It is hard to say which is more important when you have adrenal fatigue – what to eat or what not to eat! Eating the wrong foods or combination of foods can throw you off for hours and even days, so do not event try to sneak something by; it is just not worth the price you have to pay. Make regaining your health a major priority and do not sacrifice it for the cheap gratification of a favorite, but unhealthy, food or drink. Pick the foods that are recommended for adrenal fatigue and stick with them. The further you deviate from them, the more problems you are likely to have and the more difficult it will be to balance your body chemistry. In order to heal and maintain your health, you need to stack as many things in your favor as possible.
Eliminate All Foods to Which You Are Allergic, Sensitive or Addicted
If you think that a particular food substance interferes in any way with achieving your optimum health, eliminate it immediately. If you suspect, but do not know which foods or beverages you are allergic, sensitive or addicted to, then it is important to find out. The adrenals are extremely important in all allergies, including food allergies and sensitivities. As your adrenal function improves, you will be less prone to allergies and will be able to eat more things. However, for the first three months, do not push the envelope. Completely eliminate all the foods you are sensitive to or suspect you are sensitive or allergic to. The idea is not to see how far you can test the limits; the idea is to get yourself well.
Role of Allergies in Adrenal Function
Most allergies involve the release of histamine and other pro-inflammatory substances (substances that produce inflammation). The adrenal hormone, cortisol, is a strong anti-inflammatory (a substance that reduces inflammation). Your circulating level of cortisol is the key factor in controlling the level of inflammatory reactions in your body. For this reason, your adrenal glands play an important role in mediating the histamine release and inflammatory reactions that produce the symptoms experienced with allergies. It is therefore not surprising that people with food and environmental allergies commonly have weak adrenal function.
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The more histamine that is released, the more cortisol it takes to control the inflammatory response and the harder the adrenals have to work to produce more cortisol.
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The harder the adrenals have to work, the more fatigued they become and the less cortisol they produce, allowing histamine to inflame the tissues more.
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This vicious circle can lead to progressively deeper adrenal fatigue as well as to larger allergic reactions.
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Anything you can do to break this cycle will help your adrenal glands and reduce the effects of allergies.
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Eliminating foods that you are allergic or sensitive to from your diet is one of the best and easiest ways to decrease the demands on your struggling adrenals.
Most symptoms of allergies or food sensitivities are first felt between thirty minutes and three hours after the meal, but some may be delayed as long as two to three days.
Because of the abundance of histamine receptors in your brain, an allergen will often cause a greater reaction in your nervous system than it does anywhere else. Ranging from subtle to profound, these cerebral allergy reactions can include such symptoms as a cloudy head, confusion, sudden awkwardness, loss of consciousness, coma and occasionally death.
Responses to particular foods and drinks vary from person to person but there are some food substances that tend to produce allergies more frequently. The most common food allergens are the proteins in cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and tree nuts. Sugar is not a common allergen, but it can greatly increase an allergic reaction. If you find yourself feeling odd or experiencing more of the signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue after eating, think of allergies or food sensitivities.
Allergic reactions also vary in magnitude, even within the same individual. At one a time an allergen may produce only a small response, and at other times be incapacitating. It is important to track down and eliminate these food sensitivities and allergies in order to help you adrenal glands recover.
this explains my child to a T, especially the neurological component which most of our doctors have discounted. However, that is the biggest reaction I’ve seen when feeding wheat and cow’s milk to my allergic child. No hives, no rashes but severe neurological effects to the point of slurred speech, pain sensation dulled, and cognitive interaction halted. Thank for for this post and I hope many can learn from it.
I have chronic Lyme Disease which has caused me to have severe food allergies. My doctor is recommending that I take pregnenolone to help support my adrenals, which are exhausted.
Would you agree with this recommendation?
Thanks for your help.
Hi Judy,
Depending on severity and length of onset, some people need some sort of hormonal treatment in addition to dietary and supplement support to help deal with adrenal fatigue. Hope this helps!
Dr. Wilson’s Adrenal Fatigue Team
Hi,
I’ve had several anaphylactic reactions and am in the process of establishing exactly what is causing the allergic reaction. In the meantime, I have been going through ups and downs with my body including fatigue after each reaction. Is there any way after a bad reaction I can increase my energy levels more quickly please as it normally takes me a month to go back to normal?
Very interesting info btw, as it explains why I was getting tired and run down evens before the anaphylactic reactions
Looking forward to your response
Bella
Hi Bella,
Overall, addressing the cause of the reaction will be the best help. As far as support goes, taking high quality vitamin C can help with allergy relief. Dr. Wilson’s Adrenal C is a time release formula that is gentle on the stomach. There are also natural energy boosters available, such as Dr. Wilson’s Super Adrenal Stress Formula and Adrenal Power Powder. Hope this helps – best of luck in wellness!
Dr. Wilson’s Adrenal Fatigue Team
I have just finished Dr Wilson’s book. I have a question about allergy shots. I went to an allergist about a year ago. I took the traditional skin allergy tests and have been taking a weekly shot of allergy
shots (which is actually injecting me with what I am allergic to). About 2 months after I started the shots, I started feeling really horrible. I am very close to menopause, and I was assuming this was the cause. I am taking bio identical hormone therapy, and have been taking Dr wilson’s supplements for about a month. I am now thinking that I am not going to feel any better as long as I keep taking the allergy shots. My doctor does not believe in adrenal fatigue, so I cannot ask him. Can you shed any light on this??
Hi Barb,
It’s difficult to say if the allergy shots are for sure causing the adverse feelings. We can’t provide advice on the allergy shots or advise for or against what your doctor is providing. Needless to say: if you’re dealing with adrenal fatigue and your current doctor does not believe in it, it may be difficult to get proper treatment. As the post says, the adrenal glands can play a big part in allergens/allergic reactions, which can be exacerbated by adrenal fatigue. If you’re looking for a healthcare practitioner who takes adrenal fatigue seriously, our practitioner database might be able to help you out. Thanks for your questions, and best of luck!
Dr. Wilson’s Adrenal Fatigue Team
Can addison’s disease or another addrenal malfunction result in allergic reaction to almost all foods?
Hi Jason,
In short – yes. Check out our page on the role of adrenal fatigue and allergies here for more information. Hope this helps – thanks for your question!
Dr. Wilson’s Adrenal Fatigue Team