Adrenal Gland

The adrenal gland consists of two glands that sit on top of your kidneys.  It is a gland of internal secretion.  The adrenal glands help to contribute to your health, especially when you are under stress.  They release certain hormones that are essential to life.
The adrenal gland is essentially a double organ composed of an outer cortex (the outer part) and an inner medulla (inner part).  The two adrenal glands are embedded in fat above its respective kidney.
Almost all body systems are influenced by the action of adrenocortical hormones.  Cortisol and cortisone are important in carbohydrate, water, muscle, bone, central nervous system, cardiovascular, and hematological metabolism.  They are also important anti-inflammatory agents.  Overactive adrenal glands often produce too much cortisol and possibly other adrenal hormones.  Cortisol plays a role in elevating blood sugar so it could lead to a condition like insulin resistance.
     The adrenal cortex produces hormones that are vital to life, such as cortisol (helps to regulate metabolism and helps the body to respond to stress) and aldosterone (helps control blood pressure).
     The adrenal medulla produces hormones that are not essential to life such as, adrenaline (also helps your body's response to stress).  The adrenal medulla helps to deal with emotional and physical stress.  It produces hormones that help you in "fight or flight" situations.
Hormones secreted by the adrenal medulla:
     Epinephrine or commonly known as adrenaline.  This hormone not only raises your blood pressure but it also spikes your blood sugar level by helping convert glycogen to glucose (sugar) in the liver.
     Norepinephrine works with epinephrine in response to stress, but can also cause vasoconstriction (narrowing blood vessels) resulting in high blood pressure.
The adrenal cortex produces two main groups of corticosteroid hormones - glucocorticoids and mineralcorticoids.
     Glucocorticoids: 
          Hydrocortisone:  More commonly known as cortisol, regulates how the body converts fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to energy.  It also helps regulate blood pressure and cardiovascular functions.
          Corticosterone:  This hormone works with hydrocortisone to regulate immune response and supress inflammatory reactions.
The principle mineralcorticoid is aldosterone, which maintains the balance of salt and water while helping control blood pressure.
The connection between stress and high blood pressure, heart disease, and many digestive problems are well known.  Stress creates hormonal and blood sugar changes, causes the body to excrete nutrients and adversely affects the immune system.

Help keep your adrenal glands healthy:
Vitamin B: beef, tuna, turkey, bananas, potatoes, avocados, and legumes (legumes are: beans, lentils, peas, peanuts, and alfalfa)
Vitamin C:  comes in many sources, but is especially important during times of stress
L-tyrosine:  most meats and vegetables, high amounts are in fish, chicken. whole grains, wheat, oats, dairy, bananas, legumes, nuts, seeds
To help reduce stress you should consider a low-sugar diet - but one that is sufficient in proteins, fats and complex carbohydrates
Try to eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day
Learn to relax and get more exercise