Picture this: It’s been a long time since you picked berries with your fellow tribesmen. You look up and suddenly realize that there is a lion watching you. A rush of adrenaline flows through your body, your blood pressure rises and your brain is flooded with oxygen. In a split second you decide to run for it; your muscles are supplied with glucose and you run like never before. You manage to escape; your body returns to its normal, relaxed state. This rapid response to danger is called the flight-or-fight response and is made possible by your adrenal glands.
Fast forward to today. You still feel the lion’s eyes on you. Your mind races with thoughts about all the things you need to accomplish and things you can’t forget. You have an approaching deadline at work. You have to plan, shop, and prepare dinner, all before your kids’ dance class at 7:00. These thoughts make you anxious and your body starts to think it is in an emergency situation.
This is because your adrenal glands, which are responsible for regulating your response to stress, respond to your thoughts as if they were lions chasing you in the wild. The incessant flow of stressful thinking puts you on almost constant alert. Your adrenal glands are designed to help you in occasional emergencies.
When daily life becomes so tense that your adrenal glands sense “danger” every day, they become burned out. They can become so overworked that they can no longer keep up. When they burn out, you become unable to cope with any stress, leaving you feeling even more stressed, overwhelmed, worried and ultimately exhausted.
If your adrenal glands are fatigued, it is crucial that you address this. Over time, this can lead to other health problems, such as hormonal imbalance and immune system suppression. Don’t worry too much, there’s good news: there are a few simple things you can do to restore your adrenal glands.
The first is to, you guessed it, de-stress. When you feel yourself getting excited, pause for a moment, take a deep, deep breath and step back. Tell your body that there is no emergency.
Second, add adaptogenic herbs to your daily regimen. Adaptogens support your adrenal glands by helping your body adapt and respond healthily to stress.
The delicious breakfast smoothie below is an easy and effective way to boost your adrenal glands. You’ll get plenty of fiber, healthy fats, protein, and phytonutrients in addition to the healing and restorative benefits of adaptogenic herbs.
[[ recipeID=recipe-8ljsuln7c, title=Adrenal Superhero Smoothie ]]
Above all, remember this: you probably won’t be chased by a lion, so try to relax!
Writer Elise Tyrie lives and works in beautiful Boulder, CO.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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