If you have energy issues and hormone imbalances, your adrenal glands need some love. Generally, we all have a little adrenal dysfunction going on due to our stressful lifestyles. The Adrenal Healing Creamsicle (aka the Adrenal Cocktail) is a nourishing elixir that will help support adrenal health, hormone balance, blood sugar, and the HPA axis.
During stressful times, your adrenals use up a lot of energy and nutrients. Bringing them back to health often means upping your minerals (like sodium potassium, and magnesium), vitamin C, protein, and healthy fats. Check, check, check, and check!
Your adrenals are two tiny glands that sit on top of your kidneys and control a lot of functions including the stress response (fight or flight), blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, and immune function.
Your adrenals help you get through anything that threatens your survival; a car accident, robbery, being chased by a wild animal, etc. In fight or flight, the Hypothalamus and Pituitary glands in your brain communicate to your Adrenals (the HPA axis) which respond by pumping out adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream to help you “fight” and “flee” from danger. This increases heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Unfortunately the enduring stressors of modern day life (e.g., endless to-do lists, no down time, ruminating thoughts and worries about our jobs, family, and health) can elicit the same fight or flight response…only there is no real threat.
Chronic stress and overproduction of cortisol inevitably takes its toll on your nervous system & health which can lead to exhaustion, burnout, weight gain, thyroid dysfunction, sleep disturbances, and much more.
An adrenal cocktail is great any time of the day, but especially:
- First thing in the morning (especially if you’re a breakfast skipper/don’t feel hungry but wake with low energy);
- Pre-/Post- workout (blood sugar balancing fuel before your workout or that quick pick-me-up to replenish energy & electrolytes after your workout);
- Mid-afternoon (especially if you hit typically hit a slump and rely on caffeine for that boost);
- Right before bed (especially if you typically wake between 1-3 am).
So, what else can you do to heal your adrenals?
It’s not just about how you fuel your body. Healing your adrenals also comes with managing your stress which means you need to work on calming your nervous system.
- RELAXATION techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness help activate parasympathetic activity (calm state), which deactivates your sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight response). Don’t get overwhelmed here. Even 10 minutes a day is a good start – either upon rising or right before bed.
- SLEEP is essential for healing your adrenals, restoring the body, and supporting hormone health. Shut down electronic devices (including the television) at least 1 hour before bed. Artificial blue light tells your brain it’s still “go time” and keeps cortisol (your daytime hormone) in circulation while down playing melatonin (your nighttime/sleep hormone) production. Also, go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time each day.
- PROTEIN FIRST! Before you grab that cup of joe, start the day with protein (collagen, protein shake, eggs, leftover salmon). Protein supports circadian rhythm, stabilizes blood sugar, and supports mood, energy, focus, and your weight. A caffeine-only breakfast will spike cortisol consequently fueling exhaustion later in the day.
- DITCH SUGAR. If your blood sugar isn’t supported, neither are you. Sugar highs and lows ultimately lead to energy depletion.
- ADAPTOGENS are incredibly healing to the adrenals as they help your body adapt and cope with stress. Some of my favorites are ashwagandha, rhodiola, holy basil, and lemon balm.
- B-COMPLEX VITAMINS are involved in every neurological process in the body. They are critical to healthy adrenal function.
- OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS, VITAMIN C & MAGNESIUM also benefit the adrenals.
Adrenal Healing Creamsicle
Enjoy as is or freeze them into ice pops for a summertime treat!
Equipment
- 1 Shaker Cup or use a mason jar with lid
Ingredients
- 4-6 oz. fresh pressed orange juice
- 2 tbsp. pure full fat coconut milk
- 2 scoops unflavored collagen protein
- 1/8-1/4 tsp. pink Himalayan sea salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into a shaker cup. Shake and enjoy!
