Last week on “Ask The Naturopath” we talked about adrenal fatigue – what it is and why it happens. This week we are going to dive into strategies to combat the causes of adrenal fatigue.
Today Mark will take us through real ways to be proactive about our health and wellness. I know by now, some of you are saying, but Courtney, I have a full time job, two+ kids, volunteer work, house care, friends, family, etc. etc., I can’t take on any thing extra.
Well sorry ladies, tough-love coach Courtney here to tell you that’s life!, especially for us women these days. Trust me I get it and do understand how hectic and busy our days can get, but as you know our LYL philosophy is about loving yourself first, so you can better take care of all the other things. There are ways to manage your health and wellness while tending to all the other priorities in your life, but sometimes it means slowing down, so we can speed up!
So Mark, take it away…
Garbage In. Garbage Out.
Eat clean. It’s that simple. Follow the LYL philosophy for nutrition, including eating every 2-3 hours with three meals, two snacks, and a third snack, if needed. Get high quality fats and proteins along with complex carbohydrates. Eat lots of vegetables and a few servings of fruit. No sugar. No refined carbs. No processed food. Lots of water. Eat organic when you can. And reduce or eliminate caffeine and alcohol. Sounds like a lot, but this is how you are supposed to eat for your body and mind to function as it should. This is not just how you eat for fat loss. It is how you eat FOREVER! Try it for just 1 week, and you will be feeling so good you won’t want to go back to the bloated, tired, foggy former you. Better yet, sign up for a program, and get the extra help you need to get on your way.
Many options are out there for people suffering with adrenal and stress issues, eating a balanced diet with lots of fresh foods like fruits and vegetables is one of the most important factors in managing your health. So many foods have super powers, literally! They can rebuild much of your cellular physiology and help you prevent and overcome disease, and these nutrients give you the ability to rebuild your next generation of cells, stronger than the previous. Eat the colors of the rainbow!
There are so many options available to you. Try something new every week. Google how to prepare and you’ll be surprised by the amazing information you uncover. Plus, you’ll find all kinds of new treats!
Make sure you cycle you proteins, and get all the essentials amino acids your body needs. I personally have one day a week where I eat only plant based proteins. I use beans, peas, legumes, nuts and seeds as my sources of protein these days, and I feel great while doing it. For me, I love meat too much to make the leap to 100% plant based foods. If you are eating meat, choose local and hormone free whenever you can. It is becoming easier to access with an increase in farmer’s markets and a focus on where our food comes from.
Check out your nearest farmer’s market. Pictured here is “Farmer John’s” bounty at the St. John’s Farmer’s Market. It is incredible to meet the farmers and learn where your food is coming from and how it is grown. Plus, everything tastes better when it’s not shipped thousands of miles!
You also need to eat food that you are currently programmed NOT to eat. I am talking about the nasty F word, FAT! We need good sources of fats, and your LYL coaches are delivering great meals and good fat options everyday, so talk to them for recipes, ideas, and combinations. Download Cookin’ Clean and Lean or sign up for a program. By consuming lots of good fats your cells are able to communicate inside of you. Much like we speak to one another, cells communicate through signals, however their medium for communication is fat. So eat fat everyday. Don’t be afraid of nuts, seeds, avocado, fish oils, eggs, seafood, meats, and healthy oils such as olive and coconut. There are many good choices available.
Another major issue is lack of hydration; I cannot tell you how important this is for normal hormone balance, and recovering from adrenal related issues. So get on it, if you are not getting 8-10 glasses of water a day in the 10-12oz range you’re not getting enough. More is better. And on your days of exercise you are going to require more, so get drinking, water that is!
And finally, sometimes your diet needs a little extra help. This is where supplementation comes in. We mentioned fish oils earlier, taking a high quality fish oil such as krill oil is important. Vitamin D and a good multi-vitamin are also helpful. In addition, there are other supplements that might be recommended by your doctor or naturopath including B-vitamins, adaptogens, licorice root, as well as other homeopathic remedies, but these should only be recommended by your health care professional as it is important for them to have an overall picture of your current health, health history as well as other supplements and medications you may be taking.
I look forward to hearing about how all your clean eating is going. And how good it is making you feel. Until next week.
Mark Kibyuk