Discussions around adrenal fatigue usually center around women. But men need to care for their adrenals too, and when things go amiss, their specific nutritional and supplement needs can be different from women’s. In this article, we take a look at some options for men to support their adrenal glands during times of stress.

Do you need a refresher on what your adrenals are? The adrenal glands are two small triangular-shaped endocrine glands that sit atop the kidneys and produce essential compounds such as sex hormones and cortisol (aka the stress hormone) based on cues from the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. This hormonal feedback loop is dubbed the HPA axis (for hypothalamus – pituitary – adrenals).

Tired adrenals

The concept of adrenal fatigue relates to chronic stress exposure, also known as fight-or-flight mode, which kicks the adrenals into high gear and prompts them to pump high amounts of cortisol and adrenaline into your body. The medical community questions the idea of “adrenal fatigue” (which is entirely different from adrenal insufficiency) citing the glands do not get tired from doing their job – but symptoms are real, and affect many men. Especially in today’s fast paced world. While there is still a lot to be discovered about adrenal fatigue via allopathic medicine, common symptoms of adrenal fatigue are addressed by the neuroendocrinology concept of allostatic load, based off of multiple biomarker measures of physiological wear and tear from stress.

Some symptoms of adrenal fatigue might include:

• Feeling constantly tired
• Irritability and brain fog
• Weight gain (despite a clean diet and strict workout plan)
• Strong cravings for sweet or salty foods

Think you have adrenal imbalance? Here’s what you need to know

Whether or not you have adrenal fatigue, experiencing the symptoms above on a regular basis is a sure sign that something is out of balance in the body. Lifestyle upgrades like exercise, fresh air and nature immersion, along with diet tweaks often bring about symptom relief. So does stress management through meditation and necessary life changes. When you’ve tried all of these and still need some help bringing your adrenals into balance, adaptogenic herbs and nutrients are a good place to turn.

Recharge yourself with adaptogenic herbs

Adrenal-Pro™ is a blend of adaptogenic herbs and nutrients used in herbal medicine, specially formulated to provide an improved sense of well-being and help improve mental and physical performance after periods of exertion.

This unique blend helps fatigued adrenal glands without overstimulation. Working to increase cortisol if there is too little and decrease cortisol if there is too much.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a staple of Ayurvedic medicine and is known as the “herb of the horse”, because of the energy building qualities it brings. A trusted adaptogen herb, ashwagandha helps re-establish a healthy sleep-wake cycle and is especially beneficial to men who often feel tired upon waking and start to feel energized around the time they should fall asleep at night. Ashwagandha has demonstrated anti-stress, antioxidant, mind boosting, immune-boosting and thyroid rejuvenating properties in studies.

Siberian Ginseng

Siberian ginseng (also known as eleuthero) has a history of use by athletes to help increase stamina and build better resistance to stress – be it from physical, emotional, mental, or environmental stressors. As an adaptogen, Siberian ginseng supports endocrine health and adrenal balance.

Schisandra extract

Schisandra extract is an herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its adaptogenic properties.

Astragalus extract

Astragalus has been prescribed for centuries to treat chronic illness and to increase overall vitality and the connection between the pituitary and adrenal glands.

Nutrients vitamin B6, pantothenic acid and L-tyrosine are included in this blend to support thyroid and pituitary gland function, and many other hormones involved in the stress response.

Quality sleep, good daily nutrition, exercise and the right supplementation all play key roles in maintaining a healthy stress response and care for your adrenal glands.

To learn more visit: canprev.ca/adrenal

CanPrev recommends that you consult your doctor before implementing any health treatment, including herbal supplements and natural remedies. The information above is for educational reasons only and is not to be taken as a substitute for medical advice.

About the Author: CanPrev

At CanPrev, our mission is to keep advancing naturopathic medicine tools, working with the body’s natural healing ability, in order to improve quality of life. We’re working to put your health back into your hands. Learn more at canprev.ca