- What
are the common causes of fatigue?
While we all go through moments of feeling tired and washed
out, chronic fatigue seems to be the new '21st Century
illness', often linked to high stress levels, environmental
pollution, unhealthy diets and fast foods.
Despite plentiful food supplies and excellent medical
facilities, many people in the Western world do not really
know what it is like to feel truly healthy, full of energy
and bounce.
Modern Western diets, environmental pollution and the use of
alcohol, recreational drugs and prescription medicines all
take their toll on liver functioning and on the healthy
functioning of all body systems.
Fatigue is one of the first signs that the body is being
damaged and placed under unhealthy stress.
-
Fatigue as a symptom may be caused by a variety of factors,
including:
--Stress and depression
--Excessive Candida overgrowth in the digestive tract
--Poor immune system functioning and chronic infection
--Diabetes
--Thyroid and adrenal gland imbalances
--Certain illnesses (e.g. ME, heart, liver or kidney
disease)
--Vitamin and mineral deficiency
--Overwork and sleep deficiency
--Lack of exercise
--Circulatory disorders and heart disease
--Certain prescription medications (e.g. for heart disease)
--Unhealthy diet (excess sugar and wheat)
--Excess caffeine
Energy draining foods such as sugar and caffeine may give
you a quick burst of energy, shutting down the production of
orexins, a brain peptide responsible for keeping our minds
sharp. Sugar and caffeine also triggers the
inflammatory response which leave you in a mental stupor and
physically tired.
The real energy foods are protein like chicken and fish
and high fiber vegetables. This combination will keep
your blood sugar stabilized throughout the day.
Certain nutrients enhance the body's ability to breakdown
and process food molecules for energy. These are:
B-complex vitamins.
There are 11 B-complex vitamins which should be taken
together. Choose a multivitamin or B complex with at
last 50 mg each of vitamins B1, B2, and B3.
Alpha-lipoic
acid. This antioxidant supplement improves insulin
function, which helps regulate blood glucose levels.
Take 200 to 400 mg with B-complex vitamins or L-carnitine.
L-Carnitine.
This supplement enables cells to do a better job of burning
fats and can increase energy levels in people with chronic
fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. Take
1,000 to 3,000 mg of either L-carnitine or
acetyl-L-carnitine daily. Superior benefits are
achieved when taking it with alpha-lipoic acid or 1,000 mg
or more of vitamin C.
Coenzyme Q-10.
Recent findings found that CoQ10 can slow the progression of
Parkinson's disease, by increasing energy production in the
brain and it also boosts immune cell activity to fight
cancer and viral infections. CoQ10 can improve heart
function so if you are taking other medications let your
doctor know as they may need to be decreased.
Ribose. Increases stamina, benefits heart failure
and boosts energy. For energy levels take 1,000 to
2,000 mg of ribose daily. Highly active athletic
people can take 10grams per day.
|