Our two adrenal glands are tiny little things that sit atop the kidneys, weighing about 3 ounces each, but wow!—are they ever important to our well-being. The adrenal glands are the primary organs for fighting stress and are responsible for fending off the bad effects of every kind of stressor, whether mental or physical. They manufacture two major hormones that battle stress head on including cortisone and adrenaline (or epinephrine).
Supplements to Keep Adrenal Glands Healthy
It pays to be extra attentive to the health of the adrenal glands because they’re one of your main defenses against stress of any kind. If they’re forced to function on no sleep, a poor diet and daily contact with alcohol, excess caffeine and cigarettes, however, they become enlarged in an attempt to handle the excess stress, and then they eventually burn out and shrink. Along with a diet of protein from fish and chicken (red meat is tough on the adrenal glands), plus plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, there are several supplements that support adrenal function.
- Astragalus—Promotes adrenal gland function and aids in stress reduction
- Eleuthero Root—Helps the adrenal glands prepare the body for stressful situations. Do not use this herb if you have high blood pressure, however.
- Vitamin B Complex, especially vitamin B-5 (pantothenic acid)—Helps the body cope with stress and provides outstanding nutrition for the adrenal glands. Vitamin B-5 is particularly beneficial, and royal jelly is the richest food source of this important nutrient.
- Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids—Important nutrition for handling stress and building the immune system.
- L-Tyrosine—Amino acid that aids in the efficient functioning of the adrenal glands.
- GLA—Required by the adrenals to manufacture steroid hormones.
- Raw Adrenal—Maintains healthy adrenal gland function.
Five Effective Stress Reducing Techniques
- A long walk and talk with an empathetic friend not only helps unburden you of problems, it stimulates the adrenal glands to work better, too.
- Try 10 minutes or more of yoga or similar stretching exercises accompanied by deep breathing.
- Take a news break for one week—seriously. Do not watch the nightly news for an entire 7-day period, and you will feel significantly less stress in your life. When you resume watching or reading the news, be selective and don’t overdo it.
- Relax in a warm bath scented with essential oils of lavender, sweet orange, and patchouli.
- Buy out two hours from a Saturday afternoon and curl up with your cat or dog for an uninterrupted nap.
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