Avoid Adrenal Dysregulation: The Dangers of Over exercising and How to Strike a Balance

Anastasiia De La Cruz

Exercise is a hormetic activity, meaning it is a stressor in and of itself. Overdoing it could be unhealthy, but the appropriate quantity and intensity can be a good part of a healthy lifestyle. There is little time for the body to recover when exercising excessively.
Adrenal problems can be significantly exacerbated when overtraining is combined with other life stressors like a busy schedule, lack of rest and recovery, and undereating.

Exercise is a luxury. When you read about celebrities' workout routines, you should also consider that they are getting regular massages and plenty of rest. They also might have a chef or meal delivery services that are altered to their needs. As a result, they don't have to spend time and energy cooking or cleaning.

Take, for example, a working mom or a stay-at-home mom. The number of tasks she has to perform barely fits into 24 hours. Cooking, cleaning, taking kids to and from school, after-school activities, and weekend sports. Housework such as cooking meals, cleaning, laundry, house maintenance, and grocery shopping. How about schedule and coordinating medical and other appointments for the family?! And, of course, on top of that, any woman wants to dedicate time to herself. We want to exercise, we want to look good, and we want to be healthy. But sometimes, because we have to do everything else, taking care of ourselves becomes another task = another stressor. Plus, we don't have enough time to rest to recover.

To incorporate intense exercise into your routine, you must learn how to ask for help.

The phrase "adrenal fatigue" is slightly misleading because the adrenal glands don't get "fatigued." The main problem is communication. The mechanism of chemical communication between the pituitary and hypothalamus and the adrenal glands is disrupted when the brain experiences stress. Since the adrenal glands produce cortisol, it can either be produced in excess or insufficiently.
Two little power packs on top of the kidneys ensure that the human body can react to stress while maintaining ideal energy levels. They are the adrenal glands, generating potent hormones such as norepinephrine, epinephrine, and cortisol, to mention a few. Cortisol, for example, is an important stress hormone that helps control energy levels.

What exactly is cortisol?

Exercise

The adrenal glands' cortisol synthesis is an essential component of the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Cortisol secretion aids in the regulation of daily energy requirements. It also plays a role in healthy blood glucose management and inflammatory reduction. Cortisol production surges in the morning and steadily drops throughout the day when the HPA axis and adrenals usually operate.

Cortisol/HPA Axis Dysregulation Symptoms

  • Thinking fog

  • Stress tolerance is low.

  • A lack of libido

  • Low blood sugar symptoms, even with a healthy diet

  • Immune system dysfunction (catch every bug and cold that goes around)

  • Feel as if you are easily wounded or do not recover well

  • Back discomfort in the lower back

  • Headaches following exercise

  • I'm craving salt.

  • Frequently experiencing stress

  • Weight increase in the midsection

  • It is challenging to sit motionless.

  • Having difficulty falling or staying asleep

  • A second burst of energy in the evening - "tired and wired."

  • Depletion of energy

  • Dependent on stimulants or a lot of sleep

  • Even after a whole night's sleep, you're still exhausted.

  • Low physical endurance/tolerance

  • Feelings of vertigo

When we look at these signs, we tend to disregard or dismiss them. Suppose they become severe enough for you to consult your doctor. You may be prescribed a sleeping pill, anti-anxiety medication, anti-depressant medication, or pain relievers. Because the underlying cause is rarely (if ever) treated, symptoms frequently endure.

People may consider us hypochondriacs because we lack a medical "diagnosis" for our problems. We tend to blame ourselves for the recurring issues. We believe we aren't challenging enough or resilient enough.

We become dissatisfied with ourselves and our bodies. But what's happening is a succession of defensive mechanisms—your body is attempting to compensate for your mental, emotional, or physical stress.

Important lifestyle factors

Anastasiia De La Cruz

Fortunately, several critical lifestyle changes for adrenal insufficiency treatment will also assist with adrenal gland symptoms such as fatigue. The first advice is to examine your nutrition, especially your glucose level regulation.

  • Blood sugar levels
    As previously stated, cortisol is involved in blood sugar management, so making sure your glucose levels are in check is essential to recovery.

  • Diet
    It's hardly unexpected that the Mediterranean diet, one of the healthiest and most extensively researched diets in the scientific literature, has also been demonstrated to reduce increased cortisol levels. The HELENA research, published in the journal Nutrients in 2018, indicated that the Mediterranean diet "...may exert a protective impact on the link between stress and inflammation."

  • Exercise
    Exercise has been proven to be an excellent stress management strategy, so it stands to reason that it would aid with adrenal fatigue by optimizing the HPA axis response to stress. One word of caution about exercise: high-intensity exercise might raise cortisol levels. Remember that walking is also a type of exercise.

  • Other activities

  • Aside from physical exercise, several stress-reduction approaches have been demonstrated to favor the adrenal glands and alleviate stress-related symptoms. These stress management strategies can aid in cortisol production stabilization and adrenal gland function:

  • Social assistance
    Yoga, tai chi, and other forms of mindful movement
    Essential oils for meditation and massage

Anastasiia Certified Holistic Nutritionist

CERTIFIED HOLISTIC NUTRITIONIST

For deep understanding and assistance, you can book a discovery call with Anastasiia! This will help you to be happy and healthy at the same time.

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