Adrenal Fatigue - Part 5 - Food

Hey guys, it's been a few weeks since Part 4 was posted. I am still battling adrenal fatigue myself so I needed some time to recoop. So let's dive right into this post.  We talked in earlier posts that your adrenal glands regulate so many things in the body, it would take too long to describe every single one but one thing is cortisol. Cortisol helps the body keep blood sugar levels where they should be. That is why when you suffer from adrenal fatigue, it is important not to skip meals, eat on the same schedule and to eat foods that are lower on the glycemic index. If you eat something that is high on this index, your adrenal will need to regulate sugar to compensate. But if you suffer from adrenal fatigue, it won't be able to do it's job properly.  You could in time develop diabetes or insulin resistance if your adrenal fatigue is not addressed. I know a few months ago I was becoming insulin resistant. I would start to shake if I didn't eat every two hours because me adrenal glands were completely exhausted and just couldn't regulate sugar if I didn't eat frequently. AIP diet worked wonders for me but I do have some auto immune diseases so that diet is a bit extreme for most. But best thing is to eat whole plant based food with some good quality meat. 

Some might find, like I did that when you have adrenal fatigue that there are some food that you become sensitive to. Keeping a food journal and tracking what you ate and how you feel is the best way to pin point some foods you might want to avoid while you recover. For me it was oatmeal. That stuff would make me so lethargic for 2 days but I never suspected it until I kept a food journal. Found out in this book that people with adrenal fatigue seem to have issues with gluten and grain so is best to avoid them which I have for about 5 months now and feel much better than I did.

When you suffer from adrenal fatigue it is also the worst time to make bad food choices. Your body is already taxed and eating poorly will just make matters worse. It is also best to have fat or protein along side a starchy carb to slow down the process of converting your food into glucose. It will give you steady energy and keep you fuller longer.

Craving salt and being thirsty are both symptoms of adrenal fatigue. Adding salt to your diet can help with this. The book suggested that you could add 1/4 tsp of salt to a cup of water first thing in the morning, but I just started adding salt to all my food. I'm not a doctor so if you have issues with sodium please consult a doctor before doing this. I just know this did help me as well and was suffering from salt cravings and being thirsty all the time and that has completely went away.

Those are just some small tips to help out. I didn't want to go into detail on the actual food lists because I have found out from experience and research that nobody can give you a set list and say 100% that it will work. There are foods on the list that I can't tolerate and should be good for you and others that should be avoided that don't create any symptoms. There is no cookie cutter answer and everyone's body is different. Do what you feel is best and what makes you feel optimal. Keep track of days you are happy, moody, lethargic or energetic. You will find your food weakness when you start listening to your body and not the cravings. 

If you find that you need a nap, take a nap. If you feel like you need a break, take a break. We are so hard on ourselves and that needs to stop. When I clean now sometimes I need a few breaks and it sounds ridiculous. I need a break from washing floors and doing dishes. Really?! But it's true and I don't put that kind of pressure on myself anymore and am slowly getting back to myself. You got this and just when you feel like throwing in the towel, hold on because something amazing is just around the corner ! :)

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