Burning the Candle at Both Ends? 6 Ways to Help Prevent Adrenal Fatigue

Seriously, so fricken tired. We’ve all been there, but did you know that letting stress get the better of you can often lead to adrenal fatigue?
So, what exactly is adrenal fatigue? Basically, it’s a disruption in your adrenal gland’s ability to make the hormone, cortisol in response to stress. If your adrenals are exposed to acute or prolonged, chronic stress, these teeny tiny glands can become overloaded and ineffective, causing hormonal imbalances, feelings of being ‘wired but tired’, irritability, foggy brain and extreme exhaustion.
Luckily there are steps you can take to avoid letting stress get the better of you. Here are my top tips to help you best your best night owl or early bird, rather than some sort of permanently exhausted pigeon.

Get More Quality Sleep
Go to bed before 10pm. Many suffering from a burnout with get a surge of cortisol at around 11pm also known as your ‘second wind’. If you’re still awake for when this wave hits, you and your sleep cycle are a goner. Be sure to also get a minimum of 8 hours beauty sleep too, babes.

Relax
Taking time out during the day to relax is maybe the most important thing you can do for your stress levels. Try to meditate, practice yoga, go for walks, find time for your favourite hobbies and limit high intensity cardio workouts.

Bump Up the Nutrients
Magnesium, Vitamin C and B Vitamins are very important adrenal loving nutrients.
Magnesium is a supportive and calming mineral for the nervous system, can help improve sleep, boost energy and help to reduce stress levels.
Vitamin C is a key player in the production of stress hormones like cortisol. When your body is stressed and burnt out, your adrenal gland drains the body of Vitamin C, so it’s incredibly important to make sure you drink your OJ.
The B vitamin group are your ‘anti-stress’ vitamins, which help you cope with the stressors of day-to-day life and are vital in maintaining energy levels.

If your adrenals are exposed to acute or prolonged, chronic stress, these teeny tiny glands can become overloaded and ineffective, causing hormonal imbalances, feelings of being ‘wired but tired’, irritability, foggy brain and extreme exhaustion.

Watch your Diet
Cut down on processed and refined foods, excess sugar, hydrogenated oils and fatty foods. I would also recommend ditching foods that you are sensitive to, such as gluten and dairy. These can cause inflammation in the body and can worsen your burnout symptoms. To support your stress levels, make sure to eat clean, lean and eat the rainbow.

Cut down on the Coffee
While most of us cannot survive the morning slog without our triple, venti, almond milk, no foam latte, those on the verge of adrenal fatigue should avoid all types of caffeine, including coffee, black tea, energy drinks and chocolate. Yes, while these stimulants do give you’re your tired body and temporary boost in energy, they can also further deplete tired adrenals and contribute to insomnia, anxiety and exhaustion.

Add Adaptogens
Use adaptogenic herbs to help balance your hormones and support your adrenals. Ayuverdic herbs including Ashwagandha, Astragalus, Rhodiola and Eleuthero are can all be used to help ellivate the symptoms of adrenal fatigue and assist your body in its healing process. Just make sure you consult your health care professional before including these in your routine.

Perhaps the most important thing of all though is to listen to your body, practice self care and be kind to yourself.

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