Do you suffer from Chromic Fatigue Syndrome?
We all feel tired from time to time, that’s a normal part of life. However, ongoing tiredness can be an insidious beast and over time it can become the norm for many people. If you are one of those people that find themselves drowsy during the day, having difficulty concentrating, experiencing brain fog or wanting to lay down, then perhaps you should be digging a bit deeper and finding out why.
We do have high expectations for our bodies. Many of us have full time jobs, a busy social life, children at home and other responsibilities. We tend to forget that just as a car requires regular servicing and the right fuel, our bodies too need the same level of care and attention. How we would go about doing this is by eating healthy nutritious foods to ‘fuel’ us and by taking time for restorative self-care to nurture ourselves. How we ‘service’ ourselves could be by taking time to exercise, getting enough sleep, having a well-deserved holiday, regular walks in nature, taking time to relax or having a massage.
The bottom line is that we shouldn’t be tired all the time. It is important to rule out any underlying medical conditions such as anaemia, thyroid issues, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart problems, anxiety or depression. Another forgotten possibility is food sensitivities. Food sensitivities is another whole topic on its own, which I will focus on in my next newsletter. The currency that our body uses for energy is known as ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and this is made by our mitochondria, the ‘powerhouse’ of the cell. Mitochondria can be likened to our digestive system, since it takes in nutrients, breaks them down and creates energy for the cell. How well the mitochondria work, will depend on how much ATP is made. What we eat and our lifestyle factors can impact this process hugely! I have outlined below some ways you could boost your energy levels:
- Make sure you have enough of the right ‘energy’ nutrients such as at the B vitamins. They are found in a range of foods (free-range or organic meat, salmon, sardines, eggs, leafy green vegetables, avocados, kumara, broccoli, whole grains, dates, prunes and figs) or a quality supplement could be used. Remember not all supplements are created equal. It pays to get good advice since supermarket products may not cut the mustard.
- Co-Enzyme 10 is an antioxidant that controls the last stage of energy production. As we age, we aren’t able to make it as readily from our food. Amongst older people, this can help to give them an energy boost.
- The majority of people only use a third of their lung capacity. Breathing and movement exercises can help to increase energy levels.
- Eat sufficient amounts of protein such as eggs, nuts, seeds, legumes, fish and free-range or organic meat.
- Eat magnesium rich foods since this mineral is essential for energy production and for adrenal hormones. It is quickly used up when stressed. Good sources are nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, whole grains, fish and good quality meat.
- Most people with the lowest energy levels often have the highest caffeine intake. The short term effects are energy boosting but caffeine is ultimately energy depleting.
- Aim to get eight hours of sleep.
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