Improper diet choices can add to your body's stress load. Examples of this would be drinking too much coffee and/or eating too many sugary, preservative-laden foods.
Also, not giving your body the nutrients it needs to help recover from stress can also contribute to developing adrenal fatigue. (People under stress have a much greater need for proper nutrients and vitamins.)
What Should You Eat To Help Recover From Adrenal Fatigue?
First of all, if you can, try to reduce or cut out all foods that tax your adrenal glands like coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, sweets, white flour, etc. Try to avoid hydrogenated oils and trans fats also - basically if it's processed, try to avoid it. (It's hard, I know, but it will go a long way in helping your body recover faster).
People with adrenal fatigue should eat at regular intervals (since going hungry for hours can also be a stressor for the body). Choosing a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and high quality oils like olive oils, flax oils etc. will help give your body the nutrients it needs to heal the adrenal glands.
Many people find that switching to a mostly raw diet (or lightly steamed) also helps them to conserve their energy (raw, natural foods are easier for your body to digest) but make sure you also get enough protein and iron.
I personally found that raw salads, fruits and lightly steamed vegetables were best for me. However, I also found that I needed protein at regular intervals to really give me the energy to get through the day. Protein examples include organic eggs, raw almond butter, goat cheese, grilled chicken, shrimp, etc.
People with adrenal fatigue should definitely NOT skip breakfast but focus on having a heathy, nutrient-dense foods like oatmeal, fruit, nuts, fresh juice (but watch the sugar), eggs, whole grain toast, etc.
Also, since people with adrenal insufficiency often need extra salt, they may find it helpful to have 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt in a glass of water as soon as they rise. (When I had adrenal fatigue, I found this really helped with the brain fog).
Other foods to avoid or reduce include dairy (especially if you may be allergic or lactose intolerant), isolated soy protein, MSG, Aspartame and other sweeteners (except for Stevia) and high-sugar fruit juices.
People with adrenal fatigue may also want to supplement with vitamins like a B complex vitamin, vitamin C, E, A and oils like fish oils, flax oil, cod liver oil and evening primrose oil.
Other dietary recommendations for those with adrenal fatigue:
Drink high quality spring water or distilled water
Take a high quality multivitamin every day
Avoid overeating and undereating - basically avoid eating extremes as this stresses your body's digestive system
Green drinks like those with barley grass, kelp, spirulina, chlorella etc. are excellent for those with adrenal fatigue
Try to eat organic and free-range whenever possible
This list is not meant to overwhelm you - just give you some suggestions of diet changes you can make that will speed your recovery from adrenal burnout. The most important thing is to do what you can and not get stressed that you can't do it all. Be kind to yourself and your body.
For more ways to recover from adrenal fatigue, check out the links below:
What kinds of things can you do to start feeling better and handle stress more efficiently? Here are some things I've found useful in my own research and recovery.
Learn about the best adrenal supplement I've ever tried. It helped me recover from adrenal fatigue faster than I thought possible.
Everyone is different and will recover in their own unique way. This page lists related conditions and other recovery tips to give you some ideas for your own personal journey.
