As we age– especially into our 40s and beyond– we notice that our energy isn’t quite what it used to be and it becomes harder and harder to reduce stress, which is one of the main root causes!
I for one know the feeling of wanting energy for all my to-dos as a working mom, including showing up for my husband Alex and son Kingston.
And some days, all that energy can be difficult to find.
So, how DO you reduce stress and get your vital energy back?
The answer lies in your adrenal glands.
If you regularly find yourself feeling stressed, rundown, or exhausted, you may be struggling with adrenal fatigue or estrogen dominance (or both!).
That’s because your adrenals, stress levels, and estrogen are closely related– so if any of them are out of balance, the others will feel it too.
Although your body is made to handle acute stress every now and then, it’s not built to handle chronic stress. And unfortunately these days, most of us are chronically stressed.
Apart from our daily run-around and the mental stress of trying to do it all, our bodies face physical stressors, too.
Physical stressors include:
- An unhealthy diet / processed foods
- Exposure to toxins or smoking
- Overconsumption of alcohol
- A chronic illness
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Recurring infection
- Certain medications
When your adrenals are constantly forced to increase cortisol production to counteract high stress, at some point they eventually dysregulate. This leads to Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS).
Symptoms of AFS include
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Brain fog
- Low libido
- Lower immunity
Stress can lead to adrenal fatigue and low energy, which then can ultimately cause estrogen dominance.
So I’m here to share with you my 15 favorite ways to reduce stress in your life, so you can best avoid both of these conditions.
One of the best ways to reclaim your energy and reduce stress is by nourishing your adrenals with necessary herbs and nutrients – which you can find in my Essentially Whole supplement Adrenal Love.
I personally designed this supplement to combat adrenal fatigue directly and skyrocket my energy levels.
With ingredients like Vitamin C, Ashwagandha, Eleuthera, and more, it helps to minimize symptoms of AFS and boost your energy fast.
But more on that later…
How Are Adrenal Fatigue and Estrogen Dominance Related?
When the adrenals choose to make more cortisol to handle increased stress instead of making progesterone, the lack of progesterone eventually leads to estrogen dominance.
More stress = more cortisol from the adrenals = less progesterone = too much estrogen.
Estrogen dominance is very common.
Sadly, almost 50% of women over the age of 35 are affected by estrogen dominance.
Estrogen dominance can be the result of adrenal fatigue. But estrogen dominance can also be a trigger of adrenal fatigue because hormone imbalance can be a huge stressor on the body.
No matter which comes first– adrenal fatigue or estrogen dominance– they end up aggravating each other and creating a downward spiral of poor health.
That’s why Adrenal Love is SUCH a great option no matter which comes first because it can counter either condition. It combats stress and improves energy to stabilize any imbalances you may have as a result of either condition.
Adrenal Love helps prevent estrogen dominance and helps heal your adrenals, which in turn alleviates your estrogen dominance symptoms.
Whether you’re struggling with estrogen dominance, adrenal fatigue, or sometimes BOTH– these 15 tips to reduce stress and boost energy will help you on your way to feeling your healthiest self again.
15 Hacks to Reduce Stress and Boost Energy Fast
Estrogen dominance and adrenal fatigue can go hand in hand. So here are a few of my favorite tips to manage either condition to leave you feeling less stressed and more energized.
- Eat an Adrenal Fatigue Diet
An adrenal fatigue diet includes eating low glycemic foods with lots of good fats, protein, and fiber, AND avoiding pro-inflammatory foods such as gluten, vegetable oils, alcohol, and added sugar.
- Be Mindful of How Much Coffee and Tea You’re Drinking
Try to drink at most two cups of coffee a day. Studies show more than two may increase estrogen levels and may lead to issues such as breast soreness and endometriosis. Excessive coffee consumption is associated with a reduction in the production of progesterone.
Coffee and other caffeinated drinks are also detrimental to Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome.
- Reduce Your Consumption of Estrogenic Foods
Specifically soy products (like tofu!) and even certain cruciferous veggies. Other estrogenic foods are flax seeds, soybeans, nuts, and garlic.
- Reduce Your Consumption of Foods that Contain Xenoestrogens
Like conventional meat or farm-raised fish. Always choose grass-fed beef and organic fruits and veggies to avoid xenoestrogens.
- Increase Your Consumption of Good Phytoestrogens
Make sure to include foods with good Phytoestrogens like tempeh, apples, almonds, and pomegranates in your diet.
- Filter Your Water and Avoid Drinking out of Plastic
Tap water contains up to 45 different chemicals. Some of these can disrupt your hormones. Bottled water has its own problem– the plastic bottles themselves. Plastic is a source of estrogenic chemicals.
So the solution is to invest in a high-quality water filter.
- Check out these Key Nutrients
The right nutrients can do wonders for your hormone balance and adrenal fatigue. Try Antioxidants (vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E.), Fish oil, Grape seed extract, N-acetyl-cysteine, Quercetin, Lipoic acid, Calcium D-Glucarate, Milk Thistle, Taurine, and Methionine.
- Keep your Detox Pathways Clear
Since estrogen is metabolized in the liver, optimizing liver function is one way to ensure you have less estrogen circulating in your system. Doing a liver detox with my 14-Day Detox, or fortifying your liver regularly with certain herbs and nutrients like the ones in my Liver Support Blend helps a lot.
- Keep your Blood Sugar in Check
Balancing your blood sugar helps you prevent sluggishness, and face the day with energy and vitality. Not to mention, it helps you stave off belly fat and other disruptive symptoms, and metabolic dysfunction. Blood sugar-balanced meals are those that include lean protein, healthy fat, and fiber. Or balance your blood sugars by taking certain herbs and supplements.
- Practice Gratitude, Cultivate Joy and Journal Every Day
Daily journaling practice is healing for the mind, and especially for reducing stress naturally. Write down a few things you’re grateful for each day to feel grounded and more connected to yourself.
- Try Meditation and Breathing Exercises
We’ve all heard that meditation can reduce stress! But really, even a few minutes of meditation when you’re feeling overwhelmed allows you to tap into the source of energy within you to get back to your center.
- Walk 10-15 Minutes After Meals (in Nature When Possible!)
I truly believe that going for a walk after eating is one of the best things you can do for your health. Not only does it create energy by getting you moving and getting you outside, but it helps to stabilize blood sugar and reduce the release of stress hormones.
- Improve Sleep Hygiene for Better ZZZs
Of course, our sleep has a direct impact on our daily energy. If we’re stressed we may not sleep well, and if we don’t sleep well, we’re likely stressed. So getting a good night’s sleep is crucial to keep your mind sharp, your hormones balanced, and your energy levels up. Limit screen time before bed and make sure to keep a consistent bedtime from day to day.
- Move your Body and Nourish your Soul with Yoga
Exercises like yoga and stretching can be just as effective as an intense workout for stress relief. The endorphins released from exercise increase our mood, while stress hormones like cortisol are reduced. Find what feels best for you, and incorporate it into your daily routine.
- Add Adrenal Love to your Daily Supplement Regimen
Last but certainly not least, feel the incredible benefits of Adrenal Love!
The super-supplement Adrenal Love restores lasting, all-day energy naturally. It’s packed with adaptogenic herbs and nutrients to reduce stress and keep you energized, focused, and resilient. All without the crash you may get from other artificial energy sources.
Adrenal Love is one of my favorite supplements on the line right now because of its natural ingredients and ability to energize you FAST. Fight adrenal fatigue with Adrenal Love!
THE BOTTOM LINE
Whether your adrenal fatigue causes estrogen dominance or vice versa, there are many ways to effectively help manage your symptoms of both.
Many times, the approach to resolving one of the issues is the same approach to solving it in another.
So to summarize, stress can unravel your health quickly by messing with your adrenals and even your estrogen levels– including causing estrogen dominance.
Doing everything you can do reduce stress in your daily routine will help keep you from feeling symptoms of adrenal fatigue.
I hope these tips help you feel like your most energized and empowered self.
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