Stress And The Immune System: Supporting Adrenal Health With Functional Medicine Helps To Naturally Boost Your Immune System

The Relationship Between Stress, Hormones And The Immune System

What do your adrenal glands have to do with fighting off colds? More than you might think.

There is a clear connection between stress and the immune system. The hormones produced by your adrenal glands play an important role in maintaining a healthy and resilient immune system. When you are mentally or physically stressed, your adrenal glands can stop working optimally. It’s called adrenal fatigue. And, this dysfunction can lead to hormone imbalance, a weak immune response and even chronic conditions like autoimmune diseases.

So, if you find that you are picking up every cold going around, one way to boost your immune system is to address adrenal health with a functional medicine approach.

Thinking About Stress Differently.

A bad day at work or a looming deadline is definitely stressful. But, it isn’t the only kind of stress that affects your adrenal glands. When you think about stress as an imbalance it becomes easier to imagine the different physical, emotional and environmental factors at play.

For example, sleeping too little or consuming too much sugar or caffeine puts stress on your physical and emotional body.  And, when your system is stressed it can respond by producing too much (or too little) cortisol. Cortisol is known as “the stress hormone”. When cortisol levels are too high or too low, your immune system suffers and can’t protect you against viruses and infections efficiently. 

Stress And The Immune System 

By reducing the stress your body experiences, you can help support proper adrenal function and protect your immune system. Here are a few easy-to-implement lifestyle changes you can try today.

Get Enough Sleep.

Getting enough quality sleep every night is very important for the health of your immune system and your adrenal glands. Not enough sleep often results in too much cortisol. This can leave you feeling anxious or depressed. It can also cause you to have aches and pains and to be more susceptible to colds and infections. Create some healthy sleep habits with these tips!

The 3 Ms: Mindfulness, Meditation And Massage.

The 3 Ms (mindfulness, meditation and massage) help to calm the mind and relieve physical tension. Research has also shown that they can also reduce cortisol levels. This makes your adrenal glands happy. It can also increase levels of the mood-boosting hormones serotonin and dopamine. Find a studio or clinic offering one (or all) of the 3 Ms and invest in your health.

Enjoy More Physical Activity.

Whether it’s a walk or a pilates class, being physically active cues your body to release feel-good endorphins. This helps to reduce stress. Exercise also helps to balance hormone levels including cortisol, insulin, and thyroid hormones. And balanced hormone levels help reduce stress on the adrenal glands and bolster your immune system. 

Cultivate A Healthy And More Balanced Diet.

Food is medicine. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals can help to nurture adrenal health and a robust immune system. Choosing to consume things like sugar, caffeine and alcohol in moderation also helps to promote healthy adrenal function.

Addressing health and wellness through nutrition is a foundational part of functional medicine. And, since food is something everyone prepares and consumes every day, it’s an excellent place to focus your energy if you’re trying to reduce systemic stress, support your adrenal glands and nurture your immune system.

Support Your Adrenal Glands And Immune System With Vitamin C, D, And B12.

In addition to eating a balanced diet, making sure you are getting enough Vitamin C, D and B12 is important when adrenal health and a strong immune system is the goal. Here’s why and some tips to help you get more of these essential nutrients.

Vitamin C

Your adrenal glands use Vitamin C to produce the hormone cortisol. During and after periods of high stress, your adrenal glands need to replenish their stores. Cortisol, as we saw above, helps to regulate the body’s stress response. So, making sure your adrenal glands have plenty of available Vitamin C for this process is important to avoid dysfunction. Fortunately, Vitamin C is easy to get through the foods you eat. Some of the most Vitamin C rich foods you can eat include:

• Citrus foods (like oranges)

• Strawberries

• Bell peppers

• Parsley, kale and spinach

Vitamin D

Vitamin D has become well-known in recent years for its role in regulating mental and emotional health. But it is also an important ally to your immune system. Because most immune cells express a Vitamin D receptor, maintaining healthy levels of this vitamin is crucial. Whatsmore, studies suggest that low levels of Vitamin D can result in the overproduction of cortisol and cause adrenal fatigue.

Spending time in the sun is one way to boost your body’s natural production of Vitamin D but you can also get it through the foods you eat. Try including fish like salmon and tuna, egg yolks and fortified cereals in your daily diet.

Vitamin B 12

B-Vitamins are very important for your adrenal glands — especially Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked to adrenal fatigue and dysfunction. If you follow a vegetarian diet, getting enough B12 through the food you eat can be challenging because it is most plentiful via animal sources like meat (red and white), eggs and dairy. Supplementation is often required to achieve and maintain healthy B12 levels. 

Naturally Boost Your Immune System With Iv Therapy And B12 Injections.

For many people, taking supplements is necessary to get enough of the vitamins needed for optimal health.  Supplements can be capsules, tinctures and tablets. But, they can also be given via injection.

Immune Boosting IV Therapy

IV Therapy is a quick and effective way to deliver vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to your body. The highly concentrated nutrient solutions bypass the digestive system and are absorbed directly into your bloodstream. Each IV solution can be tailored to your individual needs by your healthcare provider. But, when the goal is adrenal and immune system support the FARSK Immune Bag is the option we recommend. The Immune IV solution contains a variety of B Vitamins (including B12), Vitamin D, amino acids and more to replenish your adrenal glands and give you a boost.

B12 Injections

Much like IV Therapy, B12 injections are often more effective than oral supplements. Because the vitamin bypasses the digestive system it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. B12 injections are delivered via an intramuscular injection given by a qualified healthcare provider.

Care For Your Adrenals And  Boost Your Immune System With Functional Medicine.

Stress affects you in many different ways. And, the more stress you experience the harder your adrenal glands work. By reducing the amount of stress you experience, you take the pressure off your adrenal glands and give your immune system a better chance to function optimally.

The best way to reduce stress is to restore balance. This can be done through changes to your lifestyle and diet and through supplements.

When supplements are needed for that extra boost, IV Therapy and B12 injections are two effective options. Both can be provided right here in Peterborough by Agnes Lussier-Dow, NP-HCP. To learn more about functional medicine, adrenal health and the immune system contact NP Optimal Health and Wellness today.