Beyond Burnout: Are Your Adrenals Really Tired?

hormone health protocols Nov 14, 2023

"Adrenal fatigue" is a term used to describe a collection of non-specific symptoms attributed to chronic stress and overworked adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are small organs located on top of the kidneys that produce hormones like cortisol, which helps the body manage stress. Proponents of the adrenal fatigue theory suggest that chronic stress can cause the adrenal glands to become fatigued and unable to produce enough cortisol, leading to various symptoms, including fatigue, body aches, sleep disturbances, and mood swings. However, cortisol is not exclusively produced by the adrenals, and many factors can cause low cortisol levels.

The adrenals are stimulated by the pituitary gland, which is in turn stimulated by the hypothalamus in the brain. Both the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland can detect whether the blood contains an adequate amount of cortisol. When cortisol levels are too high or too low, these glands adjust the hormone release to signal the adrenals to produce less or more cortisol. This interaction is known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis or HPA axis. HPA axis dysfunction is a causative/driving factor of "adrenal fatigue." Other factors include pathogens, environmental toxins, viruses, etc.

Common symptoms of "Adrenal Fatigue"

Difficulty getting up in the morning, despite getting adequate sleep
Craving salty and sweet foods
Low blood pressure, hypotension
Orthostatic hypotension, dizziness, or lightheadedness upon standing up
Low blood sugar, hypoglycemia, feeling irritable between meals, inability to fast for long, irritability, anxiety, or depression
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Low libido
Increased susceptibility to illness and infections
Insomnia or difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, waking up frequently during the night

Exploring root causes

Mitochondrial dysfunction
Oxidative stress which can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction & vice versa
Circadian rhythm dysfunction (aka blue light toxicity)
Micronutrient deficiencies (especially minerals, B vitamins and vitamin C)
Environmental toxins
Viruses (chronic infections)
Stealth Infections (including parasites, lyme, fungi), lipopolysaccharides and/or endotoxemia

How to approach "Adrenal Fatigue"

Fix your circadian rhythm. This is the most important step when dealing with "adrenal fatigue". It will regulate the HPA axis & boost your energy levels. Learn the tools to fix your circadian rhythm here.
Start your day with a cup of water and 1 teaspoon of sole water. If you are struggling with POTS (Postural tachycardia syndrome) symptoms you would benefit from higher amounts of salt, in which case I recommend taking electrolytes daily such as LMNT or Re-lyte.
Check your Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Calcium, vitamin C, B12 and folate levels. Address deficiencies as needed.
Ensure that you are eating enough. If you are dieting, now is the time to stop.
- You shouldn't be on a caloric deficit.
- Make sure you are adding animal protein to every meal and avoid processed sugar. You need to be consuming 1 gr of protein per lb of ideal body weight daily.
Ensure clean, mineral-rich water intake. You can filter your water either with reverse osmosis such as AquaTru (link applies discount automatically), or with a distillation machine such as My Pure Water (code: PAOLA)
Support drainage pathways for a minimum of 30 days before you address potential root causes. Learn about my personal drainage protocol here: My Updated Drainage Protocol
Address the rest of the root causes in the following order if you’re dealing with multiple ones:
1. Parasites (Parasite Detox Pro is now integrated into the CompleteHealing System, apply here)
2. Environmental toxins
3. Lyme co-infections & other stealth pathogens
4. Viruses & retroviruses