Following the adrenal diet might help you manage symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, an endocrine disorder that results when your adrenal glands do not produce enough of certain hormones. Adrenal insufficiency has numerous symptoms that are disruptive to your daily life and may lead to a potentially life-threatening condition, Addisonian or adrenal crisis. The adrenal diet does not require that you remove gluten unless you suffer from co-occurring gluten intolerance. Consult your doctor before removing gluten from your diet or following the adrenal diet.
Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenal insufficiency occurs in two forms, according the National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service. The first is primary adrenal insufficiency, or Addison's disease, which happens when your adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol or aldosterone. The other form is secondary adrenal insufficiency which occurs when your pituitary gland does not produce enough adrenocorticotropin, a hormone that stimulates the production of cortisol. Doctors treat these conditions with replacement or substitute hormones.
Adrenal Diet
Medical treatment is necessary for adrenal insufficiency, but some suffering with this illness also report benefits to following a particular diet. The publication "Living with Addison's Disease: An Owner's Manual with Individuals with Disease" suggests a diet rich in protein, fluids and vitamins, and low in simple carbohydrates. This diet recommends small meals, with minimal sugar and fat content. Following this diet might aid in managing symptoms of fatigue, level blood sugars and to assist in preventing adrenal crisis, a life-threatening condition that may present with low-blood sugar, confusion, headache, high fever, abdominal pain and even coma.
Celiac and Adrenal Insufficiency
Celiac disease sometimes develops in individuals with adrenal insufficiency, although the proportion of individuals who develop both is small. When diagnosed with both illnesses, you will need to remove gluten from your diet. This means removing barley, wheat and rye, as well as any crossbreeds of these grains. The adrenal diet does not recommend you remove gluten unless you also have celiac disease, an autoimmune condition that sometimes occurs in people with adrenal insufficiency.
Risks
Nutrient deficiencies might result from removing gluten unnecessarily, including deficiencies in iron, fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, calcium, folate and niacin. Discuss your gluten-free diet with your dietician to ensure that you are getting sufficient nutrients. Gluten-free foods often contain higher sugar and fat content in an attempt to make them taste more like their gluten-containing counterparts.
References
- Theresa Vernon: An Adrenal Fatigue Diet is a Low-Carb Diet
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Acute Adrenal Crisis - Overview; Ari S. Eckman, M.D.
- Project AWARE: Adrenal Fatigue; Vicki Wade, Pharm.D.; 2005
- National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service: Adrenal Insufficiency and Addison's Disease
- Addison's Disease Self-Help Group: An Owner's Manual with Individuals with the Disease (PDF)
- MayoClinic.com: Gluten-Free Diet; 2010
