Allergies
Allergic reactions typically have an adrenal component. Most allergies involve the release of histamine and other pro-inflammatory substances (substances that produce inflammation).
Cortisol, one of the primary hormones produced by the adrenal glands, is a strong anti-inflammatory (a substance that reduces inflammation).
In fact, the amount of cortisol circulating in the blood is the key factor in controlling the level of inflammatory reactions in the body.
For this reason proper adrenal function plays an important role in mediating the histamine release and inflammatory reactions that produce the symptoms experienced with allergies.
With Adrenal Fatigue there is more of a tendency to experience allergies.
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.
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. This vicious circle can lead to progressively deeper Adrenal Fatigue as well as to larger allergic reactions.
It is therefore not surprising that people with food and environmental allergies commonly have weak adrenal function.
Actively supporting the adrenals using the therapies described in Adrenal Fatigue: the 21st Century Stress Syndrome by Dr. James Wilson, and especially eliminating foods from the diet and exposure to substances that cause allergic or sensitivity reactions will help break this cycle improve adrenal function.
Food allergens can interfere with daily functioning and become a profound stress on the adrenals, so it is important to track down and eliminate these food sensitivities and allergies in order to both decrease allergies and restore adrenal health.
For a list of foods containing the most common allergens, check the Common Allergens link on this website.