Pumpkin Pie Jars and ADRENAL FATIGUE

Do you crave salt? People with adrenal fatigue crave salt because they often have low blood pressure. The adrenal glands regulate water and mineral balance in our cells. Without adequate quality sodium intake, your blood pressure drops and your adrenal hormones suffer. The adrenal glands are one of the most important organs in your body, yet they are often over looked by the medical professionals. These tiny essential glands secrete sex hormones and stress-response hormones. Internal and external stressors (exercise, lack of sleep, family, work...) have a huge effect on the adrenals and therefore our hormonal (thyroid, progesterone, estrogen, etc.) output.

During stressful events, your adrenal glands secrete hormones that help your body respond to the stressors; increase blood sugar, rate of breathing, cellular metabolism and blood flow. They also produce cortisol (which everyone recognizes as the 'belly fat' hormone), but also estrogen (men produce estrogen from adrenals), testosterone, thyroid and many other hormones; all which regulate metabolism, immune system, reproductive, mineral balance and excretory functions.

Signs of adrenal fatigue:
1. Insomnia (you can fall asleep, but wake up many times throughout the night)
2. Lack of energy
3. Little stressors make you feel anxious
4. Low moods
5. Low blood pressure
6. Bad memory
7. Low libido
8. You lack interest in the things that you use to love
9. Reoccurring infections
10. Asthma or allergies
11. Need coffee or stimulants to give you energy
12. Hot flashes or PMS
13. Loss of menstrual cycle OR prolonged cycle

Elevated cortisol uses up tyrosine, an amino acid found in protein, which is essential for the thyroid gland to convert from t3 to t4 (the more active thyroid hormone). If there is inadequate thyroid hormone, the adrenal glands are affected and if there is inadequate adrenal hormones, the thyroid doesn't function properly.

Your adrenal glands are your main stress adaptation glands. When you are over stressed and the adrenal glands are over worked, your body converts progesterone into adrenal hormones. This depletes you of
progesterone, which is our anti-anxiety hormone. Low progesterone also is the leading cause of anxiety, insomnia and hot flashes.

Zinc is depleted with the use of birth control and high sucralose use. A zinc deficiency causes adrenal fatigue and pms because it is essential for thyroid function (not to mention salty cravings and desiring something sweet after meals).

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