If you’re struggling with your adrenal health, juicing might be the solution your body needs to finally start to heal.
Your adrenal glands play a key role in your energy and stress levels, so a dip in adrenal health can lead to exhaustion, discouragement, and a low mood. Thankfully, as it happens, natural solutions can get you on the road to faster recovery.
What are the adrenal glands?
Your adrenal glands are two small glands that sit on top of each of your kidneys. They’re tiny but extremely powerful. Your adrenal glands help control and create hormones like adrenaline, aldosterone, cortisol (the “stress hormone”), and norepinephrine.
The adrenal glands are tiny and are divided into two distinct sections: the adrenal medulla and the adrenal cortex. Each section produces different hormones and thus carries out different vital functions.
What are the adrenals responsible for?
Your adrenal glands are responsible for aiding in important everyday functions like managing your metabolism, keeping inflammation in check, and releasing the famous “fight or flight” response we experience when we’re faced with intense stress. As if those functions weren’t important enough on their own, your adrenals also help your body manage pregnancy, blood pressure, your immune system’s ability to fight off disease, and even aspects of your body’s response to arousal.
Common Adrenal Issues
When you’re experiencing mysterious symptoms that are difficult to narrow down, healthcare professionals might be inclined to ask about your adrenal health. Adrenal glands often suffer when you’re going through times of extreme stress, tiredness, or overwhelm.
There are several common health issues that can impact the adrenal glands, and they come from a host of causes like genetic issues, tumors, infections, and certain medications. Below are some of the most common adrenal-related health issues you might be faced with.
1. Addison’s Disease
Addison’s disease, also sometimes called adrenal insufficiency, is a serious health issue that occurs when the adrenal glands don’t create enough of the hormones aldosterone or cortisol. This disease is characterized by symptoms like weight loss, tiredness, low blood pressure, and salt cravings.
2. Cushing’s Syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome develops when the body creates too much cortisol. As mentioned, cortisol is known anecdotally as “the stress hormone,” so as you can imagine, an influx of cortisol can create more stress and strain on the body.
3. Adrenal Nodules
Adrenal nodules can develop on the adrenal glands, causing them to create more hormones than your body needs. Adrenal nodes can occasionally be cancerous, but they’re often benign, so if you develop them, there’s no need to panic. Just be sure a doctor assesses them as soon as possible.
4. Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal fatigue is one of the most frustrating adrenal issues because it can be so difficult to diagnose and detect, especially when the condition first sets in. According to studies, adrenal fatigue is thought to be caused by excessive stress over an extended period of time. (Adrenal fatigue is more likely to occur during overwhelming phases of life, like demanding jobs or new parenthood.) This can cause burnout and tire out your adrenal glands, which leads your cortisol levels to dip.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ADRENAL FATIGUE?
Since adrenal fatigue can be one of the toughest adrenal issues to pinpoint, it’s important to be aware of what its symptoms are. Because adrenal fatigue symptoms are somewhat vague, it’s easy to confuse them as signals of other health issues. Below are some common symptoms that might indicate adrenal fatigue:
- Exhaustion, feeling wired, or both
- Lightheadedness
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping more than usual
- Unexpected changes in weight
- Depression
- Struggling to feel motivated
- Loss of body hair
- “Brain fog” or trouble focusing
- Heart palpitations
- Stomach pain
- Low blood pressure
Enter Juicing: A Great Solution For Adrenal Health
When you’re starting on the long road to adrenal fatigue recovery, you might be frustrated to hear that there’s no magical medication that will make the condition disappear overnight. One great natural option to ease your recovery along, however, is juicing.
Juicing is the act of extracting juice from veggies and fruits. (This may seem obvious, but it’s important to clarify that it’s different from making smoothies.) When you make fresh juice, you’ll be drinking the majority of the vitamins and minerals of the ingredients in a more concentrated form. Some fans of juicing feel that it helps their bodies absorb vitamins more easily and is easier on your digestive system, while others say that the fiber lost when you don’t eat the physical fruits and veggies can create a drawback. Juicing is an especially helpful way to get more fruits and veggies into your diet and ensure you’re getting the nutrients you need.
How Juicing Can Help Your Adrenal Health
When it comes to your adrenal health, juicing can help you get the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to reduce stress on your adrenal. It can also help you make sure you’re eating healthier food options that aid in cutting down on alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and other harmful ingredients. When you cut back on these, you’re giving a break to your intestinal flora, which processes these chemicals in your system. This, in turn, allows your microbiome to heal.
What to put in your juice for excellent adrenal health
Keep these foods and healthy herbs on hand to create fantastic adrenal-healing juice blends.
Greens
Just like leafy greens are great for your health in general, they’re a wonderful option for healing your adrenals. Veggies like kale, asparagus, spinach, and chard are rich in magnesium, which can help soothe anxiety and stress. They’ll also help decrease any inflammation that might be associated with your adrenal fatigue.
Avocado
Avocado and other healthy fats like coconut oil can increase your body’s levels of vitamin B and potassium. Both of these are great for increasing your energy levels and overall health.
Matcha
This concentrated green tea is anti-inflammatory. As a result, it can help curb inflammation-related issues like sinus problems, irritation, joint pain, and redness.
Ginkgo
This famous and well-loved herb can help ease stress, which is great during the adrenal healing process. It can also aid in sharpening your focus, which you’ll benefit from greatly if you’re experiencing brain fog as one of your symptoms.
Ginseng
In modern times, ginseng does double duty as both a supplement and a popular face mask product. Historically, however, ginseng’s use goes back for centuries. It’s a great addition to most adrenal fatigue recovery plans, and it can be a great source of energy when you’re in need of a health boost.
Rhodiola
This herb can work wonders when it comes to reducing anxiety and providing more energy to your daily routine. It’s also an excellent mood booster, which is fantastic news when adrenal fatigue zaps you of your zest for life. It’s a go-to in seasons of life where you’re feeling burned out, sad, or unfocused.
Astragalus
This herb can work wonders when it comes to reducing anxiety and providing more energy to your daily routine. It’s also an excellent mood booster, which is fantastic news when adrenal fatigue zaps you of your zest for life. It’s a go-to in seasons of life where you’re feeling burned out, sad, or unfocused.
Ashwagandha
This herb comes up time and time again as a great option for handling anxiety and adrenal health issues. The calming ingredient, which is popular in Ayurveda, can help you soothe anxiety or depression. It’s also an excellent sleep aid, which you might need if your adrenal fatigue is making it hard for you to get the rest you need. Some experts believe that ashwagandha is able to reduce the amount of cortisol in our system, which is key to easing the more frustrating symptoms of adrenal fatigue. It can also help reduce inflammation.
What else can you do for your adrenals?
You’ll be doing your adrenal glands a big favor if you begin and end each day with a fresh-pressed juice containing some of the above ingredients. These power foods and herbs can aid your body in the healing process, which takes some of the strain and stress off of your experience.
At the same time as juicing, you can implement other lifestyle changes to guide your body into healing. You can cut back on caffeine and make sure you’re getting your vitamins. You can also consider reducing your gluten intake, which can sometimes make an impact on your adrenals’ healing progress. Regular gentle exercise can make a big difference too. You’ll also want to your plate with greens and proteins before adding extra sugar to the mix.
Consult with health professionals, take things one day at a time, and remember to have patience. Healing your adrenal glands can take several months, so listen to the cues your body is giving you and take note of what is and isn’t making an impact. You might want to continue juicing long after your adrenal glands have healed. It’s great for adding extra nutrients and immune-boosting herbs to your routine, is very Instagram-friendly, and above all, it tastes great! Your body will thank you for it.