Heard of Adrenal Fatigue? Well I have to be honest, I don’t think Adrenal Fatigue is quite the right term 🙂 It’s more correctly called HPA (Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal) Axis Abnormalities. When you are under stress and if your HPA Axis is working like it should, the Hypothalamus gland (located in the brain) signals the Pituitary Gland (also located in the brain) to inturn signal the Adrenals (located on top of your kidneys) to produce Cortisol. This is perfect if you are dealing with short term stress, like public speaking or an exam. As soon as the stress ends, the body goes back to normal. Unfortunately, in today’s world most people are under stress for long periods of time (Chronic Stress). Under Chronic stress, the Adrenal glands produce so much Cortisol that they can no longer use it effeciently to manage stress. The high Cortisol inturn disrupts several metabolic functions including - ❌Digestion ❌Reproduction ❌Growth❌Rest/Sleep Common symptoms of high Cortisol and an abnormal HPA access include: Trouble sleeping or interrupted sleep Depression Fatigue and Low Energy Weight Gain, especially around the abdomen Compromised Immunity Low Sex Drive Thyroid Dysfunction What can you do to manage stress and heal your Adrenals? While I always recommend trying different ways to manage stress, here are a few things I highly recommend. ✅Meditation: A short 10 minute practice of meditation can activate the para sympathetic nervous system and relieve stress. ✅Time in Nature: Going for a 10-15 minute walk outside is a great stress buster! If you have time to go on a longer hike or do your workout outside, thats an added bonus. ✅Sleep: Creating a bedtime routine to improve the quality of your sleep is key.I have also been using the @mindbodygreen Mg+ 30 minutes before bedtime for a year now and its been a complete changer. ✅Eating a whole food rich diet: A diet high in sugar and refined food can be highly inflammatory and aid in both high Cortisol and Insulin. ✅Adaptogens: These are herbs that can help you to adapts to stress better. My favorite is @himalayausa Ashwagandha ✅ Get your Cortisol levels tested! Was this helpful? #umanaralkar #omwithatwist https://www.instagram.com/p/CK6qMhEBO3C/?igshid=15ghb5ti5fldk
