How to Increase Adrenal Gland Output

The human body has two adrenal glands, one on top of each kidney. Adrenal glands produce and secrete essential hormones. One of the most vital hormones produced, cortisol, equips the body to respond to stress and affects every tissue and organ in the body. During prolonged times of stress and illness the adrenal gland output can become decreased and have a negative impact on your health. However, it is possible to increase adrenal gland output.

Instructions

• 1

  Get adequate, quality sleep each night. To increase adrenal gland output, it is important that your body be allowed time to rest and restore itself. Eight hours of sleep each night is the ideal recommendation for most people. Implement a sleep schedule and stick to it by going to bed at the same time each night.

• 2

  Consume adequate amounts of dietary nutrients daily. Eat three meals and two snacks each day at regularly scheduled times. Consistency in eating times promotes stable glucose levels in the body and decreases stress on the adrenal glands. This allows them to work more efficiently. The required nutrients for adrenal health are: vitamins, minerals, water, protein, carbohydrates and fats.

• 3

  Eliminate products from your diet that strain the adrenal glands, such as caffeine, stimulants and diet pills. These weaken the adrenal glands, decrease their output capacity and can even lead to adrenal fatigue and exhaustion.

• 4

  Consult your doctor for a complete adrenal check-up, including blood work and cortisol level testing. Information produced by this appointment can indicate if it is necessary for you to take prescription adrenal gland medications and/or supplements to increase your adrenal output. Testing can also diagnose adrenal fatigue, adrenal exhaustion and Addison's disease, an autoimmune disease characterized by under-active adrenal glands.

• 5

  Ask your doctor if you would benefit from taking a synthetic glucorticoid such as prednisone, hydrocortisone or dexamethasone to replace your cortisol levels. Also, if your aldosterone level is low, additional medication might be beneficial.