For some, minimalism evokes thoughts of selling off all your worldly goods and moving to live in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere. For others, they imagine a twenty-something hipster living in a micro apartment with bare walls, empty cupboards and little in the way of home comforts.
It seems counterintuitive to be stressed out on vacation, but unfortunately, it happens a lot. In our normal routines, we eat well, exercise and go to sleep at consistent times each night. On vacation, we eat much later than we usually would, don’t pay as much attention to exercising or sleep and may be in extremely close proximity with stress-inducing family members. This is not a recipe for being your most relaxed self.
Ayurvedic Medicine, referred to as Ayurveda, is one of the most ancient medical practices in the world, dating back almost 3,000 years ago. Originating in India, Ayurveda incorporates knowledge of the body’s composition and interconnections and combines it with natural, holistic treatments including the use of various herbs, exercise, and diet changes.
Tea is the world’s most popular drink, on any given day over 159 million Americans alone are drinking tea. Whether you like to enjoy it served hot or cold over ice, tea is a delicious and refreshing beverage that can be enjoyed all year round. But are you also aware of the many benefits it can have on your health?
A question that people asked us very often is: How to handle adrenal fatigue and alcohol? In this page we try to keep it simple, but give you the best possible answer about alcohol and adrenal fatigue.
If you suffer from adrenal fatigue, you’re probably already well aware of the importance of reducing your daily caffeine consumption – but what about alcohol? Is it still OK to drink alcohol when you are experiencing adrenal exhaustion? Arenal fatigue and alcohol is not the best combination. But the real question is off course if you can drink any alcohol if you are suffering from adrenal fatigue. And if you can, how much alcohol is still smart enough.
While this probably isn’t what you want to hear, you might just change your mind when you learn a little about the negative effect alcohol has on the function of your adrenal glands. We want to explain why adrenal fatigue alcohol can be tricky.
Craving for alcohol (but also carbs and stimulants) is often caused by the body’s need for a quick energy fix that comes from weak adrenal function. Alcohol is in essence a very refined carbohydrate (more refined than white sugar) that rapidly gives you energy.
But that quick fix is soon over as alcohol interferes with the hormones that regulate your blood sugar levels. It triggers a blood sugar roller coaster. And as you know, for people that suffer from adrenal fatigue, properly managing and regulating blood sugar is crucial.
Another reason behind the negative effects of alcohol on the adrenals is that alcohol is a stimulant. The National Insitute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that drinking alcohol induces the stress response by triggering the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands to produce hormones. Adrenal fatigue and alcohol issues are pretty serious.
Furthermore they claim that drinking alcohol can also cause the adrenal glands to produce less hormones which, in cases of adrenal fatigue, is detrimental. So while it is true that a glass of your favorite tipple might make you feel more relaxed and can temporarily counteract the symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue, it really makes your symptoms worse once the effects of the alcohol wear off.
If you are still unsure, it is also well known that alcohol can seriously affect your sleep quality. Although many people like to have a drink before bed to “help them drift off,” this is actually a really bad idea because it disrupts the natural sleep cycle and causes your sleep to be of a very poor quality. Quality sleep is crucial in recovering from adrenal fatigue.
Dehydration issue with adrenal fatigue and alcohol
In addition, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can cause you to want to go to the toilet in the middle of the night. Alcohol is also a diuretic, which means that it allows the body to lose extra fluid and causes you to become dehydrated. In short, you might find it easier to get to sleep, but you’ll probably end up feeling absolutely exhausted when you wake up the next morning!
While an occasional drink might not cause too many issues, one of the main problems with alcohol is that one drink often turns into two, three or even more. In addition, drinking can soon become a habit, and you may find yourself increasing your consumption over time. This is a real problem for anyone suffering from adrenal exhaustion because it will only worsen your symptoms.
If it’s not possible to completely cut out alcohol altogether, you should really try to limit it to just the occasional drink. Many people turn to alcohol as a way of numbing the stress and anxiety they are feeling, but the honest truth is that this is the last thing you should be doing.
Many of our clients learned a lot about adrenal fatigue and alcohol, but also all the other difficulties. But everything can be fine with your adrenal fatigue. But first you need to know the true, and get some tips. Read our e-books about adrenal fatigue and alcohol. Instead, try to take positive steps to reduce stress in your life. Allow yourself regular time to relax by getting outside and enjoying nature, doing something creative, or simply having a long soak in the bath. In addition, consider changing your diet and focusing on eating foods that help with adrenal fatigue. You can also consider taking natural supplements to improve sleep and reduce stress.
As we discussed in a recent post, keeping a daily journal to record your recovery progress can be incredibly useful. Regularly writing down your thoughts and feelings enables you to let go of your emotions – and it can be highly beneficial when it comes to reducing the stresses and anxieties you experience each day.
Get our free Stress Management Workbook to help you identify and track your stress, and provide you with a variety of proven techniques that you can use to counteract stress. It helps you: