Hi Sweet Friends,
Are you feeling tired, fried and foggy most of the time?
After years of ups and downs in my energy department, I finally pinpointed the culprit — my adrenals. You may be walking around with the same misdiagnosed or unidentified issues. That’s why I invited my trusted friend and doctor, Kenneth Bock, Integrative MD, to sit down and talk with us about this common health challenge and how anyone can jump on the road to recovery.
In this Chat & Chew episode, you’ll learn:
- What the heck do our adrenals do?
- Why adrenal issues are often overlooked.
- The main signs of adrenal problems.
- The key to healthy adrenal glands.
- How to support your adrenals (hint: lifestyle is a major player!)
And in case you’re curious about the supplements I take to support my adrenal fatigue, here are the deets:
- Ashwaganda (Gaia or Organic India brand)
- Licorice Plus (Metagenics brand)
- Adrenal Essence (Xymogen brand)
But it’s not just about supplements.
As you’ll learn in this video, stress tramples our adrenals like no other. As a result, I’ve had to make a conscious and consistent effort to monitor my workload and not stretch myself too thin physically or emotionally. Once I got sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, I knew it was time to lovingly care for those cute little glands, my adrenals. I bet some of you can relate.
Your turn: Do you have something to add to the adrenal conversation? Share! I’m always amazed by how much we all learn in the comments.
Peace & renewed energy,
This seems very interresting, but I’m a native French, so I sometimes encounter problems in hearing english (more difficult with various american accents) so it would be much easier for us (we are more and more europeans interresting by your lifestyle) if there was also a written article. Thanks !
Excellent post and great way to bring attention to this! Understanding adrenal issues has been a tremendous help to me in the past several months.
In October, I began to feel as if everything were moving very rapidly, all the time. I’ve never taken speed or any other drugs, but I thought it was how speed might feel. Cutting out all caffeine didn’t help at all, and I already juice and have a very clean diet. I tried to manage it with my attitude and see it as a mixed blessing, because I didn’t feel bad, technically, and I was incredibly creative and productive. I knew it was bad for me and abnormal, though, and it also began to affect my sleep. I would wake up countless times a night thinking of more stuff to do and I craved sugar in a way I NEVER do.
But after three weeks, I was so tired of it. I wanted to “come down.” My massage therapist did some ART and lymphatic work on me, and said “Whoa, overactive adrenals!” as soon as she touched me. I then saw my herbalist (and if you’re in the Bay Area, and perhaps even if you’re not, she’s amazing – sfherbalist.com). She laughed at how quickly I found my issue “unbearable” (apparently some people live with this for years) checked out my tongue, and gave me a custom blended tea with some skullcap (you don’t want to much of it; make sure to see a professional herbalist before you take any), some intense/concentrated mushroom liquid as a supplement, and recommended a high protein breakfast, root vegetables for natural sugar, and some water with just the tiniest bit of pink Himalayan sea salt in it – just enough to soften it without tasting salty – for key minerals, and a few other things. And it totally worked.
But the best thing, by far, was quitting my job. I thought “If I was diagnosed with a serious illness, would I continue to do this job? No? Then I shouldn’t be doing it now.” I understand everyone can’t do this (for the majority of my working life I wouldn’t have been able to do it financially), but I can right now and so I did. And the craziest thing? All of my pain is GONE. Literally. No foot pain, no back pain – and this is from someone born with congenital spine issues like some fused vertebrae. If that’s how my stress was manifesting outwardly, I hate to think what my poor little cells looked like inside. But, they’re on the mend. 🙂
Thank you for this!
Great info. I did a saliva test a couple of years ago after finishing nursing school (RN) ADN degree. My cortisol was off the charts. I started accupuncture, yoga, and a ton of supplements. 6 months later I felt great – and “accidentally” got pregnant (age 42). I believe the herbs, supplements and accupuncture healed my adrenals, as well as the whole endocrine system. I had given up on ever getting pregnant. Now have a beautiful, intellegent, super healthy 17 month old baby girl!
That being said – the above story – I am suffering from adrenal fatigue again. Sleeplessness due to infant, and trying to continue school and stress of not working I guess…but now I don’t have money for the accupuncture or supplements, so the lifestyle piece needs to become my priority again – as I can barely move with fatigue…
Thank you for this timely topic. I have been dealing with adrenal fatigue for well over a year now – a journey that is filled with highs and lows. Apart from supplementation, I have been trying to treat my adrenal fatigue with diet. I feel I have plateaued and want to regain some energy. I would love to know some of your specific food recommendations for supporting those adrenals! Thanks
Well done Kris for highlighting the important issue of adrenal fatigue. I’m a nutritional therapist based in the UK and specialising in cancer support. In my opinion adrenal care should be one of the top priorities when recovering from chronic illness.
One supplement that wasn’t mentioned in the video but which is key for helping the body manage stress is magnesium. I have seen this nutrient work wonders in many people with adrenal fatigue particularly when combined with the other nutrients Dr Bock mentioned.
And yes protein is also very important as Dr Bock said but (and I know this may be controversial) I have found that people completely avoiding animal protein take much longer to recover from adrenal fatigue. Including some fish/eggs/meat (and it doesn’t have to be much) can be invaluable in speeding adrenal recovery.
Keep up the good work Kris!
I never thought about my adrenals, thanks for this video Kris! I’m one of those people that works on a computer until 1 AM and then wakes up at 7 AM everyday (I’m an editor like your hubby, Kris!) so I’ve been having a lot of trouble with this. Whenever I follow the CSD guidelines (with the exception of a cup of organic coffee…. I bow down to the coffee pot…) I feel the best. But it’s interesting when I avoid wheat and sugar and then eat some and instantly feel horrible.
How were u diagnosed? And also I tried 2 of the 3 supplements you take and I noticed I’m not sleeping as good. Any advice because I figured if I don’t get the sleep I need I’m fighting a losing battle.
And also can a child be misdiagnosed ADHD and have adrenal fatigue?
Hi Lisa, sorry if I’m butting in but I think I can probably answer your question! I’m 15 years old and actually have an extremely rare type of adrenal disorder where my adrenal gland does not function at all. This is different from adrenal fatigue and can’t be cured, but it took years for me to get diagnosed and ADHD was one of the things they kept on saying I was likely to have. Also along with anxiety and other mental related issued. I knew myself this wasn’t true but went through years of being misdiagnosed with things like ADHD..very frustrating.
hi kris, i have been watching your TV for a few weeks now and love it! I have recently made some major adjustments to my lifestyle and you are literally my new guru 🙂
but what really prompted me to comment today… i love love love the party hat analogy, so spot on!
thank you, adela
Thanks for this article and video Kris! I shared it to my personal and professional pages. So many people read about these “studies” which tout the benefits of coffee, chocolate, agave, and other “natural” and/or “organic” foods, but ultimately, if we have conditions like stress and general adrenal overload…which means ALL hormones become imbalanced ultimately…then just because something may be healthy, does NOT mean it’s healthy for YOU (or me).
Yes! Adrenal Fatigue..timely post, indeed. My adrenals have been working overtime for the past decade: miscarriages, losses, financial stress, 3 heart attacks, 9 stents, open heart bypass surgery…that threw me into early menopause… I had about a year after this “shit pickle”?! where I was intensely grateful for my life, my senses were acute, I was healthy, and happening. Then everything sort of caught up with me and I was exhausted, totally! Depressed, achy, and felt older than my age. (I’m 46 by the way). (*Read: After the Ecstasy, the Laundry by Jack Kornfield..he talks about this).
Recently I found out about some vitamin deficiencies I have: iron, b-12, and vitamin D. My adrenals as well were spent. So thanks for the post!! I love how you said, “I’m lovin’ those cute little glands”! Seriously sending them some love really energetically helps to make a positive shift; and I love my cutie’s too! Cheers to Good Health! Chris
Oh Kris! Thank you so much! This post is perfect timing. My mind runs at 200 miles p/hr and my body is expected to keep up (more like I expect my body to keep up :-)) and over the last couple of years I have been finding that my body is lagging behind. I had a diet overhaul a few years ago which now does not include grain, dairy, any refined sugar and primarily Vegan (the occasional piece of chicken when my body craves it (monthly :-)). I have an active lifestyle, and an EXTREMELY physical job where fatigue is not seen as an excuse but rather, a weakness. I was going to head to get a blood test to look at my iron levels and didn’t even consider my adrenals. After seeing this post, I will ask to get that checked while I am there and look at the herb supplements (Not sure whether I can get those brands here in Australia).
Thanks again.
Dxx
what are the supplements he says? I can’t understand a couple of them, esp one of the last ones he mentions .. something like rolio ?
i think it was rhodiola …
Rhodiola – Metagenics (mentioned by Kris for the Licorice Plus) also has a product with Rhodiola called Adreset. I love Metagenics brand – very high quality!
oh, and I forgot to mention that my doc recommended 2 tablets of Licorice Plus (by Metagenics) in the morning and 1 midday for my adrenal fatigue. My follow up appt is this week to see whether it has helped.
With Kris’s nutritional advice last summer (love Crazy Sexy Diet! and blog), I was able to get off antidepressants for the first time in 25 years. The only symptom I couldn’t seem to get rid of however was impatience. I was short tempered with my 5-year-old to the point that was unacceptable. I read some of the books from Kris’s functional medicine docs (Frank Lipman and Alexandro Junger) and it made me consider trying some adrenal support (Stress Take Care by New Chapter) and it helped…a lot. Next time I went to see my doc (and this time a functional medicine doc), she suggested getting tested just to see if the New Chapter support was getting me to the right level. Even though it helped, i was still really low and one of the most surprising factors to the saliva cortisol test was that it also revealed gliadin (gluten) sensitivity which is somehow related to cortisol and adrenals. What a huge eye-opener for me. I thought that gluten sensitivity was another fad and I thought it mostly affected people by stomach upset (similar to lactose intolerance–yes, I was ignorant). What was surprising to me is not only that gliadin sensitivity can cause fatigue but also that it can cause swelling in the intestine that can decrease the absorption of vitamins and minerals. Between adrenal fatigue and gluten sensitivity, I didn’t stand a chance against illnesses. My life is forever changed! Thanks Kris for starting me on this journey and consistently providing uplifting, relevant information. Sadly I watched B-school enrollment come and go this year despite my strong sense that I should be doing it. I’ve been seriously considering it and watching all of Marie’s videos since you posted it. Her regular posts and videos help to motivate me! Perhaps a scholarship next year will help me enroll and start a whole different journey.
Hello Sunshine!
I must say I love the way you write Kris. Your positive nature really does reach out through the vices we all rely on so much these days, the computer!!
Nearly four years ago at 33, I was diagnosed with Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma (ACC). A very rare form of aggressive cancer. With two young daughters, you could say I was absolutely devastated. I was devastated because I knew I was unwell for about 5 years prior to that, but NO doctor (after countless visits to many different doctors) knew to look for the 7cm tumour that had been growing on my adrenal gland, causing me so many weird and now I realise, related problems. I was cross because had they known to look further into my symptoms they may have found it earlier and could have saved me (my body) and my family a lot of drama.
I am starting to write about my journey because I believe this is a very real subject that often gets misdiagnosed and mistreated, and with shattering results.
Luckily, a dream believer, I listened to my dreams and a synchronising list of events lead me to find the doctor who would save my life, and, just in time!! Every one has a story, and this is all about mine.
Now I am here, living with my beloved husband, two gorgeous girls (nearly teenagers), our dog, cat, two rabbits and countless kangaroos, happier than I can say I’ve ever been.
So thank you GOD, my doctor, Kris Carr, and my wonderful family for all of your positive vibes. I LOVE YOUS xx
Marcia, I too was diagnosed with Adrenal Corticol Carcinoma, stage III. I agree there area many crazy symptoms related to this disease and doctors are not educated to diagnose this rare cancer. I am curious as to who your doctor is that you referred to as saving your life. Keep up the fight! Leesa.
I have adrenal fatigue (stage 3) and am currently on a temporary leave from work in order to heal myself. It was diagnosed by my integrative doctor after my nutritionist recommended I take the Cortisol/DHEA saliva test. I feel so empowered to heal myself now that I know what’s going on with my body!
I just had lunch with a friend who is an MD and she was very familiar with adrenal fatigue and reading the same book I’m reading: Adrenal Fatigue: a 21st Century Syndrome by Wilson. That book seems to be the go-to source for information about self-diagnosis and healing adrenal fatigue. I feel so fortunate to have found a doctor who could actually diagnose it because it still isn’t recognized that widely in the traditional medical community. What a cool, timely post, thanks Kris! I’ve been reading your blog, your books and watched your movie and it’s been very motivational to get me to make my health my full-time job.
Dear Kris, thank you for the wonderful information you post, your help and your comminmet to your readers is priceless. I want to share with you and your readers the program “Spring Forst Qigong” by master Chunyi Lin. Go to http://www.learningstrategies.com you will be amazed at the testimonies, I am presently learning his techniques so I can become a healer. I am very excited about it. I purchased your books because I wanted to learn better eating habits and it has been very successful, thank you again.
I have been taking Withania (an herb) for adrenal support after consulting with a Nutritionist. Is this a good herb to take for adrenal support.
Thanks!
Great post! I see so many people with adrenal burnout these days. You hit the nail on the head…our “go, go go” lifestyles are son not in the rhythm of how we are designed to function. 2 of my favorite ways to bring it down a notch ( as well as 2 of my favorite recommendations for clients) are:
1. Get adjusted!!!! Find an awesome local chiropractor to help clear stress from your nervous system so that you can function from a more balanced place.
2. Biomat sessions daily. This is a biggie!!! I love my biomat and it for sure helped me to reverse years of exhaustion and adrenal fatigue. The far infrared, negative ions, and amethyst crystals are super supportive and helping to bring balance to the body, relax the nervous system, and calm down the adrenals.
Much love and thanks for sharing!
Wow, what a nice coincidence!! I’ve been feeling “off” lately, yet juicing my greens, embracing a new found appreciate for plant-based proteins, and really trying to live a better wholesome life. Some of my symptoms have been fatigue, which I always associated to having two kids under the age of 5 and a crappy mattress, and dizziness which would often take place in late afternoons and standing from a crouching position. But what Dr. Bock explained really hit home with me. For one, I’ve always had a tendency towards hypoglycaemia which I really haven’t spent too much time trying to manage. I never knew there was a connection with it and adrenals. Also, I’m in a job that I hate to the bottom of my core being and eats away at me on a daily basis. However, in order to get out of it, i’ve taken a few “leaps of faith” and have invested in my myself through Dr. Campbell’s eCornell Plant-Based Nutrition certification and have signed up for B-School (thanks Kris for the great advice on that!). I’m also currently working on a graduate diploma in adult education. And then there’s my new(ish) blog/site and fan page…and all that stuff that keeps me on the computer for hours, often late in the evenings. I’ve been spending so much time researching alternative medicine and health related blogs and website. I suppose I might have let it overwhelm me just a little. So stress and lifestyle managements are probably huge factors affecting my adrenal health at this time. So with all this in mind, I believe it’s time for me to make some better choices in regards to my time and schedule some “me” time where I can truly decompress, breath and relax. Thank you for the video!