How To Manage Adrenal Fatigue Naturally

Do you suffer from brain fog, exhaustion, anxiety, and weight gain? Do you struggle to get out of bed in the morning? Do you find yourself unable to remember important details or manage stress? 

You may be dealing with Adrenal Fatigue. 

What Is Adrenal Fatigue?

Adrenal Fatigue is a condition in which your adrenal glands (located above your kidneys) are not functioning the way that they should. Adrenal glands are responsible for producing hormones like adrenaline, aldosterone, and, most notably, cortisol. It is thought that chronic stress is the main culprit for adrenal dysfunction, although other factors like poor lifestyle choices and toxin exposure can also play a role. 

While adrenal fatigue is not an official medical diagnosis, holistic practitioners pinpoint it by looking at a combination of your symptoms, lifestyle, and lab results. You may also opt to get a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), which is a good starting point for those wanting to see where their mineral levels are at. 

Some of the most notable symptoms of adrenal fatigue are as follows:

If you feel like you are chronically stressed, or just can’t seem to figure out the cause of your unexplained weight gain, it might be a good time to schedule an appointment with your holistic practitioner to discuss the possibility of adrenal dysfunction. 

I Think I Have Adrenal Fatigue, Now What?

Once you’ve gone through the necessary detective work either on your own or with a practitioner, you may have deduced that you are dealing with adrenal fatigue. It can feel really overwhelming to discover you have a condition of any kind, especially one that is still not very widely addressed by conventional medicine. Just know that you are not alone. Many women are battling against the same symptoms that you are, and succeeding in alleviating them. 

There are a couple of major building blocks that make up the whole of adrenal health, and we’re going to touch on some of them. Let the following information fill you not with anxiety and overwhelm, but with the confidence and empowerment you need to take your health back. 

Building Block #1: Minerals

The best place to start with pretty much any chronic health issue is with diet and lifestyle. With adrenal fatigue, the biggest thing you want to focus on is making sure your body and nervous system feel that they are in a place of safety so that they are able to start functioning properly again. Replenishing minerals is going to be one of your top priorities at this time, as minerals act as the spark plugs for the body, producing energy and balancing electrolytes. Without adequate mineral levels, your body will gradually start turning to a state of chronic fight or flight, which heavily contributes to many of the symptoms you may be dealing with. 

Here is a brief breakdown of the “sparkplug” minerals and their various properties and functions:

Magnesium: Often known as the “sleepy mineral”, it promotes muscle relaxation, energy production, and nerve function.

Potassium: Regulates the electrical activity of the heart and muscles. 

Calcium: Helps with muscle contraction, blood clotting, and nerve signalling. 

Sodium: Maintains fluid balance and nerve impulse transmission. 

Iron: Essential for oxygen transport in red blood cells.

Zinc: Supports immune function and enzyme activity. 

With the rise of modern agriculture, we are losing so many of the naturally occurring minerals in our soil, which contributes to mineral deficiency. Luckily, there are many reputable supplement brands on the market that make it easy to start replenishing your mineral supply. All of these minerals are also naturally occurring in whole foods, but your body might need a heavier dose while you are trying to find your ideal balance again. Consult with your holistic practitioner to discover what might be the right levels for you. 

A wonderful (and tasty!) way to replenish minerals is to try an Adrenal Cocktail. You’ve probably seen many variations all over the internet, and it's popular for good reason. With a combination of sodium, potassium, and vitamin C, this drink packs a punch of vitamins and minerals that hydrate you on a cellular level. 

Here’s a simple recipe to get you started, using our adrenal support blend, Adapt. 

Ingredients:

½ cup (4 oz) orange juice 

 ½ cup (4 oz) coconut water

¼  teaspoon cream of tartar (provides potassium to help balance electrolytes.)

Pinch of sea salt

1–2 droppers of Noelle's Naturals Adapt Elixir
(packed with adaptogens to nourish and support your adrenal glands.)

Feel free to customize this recipe with different juices, sparkling water, or other add-ins to suit your personal taste!

Building Block #2: Nutrition 

Hippocrates once said, “Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”, and I think that philosophy is really at the heart of holistic health as we know it now. I don’t believe you can be truly well if you are not nourishing your body with high-quality, nutrient-dense food, and it’s much simpler than you might think.  

One major aspect of keeping your adrenals happy (and your metabolism in general) is to balance your blood sugar. So many of us are walking around constantly crashing and spiking our blood sugar without even realizing it, pushing us further and further into exhaustion and depletion, and we often start our days off with the standard American diet of refined carbs and sugar, which is not setting our adrenals up for success.

 “Balancing your blood sugar” is probably something you hear about quite often if you are in the nutrition/health and wellness space in any capacity, and it can be a little confusing to put those principles into practice. Let me break it down for you:

This is a seemingly simple first step, but making sure your blood sugar is regulated is one of the most important things you can do for your adrenal function, and for the rest of your metabolic functions too! 

Building Block #3: Stress Management

Trying to manage stress is probably one of the most difficult things a person can do for their health. Our world is full of various stressors, and a lot of them are unavoidable. From relational tensions to financial struggles, we are constantly dealing with situations that our minds and bodies perceive as stressful. 

When you are in a stressful situation, your body activates what is called the fight or flight response, which is a survival mechanism that our bodies have to keep us out of dangerous situations, but it can’t always differentiate between a life threatening danger, and an everyday inconvenience, like a tight work deadline . This can become a problem when we are faced every day with situations that are perceived as stressful, but don’t always necessitate immediate escape. 

Even though it’s impossible to completely avoid stress in your life, there are ways you can manage it and make it easier for your body to handle. 

Learning how your individual body reacts to stressors plays a key role in overall health and wellness. What one person might find stressful could be a walk in the park for you, so be mindful of your body's cues and take the time to address the feelings as they come.

Conclusion

Robust health is our birthright, and we are given agency to do the best we can to achieve optimal wellness. I hope this information was the push you needed to start taking your adrenal health into your own hands!