How To Reverse Adrenal Fatigue Naturally: 15 Effective Tools

Reverse Your Adrenal Fatigue

Chronic fatigue is a medical condition that affects more than 1 million people in the United States, and those are just the extreme cases. (1) We are a society that works hard, doesn't sleep enough, and often seems to run on fumes and caffeine. Many of us constantly crave sugary foods and suffer from debilitating exhaustion. That exhaustion can be caused by different things, and chronic fatigue is multifaceted, but in many cases, one common aspect of the condition is something called adrenal fatigue.

The Adrenal Glands

The adrenal glands, which sit on top of your kidneys like little kidney baseball caps, release several important hormones, one of which is cortisol. Cortisol is one of your primary adrenal hormones and regulates your energy. Normally, it rises in the morning to help you wake up, then slowly goes down throughout the day, sinking at night so you can sleep well. Cortisol also helps regulate your blood sugar and pressure as part of the body's stress response—fight-or-flight.

What Causes Adrenal Fatigue?

The problem starts when cortisol levels stay high when they shouldn't, often due to chronic stress. The result can be adrenal fatigue, which is not actually an adrenal problem but rather a brain problem. Typically, adrenal fatigue is when the brain-adrenal (HPA) axis isn't working, so that the brain is not communicating appropriately with the adrenal glands to regulate cortisol.

Additionally, if the adrenals fail to produce enough aldosterone—a steroid hormone important to potassium, sodium, and blood pressure regulation—adrenal fatigue can be a result. (2)

Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

Adrenal fatigue is characterized by a set of non-specific symptoms including:

  • Trouble getting started in the morning
  • Sugar or salt cravings
  • Low libido
  • Low blood pressure
  • Afternoon tiredness
  • Brain fog
  • Getting a "second wind" in the evening
  • Trouble staying asleep
  • Dizziness when standing up quickly
  • Afternoon headaches
  • Blood sugar issues
  • Chronic inflammation
  • Thinner, weaker nails
  • Moodiness
  • Weight gain or weight loss difficulty

If adrenal fatigue is not dealt with, it can escalate to an adrenal crisis, a life-threatening condition where the sufferer experiences sudden and severe pain in the lower back, legs, or abdomen, dehydration, diarrhea, and even loss of consciousness.

As a functional medicine practitioner, I'm normally the one guiding people out of their health problems, so when I saw the symptoms of adrenal fatigue creeping into my own life, I knew I had to start practicing what I teach. Here are the steps I took to rehab my own adrenals and what I recommend for many of my patients.

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15 Ways to Support Adrenal Health

  1. Run labs to assess adrenal function and more.

Because adrenal fatigue symptoms are so non-specific and could be indicative of other diseases such as depression, sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, and certain autoimmune diseases, it can be hard to make a medical diagnosis. Seeing a medical professional or endocrinologist to establish a baseline of what's going on in the body is the first step to overcoming adrenal fatigue. In addition to conventional blood labs, I recommend:

  • Adrenal fatigue labs: This is saliva test involves spitting into several vials throughout the day. It's a lot of spit, but it gives you and your doctor a lot of information about your brain-adrenal function. When I did these labs, I learned I did indeed have adrenal (HPA) dysfunction, as I suspected.
  • Microbiome labs: The microbiome refers to the community of trillions of bacteria and fungi in your gut. Because gut health is the foundation of total health, especially brain and hormonal health, it is important to discover what is going on and deal with any underlying gut problems such as leaky gut syndrome, candida overgrowth, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in order to recover from adrenal fatigue.
  • Methylation labs: Methylation is a collection of biochemical actions in the body that happen 1 billion times every second. Healthy methylation helps to maintain a healthy brain, gut, hormones, and detox pathways, and also protects your DNA. However, some of us have genetic mutations that impair the methylation process. I have multiple methylation gene mutations, one of which is the MTHFR gene mutation, making me less able to absorb certain essential vitamins. This was useful information because I was then better able to supplement to make up for my nutritional deficiencies. So when looking into how to detox adrenal glands naturally, this is a great thing to test. 

Read More: These Are The 6 Labs You Need To Run If You Are Feeling Off

  1. Jumpstart your hormone rehab with a 90-day diet reset.

In learning how to heal adrenals, diet will have a huge impact on your efforts.  I always ate healthy, other than my favorite "healthy junk foods" of gluten-free pizza and stevia soda. However, I knew that if I was going to rehab my adrenal fatigue, I had to take my food medicine plan to the next level by making sure my diet was on point for hormone health. Here's the 90-day food plan I used to improve my sleep and energy.

  1. Eat nutrient-dense proteins.

Since diet impacts adrenal function so much, what foods help repair adrenal glands? 

Oysters

Oysters are packed with zinc, and having a balanced trace mineral ratio between copper and zinc can help with healthy neurotransmitter function and adaptogen to stress. Increased copper and decreased zinc have been shown to contribute to brain stress and anxiety. (3) Oysters—the superfood of the sea—are a great way to achieve this balance to help ease your stress levels.

Organic turkey

There is some truth to the notion that a post-Thanksgiving meal heavy on the turkey will put you into a "food coma." The reason is the calming amino acid tryptophan in the turkey. Tryptophan is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin, which helps you feel calm and better able to deal with anxiety. (4)

Grass-fed organ meats

Organ meats like liver are some of the best sources of nutrients needed to beat fatigue, like zinc and vitamin D. They also contain copious amounts of choline and other B vitamins needed for methylation. (5)

  1. Eat more green superfoods.

Leafy greens

Plant foods like Swiss chard and spinach are rich in magnesium, the original nutritional "chill pill," which helps to regulate and optimize communication in the brain-adrenal axis. (6)

Asparagus

This sulfur-rich vegetable also contains the beneficial B vitamin folate. Low levels of folate are linked to neurotransmitter impairment, which can lead to brain-hormonal problems. (7)

  1. Eat healthy fats every day.

Avocados

Avocados contain beneficial B vitamins and monounsaturated fats that boost neurotransmitter production and brain health. This fatty superfruit also contains potassium, which naturally helps to lower blood pressure.

Full-fat kefir

Bacterial imbalances in your gut can contribute to brain problems because the gut and brain "talk" to each other through the vagus nerve. (8) Kefir is rich in beneficial bacteria for your microbiome and also has fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and K2, which are important for brain health, so it helps out from both ends of this critical connection.

Coconut oil 

Coconut oil is super versatile - you can cook with it, put it in smoothies, or just eat it off a spoon as I do. It offers good fats like medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that can help with brain function. (9)

Read more: What Are MCTs? The Top MCT Oil Health Benefits

Wild-caught fish

Omega-rich foods like Alaskan salmon can help decrease inflammation, which is crucial for brain and hormonal health. If you don't get enough in your normal diet, consider a high-quality Omega supplement

  1. Sip on herbal tea.

Chamomile tea

This soothing, mild herbal tea isn't actually from the tea plant. It's made from an herb, Matricaria recutita, that has been shown to help decrease anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms in just a few weeks. (10)

Rooibos tea

Another non-tea "tea," this one comes from the African red bush, typically known as Rooibos, and can have a balancing effect on cortisol. (11)

  1. Try natural medicines.

Because so much of adrenal fatigue is really brain-based, most of the natural, alternative medicines I use focus on supporting optimal brain health and the brain's response to stress. Explore blends of adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha, eleuthero ginseng, holy basil, and Rhodiola Rosea to give your adrenal axis some TLC. I also incorporated phosphatidylserine supplements into my routine. (Of course, consult your doctor before implementing any herbs or supplements.)

  1. Increase magnesium intake.

In addition to eating magnesium-rich foods, supplementing with magnesium can take its benefits to the next level. Magnesium helps support the adrenal glands, relaxes stressed muscles and nerves, and promotes quality sleep. I am a fan of magnesium threonate, which studies suggest can be beneficial to the brain. I also put magnesium oil on my skin. (12) If you're interested in a high-quality magnesium, I recommend you check out The Magnesium.

  1. Bring down inflammation.

If you want to bring down inflammation, check out curcumin. Curcumin isa compound in the root of turmeric, has potent antioxidant properties, as well as a neuroprotective quality. Bonus: It's a mood-enhancer, too. In a randomized controlled trial, turmeric appeared to act as an effective option for depression, which can occur concurrently with adrenal fatigue. (13)

  1. Improve sleep habits.

When I was working to rehab my adrenals, I needed to recommit to getting a good night's sleep, and that meant breaking the bad habit of staying up too late. I know it's difficult when you work all day, get home late, and just want time to unwind, but your brain and adrenals recuperate overnight while you sleep, and they need time, too.

I now try to avoid caffeine in the afternoon. This is difficult, as I am a self-admitted tea addict, but I opt for the caffeine-free chamomile or rooibos instead if it's after lunch. Other ways to promote quality sleep include turning off the TV, computer, and smartphone a few hours before bed (those screens and artificial light can overstimulate the brain, block melatonin production, and negatively impact sleep quality), and eating an ounce or two of clean protein like organic turkey, along with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil right before bed. This has a balancing effect on blood sugar throughout the night.

  1. Learn stress management techniques.

Stress, especially long-term stress, can have devastating effects on health. Even if you do everything else right health-wise, if you don't manage your stress, none of it will mean much. During my healing journey, I practiced mindfulness meditation and other stress-busting strategies to bring mindfulness into my day, like taking time-outs for slow, deep breathing. This is a simple way to defuse stress levels and calm the brain-adrenal axis. I'm also a big fan of listening to Eckhart Tolle audiobooks when I'm in the car.

  1. Start practicing yoga regularly.

Another great way to manage cortisol while also getting in better shape is yoga, which can bring both more alertness and more stillness into your life. I recommend the awesome video courses from my mindbodygreen siblings Lauren Imparato, Tara Stiles, and Michael Taylor, for easy access to yoga at home.

  1. Spend more time outdoors.

Because I have a job that's indoors, I need to make it a point to get outside more often. I believe there is something coded in our DNA that gives each of us an affinity with the sun and fresh air so that we seek out these health-boosting influences. I also like to practice earthing, or walking barefoot outside, as much as I can to help de-stress. Something about that skin-on-earth connection feels literally grounding and refreshing.

  1. Get vitamin D levels into a healthy range.

Spending more time outside in the sun also helps boost levels of Vitamin D, because your body manufactures this important vitamin/hormone when it senses the sun on your skin. Vitamin D is responsible for regulating over 200 genetic pathways, so make sure your levels are high enough. I recommend an optimal range of around 60 to 80 ng/ml. Ask your doctor about a simple blood test to help you keep track.

  1. Learn to say "no."

This one is still hard for me. I don't want to disappoint anybody and there is always more work to be done. But managing stress means creating space in your life to refuel, spend time with the people you love, and doing what you need to do for you and you alone. Don't just pencil it in. It's as important as anything else you do for your health, and maybe more so.

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References:

  1. "Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last modified July 2019.
  2. Friedman, Ted. "The Importance of the Adrenal Cortex Hormones Cortisol and Aldosterone." Cushing's Support & Research Foundation. Last modified September 2003. https://csrf.net/doctors-articles/steroid-replacement/the-importance-of-the-adrenal-cortex-hormones-cortisol-and-aldosterone/.
  3. Russo, A.J. "Decreased Zinc and Increased Copper in Individuals with Anxiety." Nutr Metab Insights 4, (2011): 1-15. doi: 10.4137/NMI.S6349.
  4. Hudson, C., S. Hudson, and J. MacKenzie. "Protein-source tryptophan as an efficacious treatment for social anxiety disorder: a pilot study." Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 85, no. 9 (2007): 928-32. doi: 10.1139/Y07-082.
  5. Zeisel, S.H. and K.A. da Costa. "Choline: an essential nutrient for public health.Nutr Rev. 67, no. 11 (2009): 615-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00246.x.
  6.  Sartori, S.B., N. Whittle, A. Hetzenauer, and N. Singewald. "Magnesium deficiency induces anxiety and HPA axis dysregulation: Modulation by therapeutic drug treatment." Neuropharmacology 62, no. 1 (2012): 304-312. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.07.027.
  7. Coppen, A. and C. Bolander-Gouaille. "Treatment of depression: time to consider folic acid and vitamin B12.J Psychopharmacol 19, no. 1 (2005): 59-65. doi: 10.1177/0269881105048899.
  8. McMaster University. "Gut bacteria linked to behavior: That anxiety may be in your gut, not in your head. ScienceDaily. Accessed August 23, 2019. sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110517110315.htm.
  9. Reger, M.A., S.T. Henderson, C. Hale, B. Cholerton, L.D. Baker, G.S. Watson, K. Hyde, et al. "Effects of beta-hydroxybutyrate on cognition in memory-impaired adults.Neurobiol Aging 25, no. 3 (2004): 311-4. doi: 10.1016/S0197-4580(03)00087-3.
  10.  Amsterdam, J.D., J. Shults, I. Soeller, J.J. Mao, K. Rockwell, and A.B. Newberg. "Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may provide antidepressant activity in anxious, depressed humans: an exploratory study.Altern Ther Health Med. 18, no. 5 (2012): 44-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22894890.
  11. Schloms, Lindie, Carine Smith, Karl‐Heinz Storbeck, Jeanine L. Marnewick, Pieter Swart, and Amanda C. Swart. "Rooibos influences glucocorticoid levels and steroid ratios in vivo and in vitro: A natural approach in the management of stress and metabolic disorders?Molecular Nutrition Food Research 58, no. 3 (2014): 537-549. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201300463.
  12. Wang, J., Y. Liu, L.J. Zhou, Y. Wu, F. Li, K.F. Shen, and R.P. Pang, et al. "Magnesium L-threonate prevents and restores memory deficits associated with neuropathic pain by inhibition of TNF-α.Pain Physician 16, no. 5 (2013): E563-75. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24077207
  13.  Sanmukhani, J., V. Satodia, J. Trivedi, T. Patel, D. Tiwari, B. Panchal, A. Goel, et al. "Efficacy and safety of curcumin in major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial.Phytother Res. 28, no. 4 (2014): 579-85. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5025.
  14.  

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BY DR. WILL COLE

Evidence-based reviewed article

Dr. Will Cole, DNM, IFMCP, DC is a leading functional medicine expert who consults people around the globe, starting one of the first functional medicine telehealth centers in the world. Named one of the top 50 functional and integrative doctors in the nation, Dr. Will Cole provides a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems. He is the host of the popular The Art Of Being Well podcast and the New York Times bestselling author of Intuitive Fasting, Ketotarian, The Inflammation Spectrum and the brand new book Gut Feelings: Healing the Shame-Fueled Relationship Between What You Eat and How You Feel.

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