside the cells. Both the net availability, together with the ratio, of the two play a crucial role in maintaining hydration in the body. Under normal circumstances, your body maintains a balance between sodium and potassium through the release of aldosterone from the adrenal glands. This mineralcorticoid hormone tells the kidneys to retain sodium. During adrenal fatigue, aldosterone levels drop; this can result in increased losses of sodium and create a relative excess of potassium, making symptoms like low blood pressure and frequent urination worse.
Sources of Potassium
Although not the source of the problem, consuming more potassium without sodium alongside it may make some symptoms of adrenal fatigue worse. Dr. Michael Lam, a practitioner who has dealt with a number of patients with the condition, explains that common sources of potassium include tomatoes, bananas and a range of other fruits.
Expert Insight
Dr. Lam believes that moderating your intake of potassium represents a wide move while you deal with adrenal fatigue. However, eliminating sources of the mineral appear unnecessary, provided you consume a source of sodium alongside them. For example, this could translate as having a piece of fruit following a meal in which the meat and vegetables were seasoned with sea salt. Lam suggests using sea salt regularly; addressing sodium intake may actually make more of a difference than doing the same with potassium, although both have a distinct role to play.
