The adrenal system is like a fuel pump for the body
The adrenal glands work like your body's fuel pump. When a fuel pump is not working properly in a car you have surges in energy and at times no power when you need it. This can be catastrophic when you are involved in a sport that demands a level release of endocrine and hormones for the duration of your game or event.
We have had many athletes tell us the same story: They've trained hard and ate right. They were well coached and got plenty of rest. Mentally they were at the top of their game.
Then their event came and the body just didn't respond. They each said after the event that they still felt strong, they weren't fatigued yet. They didn't understand why their performance was so bad.
The Adrenal Glands keep the flow of endocrine and hormones stable to allow you to finish as strong as when you started
Any athlete who has to run multiple events, nine innings or four quarters requiring a high output of energy needs to know about adrenal support. But first let's look at the adrenals.
The adrenal glands are endocrine glands which are located on the top of both kidneys. Each gland consists of a medulla (the center of the gland) which is wrapped by the cortex. The medulla's role is to produce epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenaline). The adrenal cortex produces other hormones necessary for fluid and electrolyte (salt) balance in the body such as cortisone and aldosterone.
The adrenal glands are controlled in part by the brain. The hypothalamus, a small gland in the brain involved in hormonal regulation, produces corticotropin-releasing hormones.These hormones trigger the pituitary gland to secrete corticotropin which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce corticosteroids. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, regulated mostly by the kidneys, causes the adrenal glands to produce more or less aldosterone.
Stress causes the adrenals to work harder
The body controls the levels of corticosteroids according to need. The levels tend to be much higher in the early morning than later in the day. When the body is stressed, from illness or otherwise, the levels of corticosteroids increase dramatically.
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