The adrenal glands are small in size but play a big role in the human body's functioning. You have one adrenal gland sitting on top of each of your kidneys, and these powerhouses' job is to produce stress hormones and manage your body's stress of all types. Stress can be emotional, physical or any other kind -- it is anything that places a burden on the body or mind. It is important that you provide your adrenals with all of the support they need so that they do not become fatigued or exhausted. One way to do this is through eating the proper, nutrient-packed diet. People who have fatigued or exhausted adrenal glands should avoid bananas and certain other fruits and foods.
Adrenal Fatigue
Many people suffer from adrenal fatigue and exhaustion because of stressful conditions and overextended adrenal glands. Symptoms of this condition are many and include lethargy, fatigue, difficulty focusing, lack of productivity and moodiness, to name a few of the most common indicators. You can know for sure whether you have adrenal fatigue, and thus know whether you should avoid bananas, by consulting with a health practitioner who can obtain your medical history and order the appropriate tests. Integrative, holistic and natural practitioners tend to be more likely to deal with adrenal fatigue and exhaustion.
Banana Factors
Many consider bananas to be a nutritious food, but for people who have adrenal fatigue, they are not beneficial and can even be detrimental to healing. This is because bananas contain a great deal of potassium and fructose, and these are harmful components for people whose adrenal glands are fatigued or exhausted. People with adrenal fatigue should especially avoid eating fruit, including bananas, in the morning. Once the adrenals have healed, which can take several months or longer, you might be able to resume eating bananas.
Diet Issues
In general, if you have adrenal fatigue, fruit should constitute a small percentage of your daily food intake. Rather than bananas, better fruit options include plums, pears and apples. Any type of sugar intake, even from fruit, can be detrimental and can slow recovery from adrenal fatigue. While minimizing fruit, your diet should include plenty of vegetables, coupled with quality protein such as eggs and meat plus healthy fats such as olive oil and nuts. Avoid any foods to which you are allergic, as consuming allergenic foods further depletes your adrenals.
Considerations
If you do not have adrenal fatigue, bananas can be a healthy food. Because adrenal fatigue and stressful lifestyles are so common, however, it is important to do whatever you can, on a proactive basis, to avoid adrenal fatigue. Thus, it is wise not to overdo eating sugary foods, such as bananas and other fruits. If you notice signs and symptoms of possible adrenal fatigue, consult with your health practitioner for appropriate assessments and testing.
References
- Adrenal Fatigue: Diet for Adrenal Fatigue http://www.adrenalfatigue.org/diet-for-adrenal-fatigue.html
- Dr. Lam: Sample Dietary Plan of 2000 Calories a Day
- Adrenal Fatigue: About Adrenal Fatigue---What Is Adrenal Fatigue?
- "Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome"; James L. Wilson, N.D., D.C., Ph.D.; 2001
- Women to Women: Adrenal Health---What Is Adrenal Fatigue?
- "Healthy Healing"; Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D., 2000
