Stress can often cause the body's blood sugar levels to drop to dangerously low levels, leading to adrenal exhaustion. This can affect your energy level and disturb your body chemistry. However, with a proper and balanced diet of natural, high-quality foods, you can treat adrenal exhaustion.
Treating Adrenal Exhaustion
According to AdrenalFatigue.org, adrenal fatigue is often brought on when the adrenal glands respond to stress. As part of this response, the body's cell metabolism speeds up, quickly burning essential nutrients, creating a nutritional void. More specifically, low levels of blood sugar contribute to fatigue.
The best way to combat adrenal fatigue is through a proper diet and eating balanced regular and small meals. AdrenalExhaustion.org recommends you eat natural, high-quality food to help in avoiding low drops in blood sugar and to make a difference in your energy level.
When to Eat
Most people suffering from adrenal fatigue make the mistake of not eating at proper intervals. If you are fighting fatigue, it is crucial to eat before 10:00 a.m. to help replenish the blood sugar used during the night, reports AdrenalFatigue.org. An early lunch, preferably one before noon, is much better than a later lunch because the body has already used the energy from breakfast. The best lunch time is between 11 and 11:30 a.m.
Eat a healthy snack between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. to sustain energy, and eat an evening meal between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. Eat a healthy snack before bed to decrease the likelihood of nighttime snacking and other sleep disturbances.
Foods to Eat
Eat meals and snacks that combine fat, protein and complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, recommends AdrenalFatigue. This mixture of nutrients gives the body a steady, constant flow of energy.
Eating salt in moderation can help in treating fatigue, unless you also suffer from high blood pressure. Sea salt and Celtic salt are the best kinds to use, because they contain important nutrients. In fact, a lack of salt in the body may cause some adrenal fatigue symptoms.
Quality proteins such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy and different plant sources like soy, nuts and seeds are also helpful. Proteins are most effective when eaten raw or lightly cooked, states AdrenalExhaustion.
Vegetables make up a crucial part of maintaining good blood sugar levels, and provide essential vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants, as well as high amounts of fiber. Eat six to eight daily servings of vegetables, particularly those that have natural bright colors like yellow, red or orange.
Reduce the the amount of fruit you eat. Fruit contains large amounts of fructose and potassium, a bad combination for people with tired adrenals. Any fruits you eat should be organically grown.
What to Avoid
AdrenalFatigue notes that eating the wrong food combination can throw your body's chemistry off for hours, or even days.
Avoid or eat sparingly foods made with sugar and white flour products, such as doughnuts, rolls, pies and cakes. These foods cause the body's blood sugar levels to rise too high, resulting in what is commonly called a sugar rush. Unfortunately, this is followed by a crash, leading to cravings for more sugary foods.
Stay away from processed proteins like packaged lunch meats and cheeses. Avoid fried foods, fast foods and junk foods. These foods often contain white flour, sugar and hydrogenated fats and have little, if any, nutritional value. It is also wise to avoid drinks or foods that contain caffeine.
