Caffeine is big business and from coffee to energy drinks we’re never far away from our next caffeine fix to help us through the day. Needing something to give you an energy boost is perfectly normal but what if your constant requirement for something caffeinated is having a long term negative effect on your body?
Many of the best-selling beverages on the planet, as well as some foods, contain high levels of caffeine which people rely on throughout the day. From a morning wake up, an afternoon pick me up to an evening energy booster we’ve all come to rely heavily on the caffeine content to help get us through the days. Ever wondered why after a while you have to start looking for stronger doses to help you get the same effect as before? Going from a single espresso to a triple espresso at a time. Well this is down to something called adrenal fatigue.
Adrenal fatigue is a collection of signs and symptoms, known as a syndrome, that results when the adrenal glands function below the necessary level. This most commonly associated with intense or prolonged stress. The adrenal glands produce hormones that help the body control blood sugar, burn protein and fat, react to stressors like a major illness or injury, and regulate blood pressure. Two of the most important adrenal hormones are cortisol and aldosterone.
You may look and act relatively normal with adrenal fatigue and may not have any obvious signs of physical illness, yet you live with a general sense of unwellness, tiredness or “grey” feelings. People experiencing adrenal fatigue often have to use coffee, energy drinks, fizzy drinks and other stimulants to get going in the morning and to keep themselves going during the day.
Adrenal fatigue can wreak havoc with your life. In the more serious cases, the activity of the adrenal glands is so diminished that you may have difficulty getting out of bed for more than a few hours per day. With each increment of reduction in adrenal function, every organ and system in your body is more profoundly affected.
One of the best things you can do to prevent adrenal fatigue and lessen the symptoms if you experience any levels of it, are to do a detox. A good duration for a detox should be around 90 days but experimenting with this and doing something for at least a month is a good start.
