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.
Jim Rohn has over the years encouraged people in search of the good life to make use of a journal. The effects journals can have over our life can be astonishing.
But instead of finding new answers to life, and tracking your recovery from Adrenal Fatigue a journal can open a floodgate of new questions such as:
We all know how our increasing reliance on technology is causing stress and anxiety in modern society. But it’s also worth considering how technology can actually help us to manage and reduce stress in our everyday lives.
We’re constantly being told about the importance of keeping active and exercising on a regular basis. Of course, exercise most definitely is a crucial part of living a long and healthy life. But have you ever stopped to consider that too much exercise can actually be nearly as bad for you as not getting enough?
Social media attracts millions of followers, with Facebook taking the lead (with over two billion users), followed by YouTube (1.5 billion), Instagram (800 million) and Twitter (330 million). There can be no doubt that our lives and society have been hugely impacted by social media.
In those who experience adrenal fatigue, much of life can seem challenging. Between the struggles of balancing work, family and social life, the content of your diet can sometimes be little more than an afterthought.
Stress is a key trigger in Adrenal Fatigue so reducing your stress is the single most important step on your road to restoring adrenal health and recovery. Effective stress management starts with identifying your sources of stress so you can develop strategies to manage them.
Whether it’s finances, health, or family problems, we all have our own reasons for being stressed. Stress is a natural occurrence and an inevitable part of being a human being. However, if unmanaged, chronic stress can lead to severe biological changes in our bodies as we age. About 50 percent of seniors experience mild fatigue, which can then progress to a syndrome known as adrenal fatigue.
Do you often find it difficult to get a good night’s sleep? Are you sick of waking up each day feeling more tired than when you went to bed the night before?
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: