Have you ever wondered why it’s so challenging to shed those extra pounds around your belly despite following diets and fitness routines? The secret to losing weight might be hiding in your adrenal glands. These small glands located on top of your kidneys play a significant role in how your body manages stress and can contribute to weight gain if overlooked. The culprit? A chronic condition called adrenal fatigue.
How Adrenal Fatigue Affects Weight Gain
Your adrenal glands are responsible for handling the stress in your life. They produce adrenaline and cortisol hormones, which help your body manage “fight or flight” situations by turning carbs and fats into instant energy. However, cortisol also increases your appetite, making it difficult to resist high-carb foods to replace the energy burned off during stress.
Moreover, cortisol blocks the signals from hormones that tell you when you’re full. Combined, these effects result in weight gain, leading to adrenal fatigue. This is particularly noticeable around the belly, especially in women.
Licorice: A Sweet Solution to Adrenal Fatigue
Licorice, commonly known as a twisted black candy treat, can provide several healing benefits for adrenal fatigue sufferers. This herb has recently gained attention from the FDA, which issued a notice to inform consumers that licorice is more than just candy.
Licorice’s medicinal value comes from being an adaptogenic herb, meaning it helps your body deal with stress. More specifically, it helps regulate cortisol, taking some pressure off your adrenal glands. This then aids in reducing body fat mass, as observed in research involving licorice root extract.
Safely Adding Licorice to Your Diet
While licorice offers fantastic benefits, consuming too much can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, edema, and low potassium levels. To avoid these issues, follow these guidelines on using licorice:
- Do not take licorice if you are pregnant or have heart, liver, or kidney issues.
- Limit consumption to no more than six grams per day for a 130-pound person.
- Do not consume licorice for more than four weeks at a time.
The best way to consume licorice for adrenal fatigue is by taking a DGL licorice supplement. This will provide you with the necessary doses without overdoing it. However, if you’d like to enjoy a sweet treat, opt for black licorice made with natural licorice instead of artificially flavored red twists.
Licorice: A Natural Ally in Your Weight Loss Journey
Addressing adrenal fatigue is crucial for restoring your energy and losing weight. Including licorice in moderation to your diet offers an effective, natural way to regulate stress hormone levels while supporting your adrenal glands’ overall health. Give licorice a try, and you might be surprised by the positive changes in your waistline and overall well-being.
Sources:
- FDA: Licorice – more than just a candy
- PubMed – A pilot study on the effect of a single dose of 0.3% glycyrrhizin after single administration of 100 and 225 mg in healthy volunteers
- PubMed – Reduction of body fat mass by long term treatment with a glycyrrhetinic acid derivative
- PubMed – The effect of saponins from Aralia taibaiensis seeds on body-weight gain and mass of adipose tissues in rats fed a high-ratio lard or hydrogenated vegetable oil diet
- PubMed – Effect of long term administration of 3-monoglucuronyl-glycyrrhetinic acid on sunction of adrenal gland in mice
