Adrenal Gland Support
Updated Aug. 15th, 2019
Adrenal glands are small glands located on the upper pole of each kidney. Each one is divided into an inner medulla surrounded by the outer cortex layer. The medulla produces the fight-or-flight hormones adrenaline (epinephrine) and nor adrenaline (norepinephrine). The cortex produces sex hormones, stress hormones and other hormones responsible for water balance in the body. All of the hormones produced by the adrenal cortex are derived from cholesterol, so proper intake of this nutrient is essential for their release. For more information on the adrenal glands their function, please see our Adrenal Disorders article.
Stress and Adrenal Fatigue
Although actual organ failure of the adrenal gland is uncommon, our high stress lifestyles, poor diet and abuse of drugs or alcohol often lead to adrenal depletion. Signs of low adrenal function are those that we associate with being "stressed out" such as: lethargy, dizziness, headaches, memory problems, food cravings and blood sugar imbalances. As the dysfunction gets more serious other symptoms such as: fainting, diarrhea, depression, moodiness, feeling cold, discolouration of the skin, swelling and loss of body hair can occur.
Diet and Lifestyle Influences
It’s important to deal with stress in healthy ways in order to escape potential adrenal burnout. Activities like deep breathing and regular exercise are proven ways to relieve stress and decrease its effect on the adrenal gland. By doing these regularly, the adrenal gland function will naturally be stimulated. A few times each day, take 10 slow, deep breaths to increase your well-being and reduce stress. This simple activity will improve adrenal gland function.
To achieve full adrenal benefits, be sure to moderate or eliminate consumption of the following harmful substances: corticosteroids, alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, fried foods, processed and white sugars and flours and red meat.
Increasing foods containing high amounts of vitamins and minerals, like green leafy vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, legumes, garlic, onions and healthy fats will support the adrenal gland. The essential fatty acids found in fish and fish oil also support the adrenal gland.
SUPPLEMENTS FOR ADRENAL SUPPORT
Nutritional supplements can also help to nourish and support the adrenal glands. Because these glands produce a large number of different hormones, they require several different precursors and cofactors to perform their task efficiently.
Vitamin C and Vitamin B-5 for Adrenaline
The adrenal glands require vitamins C and B-5 (pantothenic acid) to produce optimum levels of adrenaline (epinehphrine) for response to immediate urgent stress. See more information on vitamin C, and vitamin B-5.
B-Complex
In addition to the role of B-5 in the synthesis of adrenaline, the other B vitamins also act as cofactors for the synthesis of other adrenal hormones. They also help promote efficient energy utilization in the body. For more information on the benefits of B vitamins, please click here.
Licorice
The herb Licorice contains hormones similar to those released by the adrenal gland. Because of this, it can help to supplement low adrenal function, and help to give a significant increase in energy levels. For more information on the benefits of Licorice, please click here.
Adrenal Glandular
Adrenal gland extract (New Zealand source) contains proteins and essential nutrients that can help optimize your adrenal functioning. This extract also contains the active hormones that can supplement for the activity of an under-functioning gland. For more information on adrenal glandular, please click here.
Adaptogenic Herbs
Some herbs are able to help the body more easily adapt to stress, and these herbs are referred to as adaptogens. The ginsengs can act in this way, as can astragalus. Interestingly, in addition to boosting adrenal function, these herbs also help to improve immune functioning. For more information on the ginsengs, please click here. For more information on astragalus, please click here.
Been suffering from adrenal fatigue for a while. Been taking Ashwaghanda. After reading this post, I will be upping my Vitamin C as well as my B. I'm trying to slow down during extra busy days helps which can be hard with a five-year-old. I will not be trying the licorice though as the taste has always been awful for me. :)
I found this article very helpful in explaining adrenal function. After reading this I got some good tips on what supplements would be helpful to strengthen not only my adrenals but also my immune function. I am going to increase my vit C, add some liquorice and astragalus to my protocol as well as taking a b-complex daily. Eating foods high in minerals and vitamins will be on the top of my list. Fabulous tips, thank-you.
Hello Belinda,
We love to hear how our articles help our NN family! You're welcome, we're so happy to hear these suggestions are working well for you.
Stay healthy & well!
I have been suffering from adrenal fatigue for a long time, and I still am. It is a handicapping health condition and is not well known in traditional medicine, which they tend to diagnose as depression or anxiety. I found out the best way to help and heal from this problem is changing our way of life, such as our nutrition, our way of emotionally dealing with life situations and more. Some natural supplements can help support our system during this hard and long transition. It is to be taken seriously in my opinion, because it can lead to a lot of collateral problems.
I like the advice to take some slow, deep-breaths. Simple to do, cheap, and can be done anywhere easily. I hadn't heard of licorice being beneficial for the adrenals before and will have to look into that. I love the smell and taste of licorice. Funny thing though is that for some reason I thought the adrenals were up in the neck area, not above the kidneys. I learned something really new today.
Hello Wendy,
Adrenals are not well known about, so we're glad that our article helped you get a better understanding of these powerful little glands. In our modern world, stress is at the forefront, so taking care of our adrenal health is important. Focusing on breath and breathing fully helps our overall health and stress levels and liquorice has many benefits, you can learn more in our article on that supplement here:
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/licorice/
Stay healthy & well!
I too have been suffering from adrenal fatigue. I added the recommendations in this article and my energy during the day has increased, I'm more focused, and can sleep well at night too. Thank you.
Hello Liana,
Thank you for sharing your experience, we're so happy this article was able to help you! If you'd like to learn more about each supplement, check out our other articles here:
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/
Stay healthy & well!
Good information
This is very useful information about Adrenal Gland Support.
Wish we have learned that years ago.
Hello Emma,
We're happy you have enjoyed our article on Adrenal Health. It is often underrated but can effect your overall well-being so much. We think you'll enjoy our other articles on adrenal gland health as well:
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/health-concerns/adrenal-qas/
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/health-concerns/adrenal-disorders/
Have a healthy day!
Excellent article!
Hello Linda,
Thank you for sharing, we're glad you enjoyed our Adrenal Gland support article, we think you'd like this one too:
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/health-concerns/adrenal-qas/
Stay healthy & well!
Adrenals play quite an important function in your body. Adrenals seem to be impacted quite significantly by stress, which is why its important to keep your stress levels down. I'm glad that this article lists several things that you can do and take in order to control stress levels and to keep them at bay. Everyday life in itself is quite stressful so having something to help you out with these everyday life stressors seems quite logical to me.
Hello, Rose with Thorns,
Indeed, there is a lot of stress in everyday life in modern society; therefore, your adrenals are taking on a lot of stress too. When your adrenals are stressed, they can become fatigued which manifests as other symptoms and health issues. We're happy our article helped you learn more about adrenals and how you can support them naturally. Adaptogens are a great way to support your adrenal glands, read more about them in this article:
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/adaptogens/
Have a healthy day!
well..... This explains how i've been feeling for months! I obviously need to begin supporting and supplementing my adrenal glands.
Hello, Casey,
Great to see that our article has helped shed some light on what you're feeling. A lot of people don't know about or much on adrenal health. However, if they're unbalanced it can throw you off and you'll feel more fatigued and low energy. Stress it the biggest culprit to wreak havoc on the adrenals. We're happy you found our post and can look into way to naturally support your health. Check out our supplement articles to read more on each suggestion:
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/
Stay healthy & well!
Wow! great article, very informative and learned a lot that I was previously unaware of.
Hello, Dan,
It's great to hear you enjoyed our article. Adrenal glands often get overlooked or people are unaware of their functions and how they support your health. Unfortunately they take a beating often due to daily stressors. We have more articles on the adrenal glands that we think you'll also enjoy:
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/health-concerns/adrenal-qas/
Stay healthy & well!
You mention twice in this article to avoid coffee for adrenal gland support.
I don't drink coffee; my brother does. However, I have regularly seen in the media that coffee has numerous health benefits. Can coffee be part of a healthy lifestyle that supports adrenal health? If so, how?
I'm interested in learning more about this because I care deeply for my Brother and know that he will never give up coffee but I hope that he can learn to be healthy with it in some moderation
Hello Rachel,
Coffee does have other health benefits, but because it's a stimulant, if an individual is already showing signs of stress, it can further stress these glands. Instead, an adaptogen latte or mushroom coffee would be more beneficial for the adrenals and can provide a more stable energy boost.
Here are some of our favourites: https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/mushroom-extracts/mushroom-combinations.html?p=3
Stay healthy & well!
I have been exposed to stress and going beyond my limits for the past 22 years or so. I am working hard on getting back on track. I try to avoid sugar as much as possible. This article gives me even more tips. I wonder if anything vegetarian can be as effective as fish oil and adrenal glandular?
Hello L.D.
Thank you for sharing, stress wreaks havoc on the body, and the adrenal glands are sensitive to stress. There are vegetarian omega options, here's some of our favourites: https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/omega-oils-essential-fats/omega-3-vegan.html
Have a healthy day!
This article provides an insightful and informative guide on supporting adrenal gland health. It emphasizes the significance of the adrenal glands in regulating stress response, energy levels, and overall well-being. The inclusion of practical tips, such as managing stress, maintaining a balanced diet, and getting adequate rest, highlights the importance of a holistic approach. Additionally, the article explores the potential benefits of certain herbs, supplements, and lifestyle changes in supporting adrenal gland function. However, it would have been helpful to provide more scientific evidence or references to support the efficacy of these interventions. Nonetheless, this article serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking to optimize their adrenal gland health.
Hello, Nathaniel,
Indeed, the adrenals are helpful in managing stress, but unfortunately in our modern lives, there are a lot of daily stressors that hinder their health. Since there isn't a lot of mainstream information on adrenals, it's good to learn as much as you can about them. Once nutrient that's great for adrenal health is maca, you can learn more about this adaptogen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxkItIceLMA
Stay healthy & well!
This article was most helpful in explaining function and importance of adrenal glands as well as symptoms that occur when the adrenals are under stress. Lots of great recommendations on how to support the adrenals and feel better!
Hello Judy,
We are thrilled that you enjoyed our article on adrenal gland support, you're right, most people don't know how to care for their adrenals or forget about them; however, if they are out of balance it can have a major impact on your well-being and daily life. Adrenals can be overrun with the amount of daily stressors we have in our busy lives so giving them TLC with supplements and lifestyle practices are a great way to keep them balanced and healthy. If you'd like to learn more about adaptogens, have a read through this article: https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/adaptogens/
Have a healthy day.