If you’re constantly having cravings for salt, sugar or caffeine then this might be a sign that your body is dealing with what is known as adrenal fatigue.
The adrenal glands are endocrine producing glands that produce hormones. These hormones help to regulate metabolism, the immune system, blood pressure, as well as the response to stress along with many other actions in the body.
Adrenal glands play a role in producing hormones required for health, vitality and vigor. The adrenal cortex produces hormones that specifically controls sex hormones such as androgen and estrogen. It also helps to keep salt balanced in the blood with aldosterone. It also balances another important input, sugar balance! With cortisol, what is known as the stress hormone.
Yet another part of the adrenal gland, the adrenal medulla produces hormones involved in the fight-or-flight response (which are catecholamines, or adrenaline and adrenaline related hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine).
For the sake of this article, we’re going to be focusing on the adrenal glands and their response to stress as the biggest foundation of what they do in the body.
So, how does salt, sugar and caffeine work into this equation?
Salt is important for the nervous system, muscle contraction and relaxation, as well as an important aid for maintaining the proper balance between minerals and water. Salt is essential to keep the body hydrated and systems working properly. If you’re craving salt, you may be deficient in it or a variety of other minerals as well such as magnesium, potassium, sodium chloride or even Iodine.
Minerals are essential to hydration as well as adrenal gland function which plays a role in utilizing salt throughout the entire body. If you’re craving salt, you could be deficient in key minerals.
Sugar plays a role in this as well. If you’re craving sugar your blood sugar levels could be low. This can lead to feeling tired, depleted and weak. Leaving you with no energy. The challenge here is that you don’t want your body to run on processed sugar as this can lead to issues down the line. Instead, reach for a piece of fruit or something with protein or fat in it to stabilize your blood sugar levels.
Caffeine from any source (including coffee) is one of the fastest ways to stimulate the adrenal gland. The problem here is that coffee is a diuretic. What does that mean? It means that it depletes your body of both water and essential minerals. In stimulating your energy levels you become more dehydrated and void of minerals!
Click here to visit Omica Organics and try Shilajit to curb your salt, sugar and caffeine cravings today!
Use the discount code: HealthyWildFree For 10% off your order! (Save this code, it works on future orders!)
One of the main hormones produced by the Adrenal glands is Cortisol. Cortisol is made as a response to stressors that your body deals with. Elevated cortisol levels actually lowers sex hormones. These same hormonal glands produce both stress and sex hormones. So if our body is in a state of stress, and depleted of important minerals and glucose in these difficult times, it digs even deeper and goes further into stress.
If your body is sufficient in these crucial elements then the stress will not impact the body as much.
This is not good if you want your adrenal glands to be healthy and strong. You want your adrenal glands to navigate the salt & sugar pathways of your body with efficiency. It’s okay to have salt, and it’s okay to have sugar, but what’s more important to understand is the reason for these cravings.
1. Salt is craved when you have a mineral deficiency of some kind.
2. Sugar is craved when your blood sugars are low.
3. Caffeine is used to stimulate energy production but ultimately depletes your body
If you have these cravings and you just give your body salt, sugar or caffeine (or all three) then you’re patching the issue, not getting to the core root of the problem here.
Your adrenal glands when sufficiently supplied with the right amount of salt, along with other minerals, the right amount of sugar, and maybe a little caffeine here and there but not everyday will function optimally.
Both of these are needed for health and bodily function, however, too much salt or too much sugar or too much of both will cause more issues.
This is why I’d recommend taking a multi-mineral supplement a few times a day, morning, mid-day and night. Each time you drink water. This will continue to replenish your body with essential minerals and give your adrenal glands what they need to operate in the healthiest manner possible.
Also, if your body is feeling depleted and you keep reaching for salt, sugar, caffeine, you may need an entire energy overhaul in your life. Getting past sugar, salt, and caffeine addiction requires discipline and guided action to get your body on track.
Salt, sugar and caffeine cravings are signs of a tired body that is working overdrive just to maintain. Focusing on other principles that surround the adrenal glands such as healthy hydration, a good mineral intake, healthy sleep patterns and healthy blood sugar levels are also key in creating homeostasis in your biology.
If you feel like you need to overcome your salt, sugar and caffeine cravings then join our newsletter at HealthyWildFree.com. When you join you’ll get two free health courses. One on lymphatic health and one on sleep health to ensure that your energy levels come back in a healthy and holistic way.
Sign up here, and enjoy the education!
Follow @healthywildfree on instagram for daily health inspiration and wellness videos!