The adrenal glands are responsible for the production of a hormone called adrenaline in the body.
Because there has been little conclusive research on adrenal fatigue, many doctors in the US and Europe do not like to diagnose adrenal fatigue and so it generally remains under the scope of alternative medicine.
Many alternative medicine experts say that there is a correlation between adrenal fatigue and the consumption of certain substances, one of which, is caffeine found in coffee, tea, fizzy drinks such as cola and energy drinks, confectionery and cocoa powder.
How caffeine affects the body
Caffeine is well known to cause various symptoms, such as becoming irritable, tension, headaches, difficulty sleeping and general stress.
Most people tend to opt for substances containing caffeine when feeling tired or stressed because it gives a burst of energy and makes you feel more alert, but this lasts only for a very short period of time.
This is often followed by increased symptoms of fatigue, irritability an stress.
A sensation of needing high caffeine products to get through a normal day, it could be a sign that you are suffering from adrenal fatigue.
Adrenal glands and caffeine
Most people do not realise that consuming caffeine products has an adverse effect on the body.
Caffeine is a stimulant and although it stimulates the brain, it also stimulates the adrenal glands which release hormones that cause stress.
This can lead to adrenal fatigue when your glands cannot produce enough adrenaline to cope with your stress levels.
Some alternative medicine practitioners believe that the adrenal glands reduce in functionality over time due to the prolonged effects of caffeine products, and this can cause severe adrenal fatigue problems.
Often, stress reduction activities are recommended such as retreats and regular exercise to combat the effects of stress and caffeine stimulation on the adrenal glands.
Naturopathically speaking, caffeine can cause changes in behaviour, adverse effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems and it can also cause problems with blood pressure.
Naturopaths see caffeine as a drug that causes undesirable effects and affects the way that the body functions.
Acupuncturists have strong beliefs about caffeine and warn of more serious issues associated with the consumption of caffeine, such as addiction and infertility.
Most practitioners, regardless of their specialisation agree that caffeine is not good for the human body and that detox retreats are a great idea to get it out of your system.
Another important factor to note is that many doctors agree that caffeine increases blood pressure, which can cause severe heart and blood pressure conditions in the body.
It is therefore recommended that caffeine is removed or vastly reduced in the diet of those suffering from high blood pressure, angina and heart conditions.
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