Fats and Adrenal Health
Your adrenal glands are an important endocrine organ made up of two parts: the adrenal medulla and the adrenal cortex. The adrenal medulla is where you produce adrenaline and noradrenaline - the water soluble hormones that immediately respond to a stressor. Whereas in the adrenal cortex you produce fat soluble, steroid-based hormones. These include: cortisol, DHEA, and aldosterone. All of these hormones are synthesized from cholesterol.
Fats are extremely important for adequate production of the adrenal cortex hormones - for a couple of different reasons.
First off, these hormones are fat soluble, synthesized from cholesterol. Thus, an adequate intake of high-quality fats is crucial for their production. A low fat diet will prevent normal secretion of cortisol - your primary stress hormone, DHEA - the precursor to testosterone and estrogen, and aldosterone - which maintains plasma sodium levels.
An imbalance of these hormones can lead to: an impaired stress response, low blood sugar, fatigue, infertility, irregular cycle, poor libido, and low blood pressure.
Fats also nourish the adrenal glands due to their ability to help you feel satiated and to keep your blood sugar balanced. Blood sugar dysregulation - often in response to stress or excess carbohydrate and sugar intake - leads to taxed adrenal glands. Blood sugar spikes lead to a blood sugar crash which triggers a stress response in the body. Consuming high quality fats and proteins keeps our blood sugar moderated, preventing excess insulin and cortisol spikes. This keeps our adrenal glands from getting overly taxed and allows our cortisol levels to remain normal.
Here are some high-quality fats to support adrenal health:
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Olive oil
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Avocados and avocado oil
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Grass fed ghee and butter (if tolerated)
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Nuts and seeds | nut butters
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Tallow
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Coconut oil and coconut milk
Take care of your adrenals, and they will take care of you - ensuring hormone balance and sustained energy throughout the day and restful sleep at night.
