This is a food-as-medicine tool for supporting your adrenal glands.
Adrenal glands are tiny, bean shaped organs located on top of your kidneys. Although little in size, they sure are mighty in function! As a part of the endocrine system, these organs are responsible for producing multiple hormones in the body. But, that’s not all: the adrenal glands are also a main player in the HPA-Axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal). These 3 MVP’s work together to regulate your body’s stress response. When overworked, you’re left with a classic case of “adrenal fatigue.”
Your adrenal glands might be overworked (AKA dysfunctional) after a long bout of chronic stress (physical or mental). For example:
- After training for a marathon
- Dealing with chronic sickness, personally or close family/friends
- Working through a divorce
- Losing your job or starting a new job
- Moving to a new state
This is just a short list. Adrenal fatigue, although usually due to stressful situations, can also be brought on by a poor diet, underlying infections, or lack of sleep. Here are the some of the most common symptoms of adrenal fatigue:
- Feel exhausted in the morning (and all day long)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Diagnosed with hypothyroidism⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Are a night owl
- Don’t fall asleep easily⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Feel dizzy when standing up⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Need sunglasses when outside⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Sweat easily⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Crave salty foods⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Feel jittery after coffee
Do any of these sound like you?
The Recipe
This adrenal cocktail is a concoction of essential vitamins and minerals to support the adrenals on a foundational level. This drink also contains the perfect ratio of fat, carbs, and protein to balance blood sugar, therefore assisting in proper metabolism, adrenal, and thyroid function.
Ingredients:
- 6 oz. orange juice (fresh squeezed or cold pressed like Evolution brand)
- 2 Tbsp. organic raw cream (or coconut cream for vegans/non-dairy)
- 2 Tbsp. Pasture-Raised Collagen
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
Directions:
Blend it up into a delicious creamsicle, shake it up in a blender bottle, or pour into Popsicle molds and freeze (kids LOVE it).
For adrenal healing/balancing, drink it as soon as you wake up and 1 other time throughout the day to keep your blood sugar balanced and your thyroid fed, which will help pull you out of metabolic chaos.
Fresh orange juice- Orange juice is packed with vitamin C- an essential nutrient in times of stress. In fact, chronic stress depletes vitamin C stores. So, supplementing with vitamin C is a must. It’s potent antioxidant properties are also needed to fuel the adrenal glands, regulate cortisol production, protect against oxidative stress, and boost the immune system.
Collagen is loaded with amino acids, which are the building blocks for health. It is also helpful for thickening the intestinal mucosa (thin gut lining contributes to thyroid and adrenal disorders) and provides 12-16 grams of very easy to use protein, which is satiating and very helpful for those without an appetite.
Pasture-raised raw cream provides the essential immune-boosting, brain supporting fat that will also slow the release of glucose in the OJ enough to provide balanced blood sugar. It also contains a calming peptide, which helps quell anxiety.
Himalayan pink salt contains all 84 essential trace minerals that the adrenals and nervous system need to function properly. It is also alkaline-forming, so it helps support the body’s natural detoxification process.
Who Can The Adrenal Healing Creamsicle Help?
This drink is supportive for about 80% of people. If you struggle with bacteria or yeast overgrowth, you may not react well at first and would want to add this in after treatment.
An alternative for those undergoing this type of treatment is to use 1 mug of bone broth with added collagen, coconut oil, and sea salt and to have it with a side of (1 cup) organic berries.
You will get the same effect without feeding yeast or bacterial overgrowth and that is still a go-to snack for me as well.
Want to dive more into adrenal fatigue? I highly recommend this book.
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