Adrenal fatigue is a health condition that exists when the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys and are part of the body's endocrine system, are exhausted because of long-term serious stress. The adrenal glands produce the stress hormones that manage all of the body's stress. If you have adrenal fatigue, you need to implement various strategies, including lifestyle modifications, as part of your recovery efforts. One of the key lifestyle changes involves consuming a high-nutrient diet, because people suffering from adrenal fatigue are nutritionally depleted. Animal protein can be an important component of a healthy diet for adrenal recovery. If you suspect that you have adrenal fatigue, or if you have already been diagnosed as having it, work with your health practitioner along your road to healing.
Adrenal Fatigue
Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include severe and constant fatigue, lethargy, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, salt cravings and intolerance to stress. Several tests that you perform at home can serve as preliminary indicators of whether you might have adrenal fatigue. One of these tests involves taking your blood pressure while lying down, then taking it again after standing up. "Although there are other causes associated with low blood pressure, low adrenal function is probably the most common," according to "Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome" by James L. Wilson, N.D. D.C., Ph.D. "If your blood pressure drops when you stand up from a lying position, this almost always indicates low adrenals. This drop in blood pressure upon rising is called postural hypotension and can easily be measured at home." A saliva test that measures levels of the hormone cortisol is one of the key tools for diagnosing adrenal fatigue.
Protein Types
Examples of animal protein include eggs, beef, chicken, turkey, fish and dairy foods. Dairy foods include milk, cheese, cottage cheese and yogurt. You should eat some protein, such as animal protein, as part of every meal throughout the day. Also, do not wait too long between meals, because this can cause your energy levels to drop and your blood sugar levels to become unstable. Blood sugar imbalances can be common with adrenal fatigue.
Animal Protein
Animal protein provides amino acids, vitamins and minerals that can support a person's body during recovery from adrenal fatigue. It can be much more difficult to recover from moderate to severe adrenal fatigue if a person does not include some animal protein in the diet, according to "Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome" by James L. Wilson, N.D., D.C., Ph.D. Wilson suggests that people who are vegetarian consider including eggs and yogurt in their diets as a way to obtain some animal protein, along with protein from other sources, such as nuts, seeds and beans.
Precautions
If you are recovering from adrenal fatigue, certain animal protein foods should not be part of your diet. These include any foods to which you are allergic, because consuming such foods further stresses your adrenal glands. For example, some people are allergic to milk, and if you notice adverse reactions after eating dairy foods, you should not include it as a source of protein. You can request that your health practitioner run food allergy tests as a way to help confirm whether you are allergic or sensitive to certain foods. If possible, consume only organic sources of animal protein, because people who have adrenal fatigue can be especially sensitive to additives that are in non-organic foods. Also avoid processed meat, as they contain additives, colorings and chemicals.
Considerations
It can take months or years to recover from adrenal fatigue, so you will need to follow a diet that supports your adrenal glands for at least that long if you have adrenal fatigue. Diet is just one aspect of adrenal recovery. Other important factors are sleep, rest, stress reduction, relaxation strategies and nutritional supplements.
References
- Adrenal Fatigue: Diet for Adrenal Fatigue
- Dr. Lam: Sample Dietary Plan of 2000 Calories a Day
- Women to Women: Adrenal Health: Eating to Support Your Adrenal Glands--Small Choices Can Make a Difference
- 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
