Perform simple, low-intensity movement. Get up and go for a walk for a half hour in the morning—just get low-level general movement. This will help with mental performance too. Perform daily stress-management, self-care activities, such as deep breathing, meditation, prayer, and journaling.
Short high intensity exercise such as sprints, HITT or weight training cause less of an increase in plasma cortisol concentrations.
Walk, walk, walk. Walking helps normalize the cortisol response, so it's great whether your cortisol is high or low. If your cortisol is low, you can continue strength training, just don't do any metabolic work.
Overtraining can be a part of healthy training, if only done for a short period of time. Chronic overtraining is what leads to serious health problems, including adrenal insufficiency. Severe overtraining over an extended period can result in adrenal depletion.
Recovery from adrenal fatigue can take anywhere from 3 months to 3 years. Each individual has a unique set of symptoms and an individual response to treatment. The recovery process depends upon the stage and severity of the adrenal exhaustion.
According to the theory of adrenal fatigue, when people are faced with long-term stress, their adrenal glands cannot keep up with the body's need for these hormones. It is when this happens that supporters of adrenal fatigue believe that symptoms may appear.
Adrenal fatigue is thought to occur when the adrenals have been overworked to a degree that they can no longer secrete levels of cortisol that are adequate for optimal function. Potential stressors include environmental and dietary influences, as well as anxiety and emotional stresses.
I have personally dealt with adrenal fatigue in the past, and I can vouch for magnesium and cortisol's role in calming stress levels and rehabilitating hormonal systems. Magnesium helps to regulate cortisol levels, allowing for more balanced hormone production which is essential in our fast paced culture.
A great way to determine how much salt you need comes right out of James Wilson's “Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Syndrome.” Wilson recommends trying ¼ tsp of salt in 8 ounces of water. If the water tastes better – not salty, but perhaps more satisfying – it is a signal that your body needs the salt.
Most people with adrenal fatigue will recover quite quickly but severe symptoms may take some months to recover, or even longer. The time for recovery will vary enormously from person to person and will also depend on the cause of stress and the severity of symptoms.
Eat Consistent Meals with Fat and Protein in the Morning: Going completely carb-free or intermittent fasting—two big trends right now—is probably not right for you if you have adrenal fatigue and your blood sugar is all over the map.
The adrenal fatigue theory suggests that prolonged exposure to stress could drain the adrenals leading to a low cortisol state. The adrenal depletion would cause brain fog, low energy, depressive mood, salt and sweet cravings, lightheadedness, and other vague symptoms.
Stage 4 (Burnout/Crash)
Our adrenal glands have ceased to function, and little can be done to restore our bodies homeostasis. During the final stage of burnout and individual can suffer from lack of sex drive, depression, restlessness, anxiety and little to no interest in surroundings.
The short answer is, yes, you should incorporate some level of physical activity even if you have adrenal fatigue.
Studies have shown that sauna use can balance the brain-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is the cause of what is commonly known as adrenal fatigue. And because sauna use increases BDNF, this also helps with anxiety, depression, and overall mood.
One great reason to turn to walking is for the reduction of cortisol levels. Scientists have found these stress hormones are greatly reduced after just a 20 minute walk, resulting in a better mood and positive outlook.
Mat pilates is far more accessible and comfortable for those who want an exercise for adrenal fatigue that grows with you. Start with just 10 to 20 minutes of Pilates movements, three to four times a week. Take each movement as slow as you can. Yes!