If you’re truly determined to lead a healthier lifestyle, you’ll need to pay a close attention to what you eat. In today’s world, coping with stress has already become a cruel part of everyday life.
The problem with stress is that not only does it damage you emotionally, unending stress can actually seriously harm your physical health, especially your adrenal gland health. One of the best ways to help your body to recover from stress is to eat foods that promote adrenal health, including chickpeas! In fact, the benefits of chickpeas for your adrenal glands go beyond what you could possibly imagine. As you’ll soon discover, it’s the ultimate food for dealing with stress in the healthiest possible way. So what exactly are chickpeas and what are some of the many chickpea benefits?
What are Chickpeas?
Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are part of the legume family and are known for their high protein content.
What’s great about this particular legume are the numerous amazing chickpea benefits as a result of their incredibly nutritious composition. In addition to protein, chickpeas are also rich in fiber, which makes them an ideal food for anyone struggling with weight issues. Also, chickpeas are rich in several other nutrients such as vitamin B, folate, calcium, manganese, magnesium, vitamin K, iron, zinc, and phosphate. All of these nutrients act together to strengthen your body’s ability to respond to stress.
How Chickpeas Can Help Your Body Fight Stress Better
Your body is designed to handle stress the moment it arises by utilizing the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response system. The system is comprised of a network of interlinked organs and circuits that act simultaneously to respond to stressful situations, thus ensuring your body manages stress in the healthiest possible way.
One of the important circuits of your NEM stress response system is the metabolic circuit, which involves the liver, pancreas, and thyroid gland. When you experience stress, your thyroid gland produce hormones that readily increase your metabolic rate, to ensure your body produces enough energy to successfully carry out the fight or flight response. At the same time, your pancreas responds to stress by producing insulin, which signals to your cells to produce the glucose resuired to boost your energy levels. Meanwhile, as part of the metabolism response, your liver works hard to clear any excess metabolites from your body.
Problems begin when your body is subjected to chronic or prolonged stress. Eventually, your NEM stress response system becomes overworked. For example, your thyroid gland may no longer be able produce enough hormones to maintain an increased metabolic rate to counteract stress, therefore, your body’s metabolic stress response is interrupted.
Stress can also take a heavy toll on your adrenal glands, which are responsible for producing the stress response hormone cortisol. Once your adrenal function is compromised, this can lead to disrupted thyroid function, which may also dramatically affect your body’s metabolic stress response. Eventually, your body’s compromised stress response can lead to Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS).
If you have Adrenal Fatigue, it’s necessary to prevent the condition from worsening while simultaneously working to relieve your body of symptoms and recover fully. This can be done by taking proactive steps towards improving your daily nutrition to help you recover from Adrenal Fatigue.
When it comes to your adrenal glands, one incredibly important superfood is the chickpea. Once you’ve heard all of the chickpea benefits for your adrenal health, you soon understand why.
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Chickpea Benefits and Your Adrenal Glands
Without a doubt, chickpeas are one of the healthiest foods for your adrenal glands. These amazing chickpea benefits are clear proof.
A Source of Slow-release Carbohydrates
If you’re dealing with Adrenal Fatigue, you may have come to realize that your body needs a constant source of energy. Because chickpeas contain complex carbohydrates, your body digests them more slowly and this provides a longer lasting source of energy throughout the day. This may also help prevent any sudden dips or spikes in energy.
Help Improve Your Mood
Chickpeas contain large amounts of the amino acid tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin, the so-called “happiness hormone”. Thus, chickpeas may have calming and mood-enhancing properties that may also improve your quality of sleep.
An Alkalizing Effect on the Body
Eating chickpeas can also help you neutralize acids in your body. When you eat, your adrenals and kidneys work together to break down the acids from food. However, if your adrenals are exhausted, the last thing they need is to become more overloaded. Luckily, chickpeas combat high acidity and balance your pH levels so your adrenals don’t have to work so hard.
How to Incorporate Chickpeas into Your Diet to Promote Better Adrenal Health
There are a number of delicious ways that you can readily prepare chickpeas so that your body can experience more of those amazing chickpea benefits. Some chickpea dishes are perfect for a nutritious lunch or dinner and others make great snacks throughout the day.
