Stress

So I’d like to make Fridays a day that we share something we did during the past week for our health.

This week my husband and I attended a seminar taught by one of the doctors at the naturopathic clinic that we go to. It was called “Managing Stress and Fatigue”.

Two things that really clicked with me were the symptoms of adrenal fatigue and the need to get rid of refined sugars from our diet.

Stress is actually a good thing. It helps us to be alert and ready to go. The problem is when we are constantly on the alert and our adrenal glands become fatigued from supporting this state of readiness. This is when we get distressed because our stress has exceeded our mental and physical resources. Some of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue are dizziness, excessive tiredness and a high craving of sugars and refined carbohydrates – all things I struggle with.

The good news is is that there is much I can do to help give my adrenals the rest and recovery they need. This can be done by limiting the sugar and refined carbohydrates in my diet, striving for a minimum of twenty minutes of physical activity every day and aiming to be in bed by 10:30 every night. Apparently our adrenal glands renew and restore themselves between 11pm and 1am. So when we stay up late we are not allowing our adrenals to get the rest they need from the pressures of the day. These are all things that can be done without spending any money for supplements that would help. Supplements are important but when the budget is tight you can always start with what is free.

So what did you do to help your health this week?