Adrenal – Low Cortisol

Patient Protocol

Fixing the adrenal stress-gut issues takes a two-pronged approach: you need tools to help your body do a better job of dealing with stress, and you need to make sure your gut is healthy. You’ve made improvement to your gut health by following the appropriate SIBO or SIFO protocols. The initial protocols are necessary to prepare your gut and to help provide optimum results as we now address and concentrate on the gut problems triggered by stress.

This is a simple protocol to help get you started managing your low cortisol adrenal stress.

We have all heard of using adrenal support, herbs, vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, etc. to help lessen the effects of stress on our bodies. These tools are great, however, the point is to make sure you select the right tool for your body.

Different products are designed to address different parts of the adrenal fatigue pattern. It’s important to remember that not everyone has the same symptoms of adrenal fatigue – symptoms vary widely and so the products and tools we use to address them also vary.

LOW-CORTISOL PROTOCOL:

For fatigued adrenal glands with low sex hormones and/or low DHEA levels:

Stress Essentials Adrenal Renew – 2 capsules twice a day with food. Provides bovine adrenal extract to improve adrenal function and sex hormone levels.

Liposomal DHEA – 2 dropperfuls (10mg) twice a day. Mix with saliva for 20 seconds then swallow. DHEA helps combat low sex hormone levels and improve resistance to stress and immune health.

For moderate stress, including dizziness, salt craving, painful joints/muscles, or chronic stress that leave you feeling tired:

Stress Essentials Licorice Complex – 2 tablets once a day. This will help increase cortisol naturally and improve blood flow; helps prevent dizziness and increases tolerance to stress.

Stress Essentials Balance – 2 capsules twice a day. Designed to build resilience and enhance stamina when feeling weak and fatigued due to stress.

Recommended Eating Habits for Adrenal Fatigue:

The goal with the supplements and diet advice is to balance your blood sugar by eating frequently throughout the day. This means you must eat every 2 hours – always snacking on low-glycemic food options and making sure to NEVER let yourself feel hunger. The only time of the day it is appropriate to be hungry is when we are waking up from sleeping (12 hours of fasting). The rest of our day should include time for eating and snacking throughout. Just know that when you leave your house for the day, for an errand, etc. you should always leave with some food and water. This way you are never caught unprepared.

There are many popular diets today – paleo, GAPS, SCD, vegetarian, vegan, etc. We prefer a ‘paleo-style’ modified of organic meat, vegetables, nuts/seeds, healthy fats, and small amounts of rice or gluten-free grains. But everyone is different and there is no single diet that works for everyone! Regardless of what type of diet a person chooses, to support hypoglycemia three rules must be followed:

Eat frequently throughout the day.
Avoid excess fruits, sugars, and carbohydrates that spike blood sugar leading to crashes.
Make sure to eat protein and healthy fats like coconut oil, olive oil and avocado with every meal.

If you want a good “paleo-style” diet to follow, we recommend the Modified Elimination Diet as your guide.

Download