'Adrenal Fatigue' is a term that gets thrown around a lot in alternative medicine. Sure, we all experience some level of stress, and some periods of exhaustion, but at what point does stress become chronic, and how is that really impacting our overall health? 
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     A cortisol imbalance, medically termed 'mild adrenocortical deficiency' is a syndrome caused by the decreased function of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are pyramid-shaped organs that sit above our kidneys and are responsible for the production of cortisol, adrenaline, and a number of our sex steroid hormones, like progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone. These glands produce cortisol in response to light, ultimately keeping us awake throughout the day, as well as in response to physical, emotional, and environmental stress. And while cortisol is helpful under states of occasional stress, our lifestyles have evolved to a place where occasional stressors are few and far between.

     Cortisol is a foundation hormone, which means if the body is burdened by stressors, cortisol takes precedence, and your other hormones will ultimately suffer. While we know cortisol abundance is caused by prolonged periods of overwork, nervousness, stress, pressure from daily life, and lack of sleep, it can also be a result of over-exercise, too much caffeine, inflammation, environmental toxins, and food intolerances.