It's Not Stress, It's The Thyroid

Written by: Kat Gal

Are you one of the 80% of people in the U.S. who is struggling with adrenal fatigue?

If you are tired and sluggish all the time, experience pain, inflammation, weight gain, brain fog and low mood, you may be.

Learn more about adrenal fatigue and what can you do about it.

How The Thyroid Is Causing Stress

What Is Adrenal Fatigue?

Your adrenal glands produce over 50 different hormones that affect functions throughout your entire body. They are particularly important in regulating your body’s natural stress response. Adrenal fatigue is when the adrenal glands function below the necessary level. It comes with a multitude of signs and symptoms.

Adrenal fatigue is usually the sign of stress (including work, family, life, etc.), unhealthy diets, poor sleep, chronic negativity, environmental toxins and trauma. (1)

Symptoms Of Adrenal Fatigue?

  • Difficulty waking up
  • Low libido
  • Depression
  • Muscle weakness
  • Irritability
  • Allergies
  • Fatigue
  • Hair loss
  • Weight gain
  • Trouble focusing
  • Bone loss
  • Inflammation
  • Sugar and carb cravings
  • Muscle tension

Your Thyroid And Your Adrenal

Your thyroid is another gland that regulates hormones to keep your body running optimally. Your adrenals and your thyroid work together to supply and deliver essential hormones. If your adrenals are taxed, your thyroids can’t work properly either (and vice-versa). (2, 3)

Stress Is The Culprit

Stress can lead to both thyroid issues and adrenal fatigue. When I say stress, I don’t only mean mental and emotional stress caused by work and personal issues. When you eat an unhealthy diet and are exposed to toxins in your environment, your body is experiencing physical stress. You have to take care of both emotional and physical stress to heal your adrenals and thyroid.

What You Can Do

Juicing

Green juices are filled with powerful micronutrients that cleanse your body, give your digestive system a break and help your ailments with essential nutrients. They are also delicious. Try this Sweet Potato Juice for example!

Sweet Potato Juice

Ingredients:

  • 1-2 raw sweet potatoes
  • 2 carrots
  • 1 jicama
  • 5 ribs celery
  • 1 tsp ashwagandha powder OR 1 scoop Organifi
  • Pinch of cinnamon

Instructions: Juice the sweet potatoes, carrot, jicama and celery. Stir in ashwagandha (or Organifi) and cinnamon.  

Tip: No juicer? No problem. Try our Organifi juices instead. Mix one scoop with a glass of water and you are ready to go!

Adrenal Fatigue Diet

If you are dealing with adrenal fatigue and/or thyroid dysfunction, these simple tips can improve your health greatly.

Instead Of THIS Eat THIS
Caffeine Green Juice
Sugar Raw Honey
Processed foods Whole fruits and vegetables
Hydrogenated oils Coconut oil, olive oil, ghee, organic pastured butter
Microwave foods Raw nuts and seeds
Fried foods Healthy, good-fat foods like avocado, fatty fish, baked chicken and turkey
Table salt Sea salt (Celtic or Himalayan)
Chips Kelp and seaweed, baked kale chips
Refined grains Cruciferous vegetables, pumpkin, chia, flax

 

Slow Down

Stop rushing around and stressing out all the time. Take some deep breaths throughout the day. Meditate. Try yoga or tai-chi. Take nature walks. Journal. Stretch often. Sleep plenty. Limit your screen time to the necessary. Be grateful. Let go of the past and practice forgiveness. Practice being in the present moment.

Trying these tips, you will see improvements quickly. These tips can benefit your health even if you are not dealing with adrenal and thyroid issues.

How will you create more health in your life today? Do you have other tips that have helped you with adrenal and thyroid issues? Share away in the comments below.

And remember, we're in this together.

Kat Gál is a multi-passionate writer, world traveler, nomad, runner, and cat-person. She is a lifelong learner who lives outside of her comfort zones stretching her boundaries and discovering beauty around the world. She is a Certified Holistic Health and Life Coach who encourages others to embrace their unique authentic selves, follow their heart and find their own version of freedom in life.

 

References:

  1. Dr. James Wilson, Adrenal Fatigue: the 21st Century Stress Syndrome. 2001
  2. https://www.webmd.com/women/guide/understanding-thyroid-problems-basics#1
  3. https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement

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