How Nutrition Can Help You Feel Your Best with Addison’s
Addison’s disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency, is a rare condition where the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol and sometimes aldosterone. These hormones are essential for regulating your stress response, blood pressure, blood sugar and electrolyte balance.
Medication is always the foundation of managing Addison’s disease. However, nutrition and lifestyle choices can play an important supportive role in helping to stabilise energy levels, maintain blood sugar and support overall wellbeing.
Here is what is helpful to understand.
What Happens in Addison’s Disease
Your adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys and produce hormones your body relies on every day. In Addison’s disease, damage to these glands, most commonly caused by an autoimmune response, reduces the production of cortisol and aldosterone.
Cortisol is essential for energy regulation, blood sugar balance and coping with physical and emotional stress. Aldosterone helps control sodium, potassium and fluid balance, which directly affects blood pressure.
When these hormones are low, a wide range of symptoms can develop.
Extreme fatigue is common and often feels overwhelming. This tiredness does not improve with rest or sleep because cortisol plays a key role in energy production and stress adaptation.
Salt cravings often occur because low aldosterone levels cause the body to lose sodium through urine and sweat. The body responds by driving cravings for salty foods to restore balance.
Low blood pressure is another hallmark feature. Reduced sodium and fluid retention lowers blood volume, which can leave people feeling weak, lightheaded or faint.
Dizziness when standing, also known as orthostatic hypotension, happens because the body cannot adjust blood pressure quickly enough when changing position.
Muscle weakness can develop due to electrolyte imbalances and reduced energy availability at a cellular level, making everyday activities feel more demanding.
Low blood sugar episodes can occur because cortisol helps maintain normal blood glucose levels. Without enough cortisol, blood sugar may drop unexpectedly, leading to shakiness, sweating, confusion or weakness.
Unintended weight loss may happen due to reduced appetite, digestive symptoms and disruption to normal metabolism.
Daily hormone replacement therapy is essential. Alongside this, supportive nutrition can help reduce symptom severity and improve day to day stability.
How Nutrition Can Support Addison’s Disease
Keeping Blood Sugar Steady
Low cortisol increases the risk of hypoglycaemia, so stabilising blood sugar is a key nutritional priority.
Aim for regular meals that include protein, healthy fats and slow releasing carbohydrates such as oats, sweet potatoes, brown rice or quinoa. Avoid long gaps between meals and include snacks if needed. Keeping a balanced snack available is especially important before or after exercise or during busy days.
Getting Enough Salt
Unlike the general population, many people with Addison’s disease need more sodium.
Aldosterone normally helps the body retain salt. When levels are low, sodium is lost more easily through urine and sweat, which can worsen low blood pressure and fatigue.
Adding salt to meals may be helpful if advised by your medical team. Extra attention is often needed during hot weather, illness or exercise when sodium losses increase.
Always follow your endocrinologist’s guidance, particularly if you are prescribed fludrocortisone to support sodium balance.
Staying Well Hydrated
Dehydration can worsen dizziness, fatigue and low blood pressure.
Sip fluids regularly throughout the day rather than relying on large amounts at once. Some people benefit from electrolyte containing drinks that include sodium and potassium. Caffeine and alcohol should be limited, as both can contribute to dehydration.
Supporting Energy Levels Through Nutrition
Fatigue is one of the most challenging symptoms of Addison’s disease. Gentle, consistent nutrition strategies can help.
Focus on nutrient dense foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, nuts and seeds. Digestive function can sometimes be affected, so nutrient absorption may be less efficient.
Monitoring for deficiencies can be helpful. Some people benefit from targeted supplementation such as B12 or a multivitamin, but this should always be discussed with your healthcare provider.
Listening to Your Body and Managing Stress
With Addison’s disease, the body cannot increase cortisol output during illness or stress. This makes stress management and awareness especially important.
Learn to recognise early warning signs of an adrenal crisis, such as severe weakness, vomiting, very low blood pressure or fainting. Always carry emergency medication if prescribed and wear a medical alert bracelet. Make sure close contacts know what to do in an emergency.
Optimising Micronutrients for Resilience
People with Addison’s disease may have higher micronutrient needs due to increased physiological stress and immune demands.
B vitamins support energy production and nervous system health. Vitamin C is important for adrenal tissue function and coping with physical stress. Zinc supports immune health and tissue repair. Magnesium plays a role in blood sugar regulation, muscle function and stress response.
These nutrients are best obtained through a varied, whole food diet including lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Supplements can be considered where deficiencies are identified and should be guided by a healthcare professional.
Key Takeaway
Medication will always be the cornerstone of managing Addison’s disease. However, a supportive approach to nutrition that focuses on steady blood sugar, adequate salt intake, good hydration and nutrient dense meals can make a meaningful difference to daily energy, stability and resilience.
Personalised Support
If you are living with Addison’s disease and would like help creating a nutrition plan that fits your lifestyle and supports your energy levels, I can help. Together we can build an approach that complements your medical treatment and supports long term wellbeing.
Book your free clarity call to find out more.