This blog inspired by JIGSAW HEALTH

 

These days everyone has heard of adrenal fatigue, but you’d be shocked to know that adrenal fatigue is not an actual medical diagnosis.

Adrenal fatigue is associated with;

  • chronic fatigue
  • lethargy
  • panic and anxiety attacks
  • sleep disturbances
  • body aches
  • digestive issues of all sorts
  • skin issues
  • hormone imbalance
  • depression
  • slow work out recovery

The implication is that the adrenals are exhausted due to too much stress. But apparently this isn’t medically possible!

There is disease called Addison’s also called adrenal insufficiency. It’s when the adrenals are not producing one or more of the many hormones that adrenals produce. This is a specific diagnosis exclusive to a rare one in one hundred thousand people in the US! And it is ALWAYS a good idea to be checked if you suspect you could have this disease.

So why are one in five Americans certain they have adrenal fatigue?

The symptoms of adrenal fatigue can also be associated with so many other imbalances. It’s tough to know for sure what is driving a persons condition without some digging. What we do know is that most people who complain of adrenal fatigue have one common denominator, high levels of stress.

This is the big clue here. Stress is always going to point us to hormone function. Many functional practitioners have begun to refer to adrenal fatigue as HPA axis dysregulation or hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal axis dysregulation. A fancy way of saying that you have several hormone glands involved in this imbalance, that often times can be corrected when we address this ‘axis’. Sounds complicated and it can be however I like to make things simple, and here is the breakdown.

 

We know that there are environmental stressors, physical stressors, emotional stressors and biological stressors like infections in the body. All of these variables can and do tax our endocrine system/hormones. And once this ‘axis’ is off balance, it will cascade to effect all other systems in the body including thyroid, sexual hormones and even gut related imbalances.

 

Rather than trying to address every single imbalance that has been triggered with supplements and dietary restrictions, we first have to ask ourselves, what’s at the root of this?

Yes, of course the stress. And that’s probably not going away anytime soon but what is being depleted and how can we replenish?

For example: if you have a thriving garden that one spring goes through some terrible weather and infestation/stressors, rather than going into the garden and tending to each wilted leaf, rotting cucumber and insect on each petal, we need to go into the roots, into the soil and find the ‘root cause’. And in the case of humans, and apparently mice, turns out the top depleted nutrient, is magnesium. And once we have a deficiency of magnesium this sets off a domino effect of deficiencies and over abundances of other nutrients and over time, we begin to manifest imbalances and eventually disease and illness.

 

So is it enough to simply supplement magnesium? In my professional opinion, no. The body’s fist choice in nutrients is from our food and foods that are rich in magnesium are:

  • green leafy vegetables
  • seeds like pumpkin
  • bananas
  • avocados
  • tuna
  • lima beans
  • dark chocolate (89% cocoa) to name just a few

I know many of you are saying, “I eat so many of those foods listed and still have adrenal fatigue and 100 other magnesium deficiency symptoms what am I doing wrong?” The problem arises when so many of us today have GUT RELATED ISSUES and impaired digestion. Malabsorption is way more common today that even medical doctors are aware of. And if you aren’t totally absorbing an avocado how can we possibly absorb these horse pill multi-vitamins that are everywhere these days?

What to do? My suggestions are:

  • supplement with a high quality magnesium supplement like MagSRT and/or Mag Soothe https://healthygutgirl.com/recommended-products/
  • take a digestive enzyme with your food so you know for certain you are breaking down what you consume, I prefer Premier Research Labs Digest, you can get a free account here https://healthygutgirl.com/recommended-products/
  • take a high quality pre and probiotic like Just Thrive, to help replenish your ‘soil’, your gut terrain, our microbiome, where 85% or more of your immunity is controlled and where hormones are balanced. https://healthygutgirl.com/recommended-products/
  • find a way to manage your emotional and physical and environmental stressors as if your life depends on it, because, well, it does
  • and last but not least, the 80/20 rule is everything. Spend 80% of your diet eating nourishing, healthy, medicinal, easy to digest foods and 20% of your diet, feed your soul but be realistic. Need help? https://healthygutgirl.com/online-programs/

Supplementing gets EXPENSIVE, which is why you need to know these 3 principals of supplementation

  • pick high quality products that come recommended from trusted resources who have DONE THE RESEARCH AND CAN PROVE AND SHOW YOU WHY THEY ARE GOOD! (like me 🙂  )
  • ask for coupon codes or discounts for ordering in bulk (I offer a lot of discount coupons, though I personally don’t sell any products. You can see what I recommend and get coupons and discounts here https://healthygutgirl.com/recommended-products/)
  • be consistent! If you are going to spend the money and effort, don’t be willy nilly! You get what you put in, if you are on and off with your supplements, you will get on and off results.

If you need more help, you can always book a private consult here: https://healthygutgirl.com/online-programs/

 

Magnesium deficiency induces anxiety and HPA axis dysregulation:
S.B. Sartori,∗ N. Whittle, A. Hetzenauer, and N. Singewald
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3198864/