A-Z stress management Articles

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.

The adrenal glands are small, crescent-shaped glands that rest on the top of each kidney. They each have an outer layer called the cortex, which produces sex hormones, regulates water balance and blood pressure, and releases the hormone cortisol, which is responsible for our ability to manage long-term stress. The medulla (inner core) produces the sudden-stress response hormones called adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine). Thus, these glands play a role in our fertility, hormonal balance, water balance (bloating), and particularly with our ability to handle stress. These are the glands that take the hardest hit when we are chronically stressed.

What Is Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal insufficiency is uncommon, and can lead to a severe medical condition (adrenal crisis) that is deadly if left untreated. Adrenal fatigue, on the other hand, is a general term used to describe the condition caused by chronic stress and poor lifestyle choices that deplete adrenal reserves. Some examples of this poor lifestyle are: poor diet, excessive caffeine intake, and abuse of drugs or alcohol. Symptoms of low adrenal function are often generally regarded as signs of being "stressed out" such as: lethargy, dizziness, headaches, memory problems, food cravings, blood sugar imbalances, and increased infections. As the dysfunction becomes more severe, fainting, diarrhea, depression, moodiness, feeling cold, discolouration of the skin, swelling and loss of body hair can occur.

How is Adrenal Fatigue Treated?

When the adrenal glands completely fail, medical treatment is required to replace missing hormones to prevent shock and death. When function is simply sub-optimal, many different means of treatment exist. First and foremost, a healthy diet and lifestyle, including reducing life stressors can do wonders for their health. Unfortunately, today's fast paced world doesn't always allow for us to live the healthy lifestyle we would like, and sometimes these glands may need a little help for a particularly stressful period of time. Often this is where glandular extracts will come into play.

Adrenal Glandular Extracts

Like most glandular extracts, adrenal glandular is often from either bovine (cow), or porcine (pig) sources. These extracts contain all of the nutritional fundamentals, cofactors, and hormones present in the organ. This can be considered a complete nutritional supplement for adrenal gland support. Because of its high concentration of hormones, it is not recommended that this glandular be used for extended periods of time, but instead that it be used acutely to boost these glands in times of great stress.

Other Adrenal Supporting Supplements

Other support supplements products include: vitamin C, B-complex, L-tyrosine, and herbs such as licorice and Siberian ginseng.

How Do I Take Adrenal Glandulars?

Adrenal glandular can be found alone or in combination formulas with other nutrients and herbs that support healthy adrenal functioning. Because there is a lack of research and standardization, each glandular extract may be a different concentration and should be taken according to the suggested dosing on the label of that product.

Side Effects & Important Information

Adrenal glandular is very potent and should not be used for extended periods of time unless recommended by your healthcare practitioner. Long-term adrenal support should involve diet and lifestyle changes as well as stress-reduction exercises. Side effects of these glandulars may include: extreme fatigue, palpitations, blood pressure fluctuations, and anxiety. Discontinue use immediately if side effects occur.

Tyrosine is considered a non-essential amino acid, meaning that your body can make it from another amino acid, phenylalanine. That being said, it can also be found in a variety of foods, including wheat germ, oats, cheese and other dairy products, pork, turkey, chicken, and other wild game. Tyrosine or L-tyrosine can also be taken as a supplement. PKU is a condition in which individuals cannot make this amino acid from phenylalanine; in these cases, supplementation is necessary.

Medicinal Uses For Tyrosine

Neurotransmitter Effects

One of the more important medicinal uses of this amino acid comes from its ability to be converted to the following neurotransmitters: dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters play an integral role in memory, attention and problem solving, depression and mood, as well as our stress response. Studies have shown that tyrosine, most likely due to its ability to increase the levels of the aforementioned neurotransmitters, may have the ability to fight fatigue and improve memory and mental functioning, particularly under the influence of environmental stressors, including sleep deprivation due to stress. It has also been shown to calm anxiety and help to improve mood and outlook.

Thyroid Support

Tyrosine is also involved in the synthesis of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. It is commonly recommended that individuals suffering from thyroid dysfunction supplement with this amino acid to increase metabolic activity and help to alleviate hypothyroid symptoms. As a substance that increases or up-regulates norepinephrine, this amino acid can also cause relatively quick and significant increases in energy, especially useful for individuals suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.

Tyrosine Supplement Varieties

Tyrosine can be found in capsule form, either alone or in combination with other amino-acids, or supplements formulated to support thyroid, mood, energy and attention. This amino acid is considered safe at high doses. Some research has shown it has been associated with increased blood pressure in some individuals. If you have moderately high blood pressure or are at risk for high blood pressure, consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before supplementing with tyrosine and have your blood pressure checked regularly.