Adrenal glands are small glands located on the upper pole of each kidney. Each adrenal gland contains an inner medulla surrounded by an outer cortex layer. The medulla produces the fight-or-flight hormones adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine). The cortex produces sex hormones, stress hormones and other hormones responsible for water balance in the body. The adrenal cortex produces hormones from cholesterol, making adequate cholesterol intake important for hormone production. Discover which nutrients and supplements you can take to support your adrenal glands and help them operate optimally.

What Negatively Impacts Adrenal Health?

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. Low adrenal function may cause fatigue, dizziness, headaches, memory issues, cravings, and blood pressure changes. 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. Deep breathing and regular exercise help relieve stress and reduce its effects on the adrenal glands. These activities support adrenal function. 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.

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.

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.

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 the activity of an under-functioning gland.

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.