Everything you eat or drink is either draining your energy or boosting it. After years of coaching clients on health and nutrition and following my own health and wellness journey, I’ve come to believe this to be true. Everything you put into your body is either helping your system run smoothly or potentially hindering it from performing at its’ best.
Everything you eat or drink is either draining your energy or boosting it. Click To TweetThink about it. Ask yourself these questions:
- After that bagel and glass of orange juice for breakfast did you feel vital and energized or wiped out and still hungry?
- After your lunch consisting of a large Subway sandwich and a Diet Coke, did you feel an energy boost or the afternoon slump?
- When you felt the slump from lunch did your Starbucks latte give you any more energy or end up taking from you as well?
- After a large dinner filled with pasta, cream sauce, and a side of bread, did you end your day feeling satisfied and ready for a good night’s sleep?
Most likely, if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll answer each of these questions with a “no.” This way of eating (though understandable given our culture and our modern work lives), is common and referred to as the “Standard American Diet” (SAD). Though it is common, it is not normal, or supportive for long-term health. Now, there’s no reason to beat yourself up if you don’t know any better or didn’t know any better in the past, and heck, nobody is perfect. Yet, now that you have the knowledge that you can feel better by making a few shifts in your lifestyle and diet, I invite you to have the courage to change your habits.
Step 1: Remove any foods that tax your adrenal glands and deplete your energy.
If you want to have more energy and feel better, it’s important to remove any foods from your diet (at least for a period of time) that tax your adrenal glands, especially if you have adrenal fatigue. Any foods that tax your adrenals will deplete your energy.
Foods to avoid:
- Caffeine
Caffeine can interfere with your sleep cycle and make it difficult for your adrenal glands to recover. If you must drink coffee or caffeinated drinks, then reduce the amount and only consume it in the morning before noon.
- Sugar and artificial sweeteners
Avoiding high-fructose corn syrup and all artificial sweeteners. Avoid sugar-filled cereals, candy, sweets, etc. (think anything at your local gas station!). Be mindful that sugar is added to many breads, condiments and dressings and try to avoid as much added sugar as possible. Try local, raw honey or stevia as an alternative to adding sugar to your foods.
- Alcohol and soda
Eliminate all soda. This could be your biggest step toward healing your adrenals. Soda is loaded with additives, sugar and has no real nutrition, so your body doesn’t know what to do with it. Ideally you want to eliminate all alcohol, but if you must indulge then limit the amount and try an organic red wine with a nutrient-dense meal.
- Processed and microwaved foods
Microwaved foods have many preservatives and fillers that are hard to digest and drain your body of energy. Plus, they are hard on your digestion. Try to buy food on the outer walls of your grocery store and cook your own food at home whenever possible. The bottom line: most of your diet should come from foods in their natural state. Reduce or eliminate all foods that have a label or come in a box.
- Hydrogenated oils
Vegetable oils like soybean, canola and corn oil are highly inflammatory and can lead to adrenal inflammation. Try to only use good fats such as extra virgin coconut oil and olive oil, organic grass-fed butter or ghee.
Step 2. Add nutrient-dense foods to your diet that are easy to digest and have healing qualities.
Eliminating foods that don’t support your adrenals is only half the battle. Next you need to add in nutrient-dense foods to give your body a fighting chance to heal. Here are some of my favorite superfoods for adrenal health:
- Coconut
- Olives
- Avocado
- Cruciferous Vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, etc.)
- Fatty Fish (e.g., wild-caught salmon)
- Chicken and turkey
- Nuts, such as walnuts and almonds
- Seeds, such as pumpkin, chia and flax
- Kelp and seaweed
- Celtic or Himalayan Sea Salt
Once you start making new and healthier choices for your diet, you’ll start to notice that you no longer crave the “old foods” any longer, or as much, and each day you’ll be more motivated to stick with it. As much as you can, stick with organic produce and grass-fed, pasture-raised, antibiotic-free meats and dairy. Your body will thank you.
Change Your Diet, Change Your Life
As you have more energy, you’ll find that other areas of your life will start to shift- such as your relationships, work, and mental attitude as you’ll have the energy to think differently, act differently, and envision a better life for yourself. After all, that’s the whole point of having health. Health is a vehicle to a living a life of your dreams- a life worth living.
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To Your Vibrant Life,
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Disclaimer: My blog provides general information and discussion about supplements, health and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately licensed physician or other health care worker.
