Adrenal fatigue. You probably know someone personally who struggles with it. Or maybe you struggle with it yourself.

In the midst of adult life you can have a high amount of stress, physically, mentally and emotionally – and that takes it’s toll on our body. We let down our guard… and then fatigue decides to come for an unwelcome visit. And decides NOT to leave!

So now you struggle with the constant exhaustion, depression, emotional breakdowns and… maybe even feelings of incapability?

It is all right to be tired from time to time, it is bound to happen in our busy lives. But adrenal fatigue can get dangerous and cause dangerous inflammations and autoimmune diseases. It’s time to nip it in the bud and beat this thing!

If you aren’t struggling with adrenal fatigue right now, don’t be tempted to pass this by, because chances are, you may very well face it in the future at some point. But there are some ways you can be ready for it and have a fighting chance at avoiding it.

For those of you who are struggling with fatigue… good news! There are some tips for battling it… and BEATING it!

Building a defense!

One of the best ways to defend yourself… and have a fighting chance at winning… is to KNOW your opponent. Know what to watch out for to avoid fatigue.

Symptoms:

• • Morning fatigue
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Poor Focus
  • Irritability
  • Muscle Tension
  • Cravings (Salty or Sweet)
  • Hormone imbalance
  • Feeling overwhelmed

Now, I do want to point out that it doesn’t always mean you have adrenal fatigue if you struggle with some of these symptoms. But it is always a good idea to be aware of them.

So how can we win the battle that has already been going on for some time?

1. Diet

Food is medicine. Food is energy. You need to give your body the nutrition and ingredients it needs to fight this battle that it is up against.

When struggling with fatigue caffeine is NOT your friend. Even if you need to stay awake just TEN  MORE MINUTES to finish a project, it is much better for your body to stop. Caffeine will just mess with your sleep patterns and your adrenals won’t be able to recover the way they are supposed to. So drop the can of soda or the cup of coffee and get to sleep at a decent hour.

Of course we all know sugar and processed foods are a “no no”. Opt for raw honey instead.

Some of the best superfoods for adrenal health that you should get into your diet:

• Coconut
• Avocado
• Almonds
• Vegetables (cruciferous vegetables)
• Chicken and turkey
• Wild-caught salmon

2. Exercise

Keeping in shape and getting just a little bit of exercise a day (a short walk) can do wonders to keep your spirits up and help walk away that fatigue (it will wear it out and it won’t want to stay ).

3. Rest and Relaxation

• Keep a regular sleep cycle. Get some sleep when your body is telling you to. Go to bed at a decent hour, even if you have a lot to do… which brings me to
• Minimize stress. Stress is a big factor in causing fatigue so it makes sense to minimize it. Obviously we can’t take away all stress from our lives, but we can take reasonable steps to decrease it.
• Take a vacation. Sometimes it will do a world of good to just get away for a short time and “leave all your troubles behind you”… within reason, of course.

The biggest tip I can give you is this: LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.

You know your own body. You know what foods help and what doesn’t. You know what makes you relax, you know what you enjoy. Listen to the body God gave you and use the sources He has given you to help your body heal and thrive.

Each day and its events are gifts. New adventures to live and lessons to learn. Fun times to spend with family and friends, or maybe you are working today or going to school. Whatever the day holds for you, you want to be able to have energy to do what you need or want to do, and you want to be able to enjoy it as much as possible. But let’s admit it, there are those days when the alarm goes off in the morning and you just wish you could stay in bed. You can’t seem to get yourself going. You, half asleep, prepare for the day and slowly make it through the list of things to do (or most of them).

We all have many days like that. But how can we avoid them? Well, we can’t always avoid them. But here is the good news: We can help to lessen those days.

Here are some tips that can help you get your brain motivated and make you feel ready and alert for each new adventure.

1. Exercise

Keeping physically active is so important to your body’s health. Your brain included. Exercise increases the heart rate and gets more oxygen pumped to the brain. It also helps to release hormones that aid in the growth of brain cells. It helps us be more awake and alert and eager to get our day accomplished. So take just a few minutes a day to get that heart pumping. Do a few jumping jacks, take a short brisk walk around the block, and get ready for the day!

2. Food

While we know that eating food for fuel is a must, keeping our energy up, eating the right food is essential. The food we eat (and don’t eat) affect every part of our body, and God created foods to help each part. You probably grew up hearing certain foods referred to as “brain food”.

• Green leafy vegetables
• Salmon
• Blueberries
• Avocados
• Walnuts

These brain foods, rich in antioxidants and good fats, vitamins and minerals can help improve overall brain function and memory and help your body to fight diseases.

3. Rest and Sleep

A well rested brain keeps the body functioning efficiently. We all know that when we are well rested we perform our duties much better and we are better equipped to tackle the day’s “To Do List”. Sleep has also been known to enhance memory and help improve performance of challenging skills. You are also better equipped to fight sickness. So let your brain relax at the end of the day. Clear your mind of stress and events from the day and get plenty of sleep.

4. Prayer and Bible Reading

What better way to get a healthy brain than to go to its Creator! Take all your stress and the things that clutter and slow her brain down and talk to God about them. Ask Him for help in clearing your mind and trusting Him with everything you worry about. He wants you to have a healthy brain, too.