Treat Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms Naturally - 5 Kitchen Remedies

What if I told you, you don’t have to buy expensive supplements or go on crazy elimination diets in order to heal your gut, detox your body or improve your digestion. Would you want to know more? It took me years and thousands of dollars before I realized that some of the most powerful and inexpensive remedies to treat adrenal fatigue symptoms were right under my nose. I am going to share with you 5 kitchen remedies to treat adrenal fatigue symptoms and my favorite ways to easily incorporate these into your diet.

#1 Turmeric

This vibrant colored and highly aromatic spice used often in Asian cooking belongs to the ginger family.

The main active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin which gives turmeric many of its healing and cleansing properties.

To start, turmeric is a potent antioxidant packed with vitamins A, C, and E.

Vitamin C is key for adrenal fatigue sufferers because the more cortisol you make the more vitamin C is used. During the stress response the body burns up many times the daily requirement of vitamin C. So as stressful events increase, the need for vitamin C also increases.

Another reason turmeric is a great remedy for adrenal fatigue is because of its anti-inflammatory effects.

As you probably already noticed, inflammation is common with adrenal fatigue and autoimmune diseases. Inflammation is the result of an overactive immune system. Particularly with chronic autoimmune disease, the amount of inflammation present is determined by the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands, so when the adrenals are weak your body is more prone to inflammation.

The anti-inflammatory potency of turmeric has been compared favorably to anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical drugs…minus all the side effects.

Ways to Consume Turmeric:

1. Add small amounts (a teaspoon) to your daily smoothies

2. Make a yummy dish, once or twice a week that uses turmeric. My favorite is a red lentil curry dish like this one

#2 Clove

Clove has been used for thousands of   years in India and China as not only a spice and condiment, but as medicine.

Like Turmeric, clove is a powerful antioxidant. It is also anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiseptic and a natural pain-reliever.

Inflammation and digestion are common issues for most adrenal fatigue sufferers and clove comes to the rescue as it’s capable of addressing both.

For example, clove relaxes the smooth lining of the GI tract and stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes. As a result, clove helps alleviate vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal gas, irritability and stomachaches.

Clove is also a good source of manganese, omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.

Ways to Consume Clove:

I prefer to consume clove by incorporating it into my food and drink. It’s not something I want in my smoothies, but that’s just me. Here are a couple great recipes to try. If you like chai tea you can make a big batch on Sunday and enjoy a cup each morning.

1. Chili Recipe

2. Homemade Chai Tea

#3 Garlic

Garlic is a plant in the same family as the onion. The compound allicin is responsible for garlic’s many health benefits.

Garlic is a potent natural antibiotic and boosts the function of the immune system. Garlic is high in vitamins and minerals, many of which are on the recommended list of vitamins important for those suffering from adrenal fatigue. To name a few: manganese, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Selenium and fiber. Garlic also has decent amounts of copper, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B1.

High doses of the allicin compounds have been shown to protect against organ damage from heavy metal toxicity.

For example, a 4-week study of employees of a car battery plant who had excessive exposure to lead, found that garlic reduced lead levels in the blood by 19%.

Toxicity is an issue for adrenal fatigue sufferers because the body has a hard time cleansing and detoxing when digestion is slow, the lymphatic system is sluggish, inflammation is high and blood flow is compromised.

Ways to Consume Garlic:

1. Chopped up fine and sprinkled on toast with butter or olive oil

2. Chopped up fine in fresh, homemade guacamole or salsa

3. Add chopped up garlic to almost any savory food recipe, soup, pasta sauce, curry, chili, roasted vegetables or stew

4. If I’m suffering from a severe cold, I’m not afraid to throw a whole clove in my mouth, chew it up and swallow

#4 Ginger

Traditional Chinese medicine has relied on ginger for more than 2,000 years. Ginger is a pungent spice known historically for increasing blood flow and for its anti-inflammatory properties. It is especially known for its effectiveness in eliminating intestinal gas and for treating chronic ingestion, common issues for adrenal fatigue sufferers.

Ginger also has the ability to reduce muscle pain and soreness and menstrual cramps.

It is also known to help fight the flu and common cold. Adrenal fatigue sufferers typically have a compromised immune system. Having a cheap and easy remedy like ginger for these seasonal bugs, is key.

Ways to Consume Ginger:

1. Chai Tea (already mentioned)

2. Make a Wintery Tonic by adding a chunk of ginger to boiling water, add honey and fresh lemon

3. Red Lentil Curry (already mentioned)

4. Try other recipes with fresh ginger like yummy soups or stir-frys

#5 Thyme

For many of us who suffer from adrenal fatigue, getting the proper amount of vitamins and minerals for healing and optimal health can be challenging. Luckily, thyme is packed with Vitamin C and Vitamin A.

If you feel a cold coming on and your immune system needs a boost, thyme is a perfect supplement.

Thyme is also a good source of copper, fiber, iron and manganese.

Way to Consume Thyme:

1. Homemade Pasta Sauce

2. Make your own Thyme Tea recipe here

I just shared with you the top 5 adrenal fatigue remedies already in your kitchen and my favorite ways to incorporate them into your diet.

 Now, I would love to hear from you. Share a comment below. Have you tried these magical herbs or spices as healing remedies? If so, what was your experience? And what are your favorite ways to incorporate these herbs and spices into your diet? Your comments could help someone else on their healing journey.

All my best,
Angela

Image Copyright a href='httpswww.123rf.comprofile_vell'vell  123RF Stock Photoa

Balance Hormones Naturally & Reduce Stress: 3 Simple Ways You Will Love

What do stress and adrenal fatigue have in common? When the mind perceives a stressful event, the body automatically begins the biological “fight or flight” stress response. The body releases adrenaline, tensing muscles, boosting heart rate, constricting blood vessels, slowing the digestive system, causing “tunnel vision” and so on. Without proper rest, the body continues producing the stress response until it is fatigued or exhausted. If stress continues or isn’t managed, it leads to pain, illness, injury, emotional problems, adrenal fatigue and so much more. Here are 3 simple secrets to “turn off” or reverse the stress response so you can balance hormones naturally and overcome adrenal fatigue.  

Stress is something we encounter every day. We often think of stress as a bad thing, but stress is not necessarily toxic by itself. It has a purpose, to keep us safe and prepare our bodies to “get moving” in order to deal with danger.

Stress can be toxic when we don’t know how to react to it. The truth is we are all guilty of creating most of our own stress. This is great news because it means we can also learn to manage our stress.

It’s really about perspective.

What if we saw stress as opportunities and focused on the positive outcome? Just think what is possible rather than reacting out of fear and focusing on the negative?

What if we used the energy our bodies create in stressful situations to motivate us to take action in order to solve the problem?

It’s habit really. We are taught at a young age to react negatively to stress, so we continue dealing with stress the same way into adulthood. This is why we need to make a conscious effort to “turn-off” so we can function optimally and have all the energy we need.

We heal from stress by producing what are called “happy hormones”. The main hormone in charge of this is Oxytocin. Oxytocin is often called the stress ‘off-switch’ or the ‘love’ hormone. It lowers the stress hormone, cortisol.

In order to produce oxytocin, we need to make time for activities that trigger a relaxation response both in the brain and in the body. During the relaxation response, our mind clears, our muscles relax, and our heart rate and blood pressure lower.

Here are 3 simple secrets to balance hormones naturally and reduce stress by producing these “happy hormones”.

1. LAUGHTER

This can be genuine or fake laughter, the brain doesn’t know the difference, so you will have the same result.

• Spend a few minutes laughing by listening to your favorite comedian during your commute to work or while exercising

• Surround yourself with people who make you laugh

• Or just start laughing, it may feel kinda silly at first, but you will feel a ton better afterward

2. HUG SOMEONE

• Embrace someone. Give someone you love a hug.

• Really enjoy the hug. Stay a little longer than normal and feel the effects

• If you can't hug someone you love at that moment then imagine you are hugging someone you love.

• Cuddling has the same effect

3. TAKE A WALK

• Even if you don't have much time a walk will help, even if it's only 5-10 mins. You will feel the difference.

• Walking, and walking outside is recommended and is statistically correlated with higher levels of oxytocin

• If your day is full of meetings, perhaps you can suggest a walking meeting with a co-worker, you might be surprised that when walking and talking business you can experience more inspirations, creativity and ah-ha moments!

We've just given you 3 simple secrets to balance hormones naturally and heal your adrenal fatigue.

It can be challenging at first to find time to turn “off” and slow down. But I promise once you start practicing this, it won’t take long before you will notice its positive effects. You will not only feel happier but energized too! How does it get any better than that?

Now, I’d love to hear from you.

What things have you tried to relieve stress?  Specifically, what worked and what didn’t?

Leave a comment below and let me know.

Remember, do your best to share details as incredible people just like you come here each week for insight and inspiration. Your experience may be just what she needs to have a breakthrough.

Big thanks for reading, watching and sharing with such enthusiasm! You’re an amazing demonstration of how lovely and supportive the internet can be.

All my love and appreciation,
XO Angela