This page contains recommendations for some high quality products that could help you in your battle against tiredness and adrenal fatigue. Our book contains lots of information and recommendations about how and when to use each of these products. Your health professional can also give you advice on which may or may not work for you, given your specific situation and any other medications that you might be taking.
When you are looking at supplements, make sure to buy reputable, good quality brands. The supplements on the shelves at your local supermarket are often made using processes that either damage active ingredients or fail to extract them properly. Higher quality brands (e.g. Pure Encapsulations, Doctor’s Best and Gaia Herbs) may cost a little more, but they are far more likely to achieve the desired effect.
Combination Supplements
These supplements contain a combination of vitamins, minerals, herbs and glandular extracts. They are designed as a kind of “full-service” therapy for adrenal fatigue sufferers. They are a great starting point, although most individuals will need extra supplementation in one or more of the categories below. Here are some high quality examples:
Gaia Herbs Adrenal Health Liquid Phyto-Capsules
Adrenal Response by Innate Response
Vitamins, Minerals, And More
These supplements can be used to compensate for any vitamin or mineral deficiency that you may be experiencing. It is quite common for adrenal fatigue sufferers to be deficient in several of these at the same time. You might find some overlap between these and the combination supplements listed above, but you and your health professional may decide that extra supplementation is required.
Probiotics
Have you taken antibiotics within the last 12 months? Are you experiencing digestive problems along with your fatigue? If so, you may have an imbalance in your gut flora. Taking a good quality probiotic can help to fix that. Look for a brand that contains at least 10 billion CFU per serving and at least 5 different strains of probiotic bacteria.
We recommend the Balance One probiotic, because it uses a patented delivery system that keeps the good bacteria safe from your stomach acid.
Balance One Probiotic
B-Complex
B5, B6 and B12 are the B-vitamins that you should be looking for. You can find them individually, or simply buy a B-Complex supplement that combines the multiple types of vitamin B. These are often marketed as ‘B-Stress’ formulations because of the way in which they help you manage stress. Here is a good example:
Thorne Research – Stress B-Complex
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the most crucial nutrients that you need for good adrenal health. You can get lots from a healthy diet, but during stressful times some extra supplementation might be needed. Vitamin C is usually best-tolerated and most bioavailable when it comes in buffered or fat-soluble form. Here are two high quality examples:
Buffered: Pure Encapsulations – Buffered Ascorbic Acid Powder
Fat-Soluble: Pure Encapsulations – Ascorbyl Palmitate
Vitamin D
While fatty fish and a few other foods provide modest sources of vitamin D, for most of us sunlight is our primary source of vitamin D synthesis. Unfortunately, many of us get far less sunlight than we need. THat’s where a high quality vitamin D supplement can help. This one uses cold-pressed olive oil to deliver its vitamin D3:
Gaia Sciences Vitamin D3 5,000 IU
Vitamin E
A good vitamin E supplement will contain mixed tocopherols with a substantial amount of gamma tocopherol. This will benefit your health, preventing premature aging and oxidative stress, without causing any imbalances. Here is a high quality example:
Solgar Vitamin E 400 IU Mixed Tocopherols
Magnesium
The best tolerated form of Magnesium for most people tends to be Magnesium Glycinate. Other forms of Magnesium have the potential to cause some bowel discomfort, although it does vary from person to person. Here is an example of a high quality Magnesium Glycinate supplement:
Pure Encapsulations – Magnesium Glycinate
D-Ribose
You can find D-Ribose in both capsule and powder form. The powder form is usually much better value. If you find a 150g container it will last at least a month using a typical dosage. Here is a high quality D-Ribose supplement from Life Extension:
Life Extension D-Ribose Powder
Collagen
There are 3 different types of collagen that you will find in most commercially available supplements. Types I and III tend to be the most helpful for adrenal fatigue sufferers. Here are two high quality collagen supplements that you might want to consider:
Types I and III: Neocell Super Powder Collagen
Type I: Great Lakes Gelatin, Collagen Hydrolysate
CoQ10
This supplement is frequently recommended for good heart function, but it is also crucial for energy production within your cells. Look for a CoQ10 with high bioavailability and from a reputable brand. Here is a great example:
Doctor’s Best High Absorption Coq10 w/ BioPerine
Acetyl L-Carnitine
This is another supplement that helps your body to create the energy that you need. As always, using a high quality brand will ensure that you get the purest ingredients and the best value for your money. Here is a high quality supplement from Doctor’s Best:
Doctor’s Best Best Acetyl L-carnitine with Sigma Tau Carnitine
Omega 3
You can get Omega-3 from foods like wild fish and nuts, but if you don’t eat enough of those you might benefit from supplementation. If you decide to take a fish oil, it’s important to choose a high quality one. Lower quality fish oils can be rancid, and sometimes you can get a much lower-grade fish oil that you thought you were buying. Here is an example of a high quality fish oil that comes in capsule form:
Dr Tobias Optimum Omega 3 Fish Oil
Herbal Therapies
Licorice Root
Licorice has many advantages for those with adrenal fatigue, but note that it raise blood pressure. You can take it in a tea, in capsules, or as a liquid herbal extract. Here are some good examples that you might want to consider:
Tea: Stash Licorice Spice Herbal Tea
Capsules: Nature’s Way Licorice Root
Herbal Extract: Nature’s Answer Alcohol-Free Licorice Root
Ashwagandha
When buying this supplement, make sure you get one that is 100% ashwagandha. Finding an organic is best too. Here is a great example:
Organic India Ashwagandha
Rhodiola Rosea
Here’s another very useful adaptogen. Just like ashwagandha, this is sometimes included in combination supplements like those listed above. You can usually find Rhodiola by itself in either capsule or tincture form. Here are some high quality brands:
Capsules: Gaia Herbs Rhodiola Rosea
Tincture: Nature’s Answer Alcohol-Free Rhodiola Root
Siberian Ginseng
Look for a supplement that contains 100% powder from the Siberian Ginseng root. Here is a great example from Solgar:
Solgar Eleuthero Vegetable Capsules
Korean Ginseng
As with all supplements in this list, make sure you look for a high quality Korean Ginseng supplement. In the past, some supplements have been found to contain much less of the Ginseng extract than advertised, and others have even contained lead. Here is one supplement that was tested by Consumer Labs and found to be good quality:
Solgar Standardized Full Potency Korean Ginseng Root Extract
Ginger Root
Ginger is a wonderful spice that can help adrenal fatigue sufferers in many different ways. You can find it in a tea, tincture or capsule. Here are some high quality examples:
Tea: Yogi Ginger Tea
Capsules: Solgar Full Potency Ginger Root Capsules
Tincture: Herb Pharm Certified Organic Ginger Extract
Gingko Leaf
When buying Ginkgo, you should look for the main active ingredients, which are flavone glycosides. Most of the better quality supplements will contain some standardized level of those. Here is a good example:
Nature’s Bounty Ginkgo Biloba
Maca Root
As with many supplements on this list, Maca root can vary in quality depending on the brand that you buy. Look for a certified organic source if you can> Here are two great examples:
Powder: Healthworks Raw Certified Organic Maca Powder
Capsule: Gaia Herbs Maca Root
Bacopa
Bacopa usually comes in a standardized extract. The higher the concentration, the more of the active ingredients you are getting for your money. Here is an extract standardized to 55%.
Bacon Ultra 55% Extract
Hormonal Therapies
DHEA
DHEA is one of the few hormones that is available over the counter in most countries. Its particularly important to discuss bioidentical hormone replacement with your health professional before starting a course of DHEA. If you do decide to proceed with DHEA, here is a good example from Life Extension:
Life Extension DHEA 50 Mg
Melatonin
Melatonin is frequently used by those who have dysregulated sleep cycles. It can help you to enjoy a good night’s sleep if you have been struggling with insomnia. Start with a low dose (e.g. 3mg) and increase it if you find you need a little more.
Natures Bounty Melatonin 3 Mg Quick Dissolve Tablets
Glandular Extracts
There are a number of adrenal glandular extracts on the market. Some contain the extracts only, whereas others combine it with adrenal- supportive herbs. Here are some examples:
Supplements that contain glandular extract only
Dr Wilson’s Adrenal Rebuilder
Prothera Adrenal Cortex 250mg
Supplements that combine adrenal extract with adrenal-supportive herbs
Adrenogen by Metagenics
Pure Encapsulations ADR Formula
Digestive Aids
Food intolerances and sensitivities can be a significant cause of fatigue. We discuss a number of digestive aids in the book. Here are some examples:
Glutamine
The cells in your gut lining need glutamine in large amounts to facilitate their repair and regeneration. This is particularly true of those with food intolerances or sensitivities. Here is a good example:
Optimum Nutrition Glutamine 1000mg
Demulcent Herbs
Demulcent herbs provide a coating to the inside of the intestines which keeps offending bacteria, food particles and other items from irritating the lining of your gut. Here is an excellent tea that you can try:
Traditional Medicinals Organic Throat Coat Tea
Digestive Enzymes
Supplementing with enzymes when eating (especially with larger meals) can help take some of the burden off digestive organs like the pancreas, stomach and intestines. This can improve digestion and assist the gut in it’s healing process. Look for a multi-enzyme formula like this:
NOW Foods Super Enzymes
For more recommendations on foods, lifestyle products, and an adrenal fatigue reading list, take a look at our other recommendations.
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