Dr. Carrie Jones: Stress And Your Adrenal Glands - Do You Have The Energy?
Increased thirst and craving salt/salty foods happens with chronic stress due to inefficient aldosterone.
The second layer produces cortisol, the hormone your body makes in response to stress of any kind. When chronic stress remains (good or bad), your body tries to adapt by continually elevating the cortisol levels however symptoms of fatigue, high blood pressure, hypoglycemia, insomnia, irritation, weight gain, and/or chronic infection/illness creep in. Eventually, the adrenals become exhausted, your cortisol levels fall and you hit burn-out.
The third layer produces some sex hormones. In women it makes very small amounts of progesterone and estrogen. This layer also helps women with libido as it is a source of testosterone. When you are running from the saber toothed tiger (or experiencing any number of other stressors) 'getting in the mood' is not generally a priority because there is no energy left...for anything or anyone else.
So what do you do to repair the damage and feel like your old self again? Well, stop burning yourself out! Stop taking on the world and start making time for you!
Eat regular meals (real meals with real food) or several mini-meals throughout the day.
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I see this was written awhile ago, but maybe writing is that confirmation, or relaxing moment for me. I do see myself in this article and have suspected my adrenal system was tired. In fact, aldosterone may be the missing link that I'm viewing a few dominoes away from the source. I've writing under the blog about painful legs and feet upon rising and have noticed that I am acidic and dehydrated (fluids go right through me). Anyway... now face to face with the second step; what do I do to strengthen my adrenal system? And could the liver (and fellow digestion aids) also have been brought down a little by all this resulting in a lack of hydrochloric acid? Because I make very, very little digestive acid (so says my Naturopath). Good information! Please tell me more. :)