Edit: There are now over 50 symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue that you can have for free. There is also a free report for what you can do to help heal the issue. Click on the Adrenal Fatigue book to the left and get your symptoms today.
Do you feel tired all the time? Maybe you get plenty of sleep and just don’t feel rested. Or maybe you have trouble sleeping. Low energy? Difficulty thinking or focusing? These are all symptoms of adrenal fatigue. This article explores the adrenals and the causes of adrenal fatigue. Included is a simplified explanation of how diet affects the adrenals and some suggestions for what you can do to restore them, and you to health.
The 30 symptoms include, but are not limited to:
1. Excessive fatigue and exhaustion, chronic fatigue
2. Non-refreshing sleep
3. Sleep disturbance, insomnia
4. Feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope
5. Craving salty and/or sweet foods
6. Sensitivity to light
7. Low stamina and slow to recover from exercise
8. Slow to recover from injury or illness
9. Difficulty concentrating, brain fog
10. Poor digestion
11. Irritable bowel syndrome, IBS
12. Low immune function
13. Premenstrual syndrome
14. Menopause symptoms
15. Low blood pressure
16. Sensitivity to cold
17. Fearfulness
18. Allergies,
19. Frequent influenza
20. Arthritis
21. Anxiety
22. Irritability
23. Depression
24. Reduced memory
25. Low libido, sexual drive or interest
26. Lack of lust for life and/or food
27. Excess hunger
28. Low appetite
29. Panic/anxiety attacks
30. Irritability, impatience, quick to anger.
If quick to anger, the person will often tend to back down quickly if confronted.
Many of these symptoms have other causes, so just because you have one or more symptom doesn’t necessarily mean that you have adrenal fatigue. On the other hand, adrenal fatigue is so prevalent that if you have even one of these symptoms, it is likely that your are at least a bit run down.
Almost every client I have ever seen has come to me because of one or more of these symptoms. Stress is a major contributor to adrenal fatigue. We live in a busy world that offers little relief from stresses of life. Toxicity contributes to adrenal fatigue as well. But by far, adrenal fatigue is caused by a diet high in sugar and processed foods. And, the same dietary factors that contribute to adrenal fatigue are at the root of most of our major health issues today. Most major diseases start with the same factors as adrenal fatigue, and adrenal fatigue can lead to many serious conditions.
What are the adrenals?
The adrenals are two walnut sized glands that sit on top of the kidneys. They produce three different classes of hormones at the rate of about a quart (liter) a day. One class is stress hormones like adrenalin and cortisol also called hydrocortisone. Another class of adrenal hormones affect mineral metabolism especially the sodium/potassium balance. And, they produce sex hormones and their precursors. These hormones are some of the ones that make us feel good. They give us energy and a lust for life — and sex.
A simple test for adrenal fatigue
There are many tests for adrenal fatigue. Lab tests are expensive and take time for the results. However, there is a simple self-test that can be done with a flashlight and a mirror. Start in a darkened room so that your pupils dilate but have it light enough so that you can see your eyes in a mirror. Allow enough time in the dim room so that the pupils dilate fully, about ten minutes. Next, shine the flashlight into one of your eyes from the side so that the light causes the pupil to shrink down to a pin point. Do this in such a way that you can still watch the pupil as it reduces in size. If your adrenals are strong, the pupil will most likely shrink down immediately. If there is any hesitation before they react, then your adrenals are probably fatigued. I use the qualifier probably here because there are other reasons eyes may not react like this though they are not common.
Dietary causes of adrenal fatigue
As mentioned earlier, sugar and refined carbohydrates are the main cause of adrenal fatigue. Sugar includes honey, maple syrup, fructose, dried fruit, fruit juice and just about anything that is sweet. Refined carbohydrates are grains that have been ground up or have had the bran removed. This include products like bread even whole wheat bread, noodles, corn chips, white rice and pretty much anything that comes in a package. Refined foods are broken down by grinding and concentration. Refined grains have more surface area exposed to digestion, so they digest more quickly. They release their sugars quickly into the blood stream causing blood sugar to go up too high too fast.
The body responds to high blood sugar by releasing insulin. Insulin is a hormone that causes sugar to move into the liver, muscles and fat tissues. The problem is that the body evolutionarily isn’t designed to deal with the large amounts of sugar in the blood that are caused by sugar and refined foods. Evolution has designed us to eat animal protein, whole grains (not chopped up), vegetables and fruits. So, the body tends to overreact to this fast sugar by releasing too much insulin. This article is about the adrenals, but high blood sugar, high levels of insulin and constant exposure to stress hormones cause their own problems that will be covered in the future.
The release of too much insulin causes the blood sugar to go down too far. Most everyone has experienced getting sleepy after a large meal of pasta, rice or some other carbohydrate. Or, the drop in energy that follows a candy high. That’s what happens after the large release of insulin. The blood sugar goes down too far. The brain eats mostly sugar, so it gets sleepy from lack.
Now we get into the adrenal involvement. One of the stress hormones they release is cortisol. In ancient times stress meant that we had to fight or run away, the fight/flight response. The muscles that move quickly use sugar, and cortisol causes blood sugar to increase. There is also a cortisol release anytime there is low blood sugar. You know how you can be really hungry, then after awhile you aren’t so hungry anymore? That’s cortisol doing it’s job. The same thing happens when low blood sugar happens because of an over-release of insulin.
The adrenals are constantly being assailed by the above reactions. Processed foods and snacks are available all the time, and they are hard to resist. Our ancestors survived because they had a sweet tooth. They craved the sweet fruits that were available at the end of winter. Insulin caused that extra sugar to be stored as fat for the lean times of winter. The ones that didn’t desire sweet fruits didn’t survive, so we inherited that craving for sweets and other foods that turn into sugar. The problem is that we eat as though it is the end of summer all the time!
The adrenals are constantly being called on to produce more and more cortisol in response to the stress caused by sugar and processed food. Eventually they become exhausted. And, so does the indulger.
What you can do
The obvious thing to do is to stop eating sugar and refined foods. A lot of people will do great just by modifying their diet alone. There are lots of products on the market for treating the adrenals, but which ones really work? This is very individual, but I will give you some suggestions in part two.
Be well, and remember: the body wants to heal, all it needs is the opportunity.
My husband has polymyalgia rheumatica. He has been on Prednisone for almost two years, although the dosage is periodically reduced as his body will tolerate. I recently researched the effects of Prednisone and found that the Prednisone is now doing the work for his adrenal glands, (if I understood that correctly).
So many of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue seem to fit what he is experiencing (at least 20 of the 30 listed), so I’m wondering if he shouldn’t ask his Rheumatologist to do the saliva test.
We’ve talked about trying to eliminate sugar from our diet as I have many of the 30 symptoms also as well as arthritis in some areas. We’re both so abnormally tired and we know this is just not normal.
Here are my questions:
With support and restoration of the adrenal glands, might my husband be able to get off of Prednisone?
If so, how much should he be doing on his own to restore his adrenals?
If the Prednisone is doing the work the adrenals would normally do, is it doing it well enough or could he have af because Prednisone doesn’t do it well enough?
Thank you for the information supplied on your blog. It has been extremely informative and easy to comprehend.
Hi Cat,
I answered your question with an article: http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/reader-dealing-with-adrenal-fatigue-arthritis-and-prednisone/
Hi: I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue last spring (though I crashed in October 2008). I had trouble getting my GP to acknowledge it – she said I needed anti depressants! I finally found a naturopath to help me. It is such a slow recovery – I am wondering is there going to be a recovery? I have suffered from chronic pain for 12 years and I know this led to my current state along with a bad bout of stress last fall. I am starting to feel desperate… unable to bounce back from small illnesses – had the H1N1 shot three weeks ago and was so sick from it. Seems my immune system is shot too. Help.
Hi Kalidasa
I have read this article with interest, but more so the comments. You seem very knowledgable in this area. I believe I have been suffering from AF for a few years now. I had a H.I.G.H. stress job where I was in charge of several $2M+ projects practically alone, had my first child, divorced my husband, moved twice and went through a bitter and expensive custody battle all within the same year…all while raising a newborn alone (and all during the economic crash at that!). I eventually hit a wall. I was severely fatigued (almost paralyzed at times), mind fog, poor memory, bad mood swings, weight gain though I was barely eating (mainly middle & hips), hair loss in clumps, sinus infections, candida overgrowth, dizziness, weird headaches, loss of balance, heart palpatations. You name it, I had it. It was so bad, I thought I was terminal with something. My doctor did nothing, just said I had such a “constellation of symptoms” that she didn’t know where to begin as all b/w came back normal except exposure at some point to mono… so she said that’s what it must have been, though I was doubtful.
Things have settled down for me quite a bit. I have since remarried, am a stay-at-home mom with low stress and a good diet. We are trying to have a child and have been infertile for a year. I have done a 10-day detox fast (which helped so much… this is actually what got me out of being half bed-ridden), I now take Prenatal vitamin with folic, Super B complex & fish oil. I exercise with strength training every other day & eat lots of fresh food with little bread or dairy & lots of cultured foods daily.
Although I am somewhat recovered, I would like to get back to the healthy, athletic life I had before my crash. I would like to know more about toxicity & sinus/gum infections (I have a mouthful of silver fillings from childhood) and cleansing and strengthening my adrenals to balance out my hormones. I am in my late thirties, so would like to learn more about this to apply in the future as I approach menopause. I would give anything to get rid of this 20lbs that somehow found its way to my belly & hips only. It looks so odd… I’m slender everywhere else 🙁 I’m ready to get started!
why tryptophan for females and tyrisine for males?
I am on tyrosine from my naturopath, but am female.
Anne
Betty,
Yes, it is possible to recover. Herbs usually help quickly, while supplements affect healing over a longer period of time.
The chronic pain can be from many different causes. I would need to know more to offer suggestions.
Biff,
Be careful with fasting, it can cause adrenal fatigue too! There are many different detoxification methods other than straight fasting (I realize you may not have been fasting, just a warning). Standard Process has a system that works pretty good, sweating in a dry sauna or hot baths and exercising are good ones.
The weight gain you describe is typical for thyroid body types and is usually due to estrogens not being cleared by the liver. http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/detoxification/how-the-liver-handles-toxins-and-what-you-can-do-to-help-it/
Weight loss is more about detoxification than anything else as the fat cells store toxins. The body is unwilling to lose weight because that would release the toxins to cause damage.
Anne,
In general, men are deficient in dopamine while women are deficient in serotonin. Dopamine is made from tyrosine and serotonin is made from tryptophane (5htp is another form). This isn’t always the case though.
Reading your article has just not only opened my eyes, but given me hope that maybe the cause of nearly all my problems are adrenal related. I have struggled with anxiety and depression for nearly 20 years. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2003. Long story short, I am a young mother with 3 young children, and am getting worse every day. i have been one every medication one can think of, and still remain on many, for sleep, for wakefulness, for depression and anxiety, for pain…..you name it. Nothing is really helping, in fact I continue to feel like I’m getting worse. It is difficult for me to leave the house most of the time. I do not take any multiviatmins and admit that I have a poor diet, as i do not like to cook, and when I am, it is cooking for picky young children. Can you tell me where you recommend i begin, in terms of trying supplements, changing diet…anything. Thank you….your article has provided much hope for me!
I read what Biff wrote, and that sounds a lot like me in terms of the weight around the middle and hips, (have always carried it there, and it does look odd). Also struggled with infertility in trying to have our 3rd, and like Betty feel as though my immune system is shot….I catch everything! Just thought I would add. Is there any websites/blogs with support groups for those with adrenal fatuigue?
Michelle,
There is a lot going on with you and it will take some time to respond fully. I will write an article for you within the next three or four days, sooner if I can. Sorry, I’m just really busy right now.
For now, work on changing your diet. Eat plenty of animal protein like chicken, fish and eggs. Avoid sugar and processed foods like the plague they are. I’d just throw them all out and forget about them. Withdraw can be hard, but it gets easier after 5 days, in a month you won’t miss them at all. Processed includes all breads including whole grain, ground up is processed. Also, fruit juice and dried fruit are just like sugar.
Sometimes we just have to be firm with our children, including the inner child that we all are to some degree. Don’t worry, they’ll eat when they are hungry enough, and you will be doing them the biggest service a parent can. My kids didn’t eat sugar until my wife and I split up when my son was 4, now he’s obese because his mother had no discipline. Chances are I’ll outlive him by many years because of it.
I’m sure there are support group forums. That’s a good idea too, I’ll think about starting one here as I get a lot of traffic for adrenal fatigue.
I’ve been to the doctor for fatigue symptoms that have lasted for quite a long time now – and after several blood tests that haven’t told us anything, I believe I have AF, especially after reading your article. I haven’t done the pupil test YET, but do you know if tingling around the eyes can be a symptom also? I always just assumed it was from my eyes being tired from fatigue. Another HUGE issue for me is the stamina that I continue to be losing. I used to walk 3 miles 3 times per week and do light weight lifting in between walking days. I then had to cut it down to 2 miles every other day, and haven’t been lifting but even then I couldn’t seem to recover. A couple of months ago I started jogging just one mile per day w/ no lifting but it seems like I’m more tired than ever – exercise just doesn’t make me feel better anymore and it’s so depressing to me! I’m going to try a new routine of jogging 1 mile every other day w/ yoga in between days. It’s so disheartening because I could always count on exercise for energy – now I exercise less, and feel anxious and tired all the time. I’m so confused!
I don’t believe that you won’t let people print out a list of symptoms to take to their doctor???? For what reason???
Jennifer,
You may have more going on than adrenal fatigue. Toxicity comes to mind, and there are at least eight different systems that have to do with energy.
The anxiety is likely from brain chemistry, specifically serotonin deficiency. There are many cofactors involved, but the most common ones are: enzyme activated B6 (P5P), tryptophan as well as other B vitamins — a multiple wouldn’t hurt.
Diane,
I’m not sure how you got that idea. For one thing, I couldn’t control what someone printed out.
My observation of doctors is that traditionally trained US medical doctors do not recognize adrenal fatigue or its symptoms. If they learn anything about holistic healing, then they will readily acknowledge it as do my doctor friends.
I have heard from a number of people who told their doctors of their adrenal symptoms, sometimes 20 or more of the ones listed in this article — and, I’ve found more since writing this, and the doctors are stumped as to what to do at all. One comment was, “I just don’t know where to start.”
So, feel free to report any and all your symptoms to your doctor, but don’t be surprised if they don’t acknowledge adrenal fatigue.
I have really bad insomnia (started as waking at 3 now I dont fall asleep). My cortisol levels are low all day and at the highest end of range at night. Of course, now I have hypothyroid – I tried to SP products a few months ago and felt great quickly but still didnt sleep. I am on iron,dessicated thyroid, progesterone and many supplements including DHEA. My dr says I can treat through diet by keeping my adrenaline levels low but I have been doing that for 3 months to no avail. I am worse now than ever before. I recently saw a naturopath and her suggestion is to start seriphos at night. Any suggestions?
I had a quick question.
Can Adrenal Fatigue cause a tight feeling in the head most of the time, and worse after the above mentioned foods? My glucose level after a 15 hour fast was at 79 i think. I may have messed up my adreanals when I did some oral chelation with EDTA a few months back and noticed a few days after I noticed a pain in my right side, more right back area, (I had chelated for about 3 weeks by this point) that I now had a weird tight feeling in my head most of the time now. I thought it was kidney stones, had CT’s and MRI’s done, nut showed nothing. I also thought that I may have sent mercury from a few fillings I had, into my head, but doesn’t seem to be the case. This feeling also gets worse when the weather changes , like rain , but seems better on clear days. So far Docs didn’t see Kidney stones, clogged liver, or gallblader. An ultra sound did show some fatty areas in or on the liver and a polyp in the Gallbladder. Did some cleanses, feel better, but the pain in the side is still there, as well as a general feeling of fatigue and lastly my brain fog, head tightness is still there. I had none of these symptoms before I did the chelation, but after I did it, my lifes not been the same since.
Any ideas.
:O\
Charles
I am not sure about the tightness in your head, I’d need to know a lot more to figure that one out, a phone consultation would probably be best. The fatigue and foggy feeling is likely adrenal, but like most things of this nature, it could be something else. Milk Thistle is good for a fatty liver, but I only recommend MediHerb or Kroeger brands. If a cleanse made you feel better then there is probably some toxicity that needs to be addressed.
Babs
Almost every sleep issue is due to adrenal fatigue. And, the thyroid automatically goes down when the adrenals are low, though there are many reasons why there may not be enough thyroid hormone.
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