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Diet & Supplements for Adrenals

Adrenals are two glands located near your kidneys. Adrenal glands help maintain balance by regulating sugar and carbohydrate metabolism. They also secrete certain sex hormones and produce adrenaline. When you're stressed, adrenal glands speed up your metabolism to counteract negative effects. You feel tired and worn out when the adrenal glands are overused. Diet and supplements can have a direct affect on your adrenal glands.

  1. Diet

    • Eat small meals more frequently than large meals. A large meal stresses the body and limits the amount of energy available. Smaller meals are easier to digest and offer the body food to convert into energy more often. Eat as much fresh food as possible. This naturally eliminates the additives included in processed food. Cold-water fish like salmon contain nutrients needed to fortify the adrenals. Other foods like legumes, lentils, whole grains, brown rice, almonds, garlic, sunflower seeds and bran benefit the adrenals. The adrenals also use potassium, which is found in potatoes, bananas and avocados.

    Other Diet Information

    • Keep your sugar and fat intake low when eating for adrenal function. Cut out high-sodium foods, which are mostly processed foods, and avoid caffeine. These things stress the body and put pressure on the adrenal glands.

    B Vitamins

    • Take 500 to 2,000 mg of pantothenic acid, which is used by the body to produce natural painkillers like cortisol. This is one of the stress-fighting B vitamins, plays an active part in producing adrenal hormones and relieves anxiety and depression. Take 100 mg of B complex, a supplement that contains all of the B vitamins. These vitamins are beneficial in maintaining a healthy nervous system. By relieving stress on the body, B vitamins create less work for the adrenal glands.

    Vitamin C

    • Take 1,500 mg of vitamin C, which is important for tissue growth and repair in the body and for healthy gums. It assists in adrenal gland functioning and protects against infections by creating a strong immune system.

    L-tyrosine

    • Take 500 mg of L-tyrosine, an amino acid that is a key component in the building of adrenaline and thyroid hormones. Do not take an L-tyrosine supplement if you are on antidepressants or have cancer as it may interfere with other medications.

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