Are you always feeling fatigued? Do you constantly feel drained and lacking in energy? Fatigue affects thousands of people every day for different reasons, and many can't be fixed with supplements or pills. Here are seven reasons you might be fatigued and how to get your energy back.
1. Adrenal Fatigue
A primary cause of fatigue in thousands of people is adrenal fatigue, a condition created by too much cortisol in your system. Cortisol is a stress hormone that switches the body to using glucose as a fuel, a short-term form of energy for escaping a dangerous situation, such as running from a bear.
The average office person rarely needs to escape a bear, but the office environment can be highly stressful. Unfortunately, when you are constantly stressed, most of your energy comes from glucose, which your body cannot handle long-term.
High glucose in your blood triggers insulin to control it. So, your body is running on glucose, but it's actively trying to reduce glucose levels through insulin, which eventually leads to mind-numbing exhaustion.
It's challenging to get yourself back into a state of calm when you reach this level of fatigue, but a vitamin B1 supplement can help, as can increasing your intake of nutritional yeast.
Add some stress-reducing activities to your week as well. Saunas are a proven method for reducing stress. Being more active can help, but if the gym isn't your scene, try gardening or taking the dogs and the kids to the park.
2. Poor Sleep
Poor sleeping habits are notorious for making you feel fatigued for no apparent reason, even when you think you've had a good night's rest.
High cortisol from stress can create an overactive mind. Getting stressed about not sleeping can make it worse, so reducing your stress levels is a high priority.
Melatonin is a sleep hormone that regulates our circadian rhythm, but there are two types. The pineal gland creates one type. The other type is subcellular melatonin which sits deep in our cells. Infrared rays, such as those from the sun, increase subcellular melatonin levels, which can help you sleep.
Getting more sunlight ensures you have enough melatonin to improve sleep quality. You can also stimulate production through a portable infrared sauna, such as a sauna blanket for home use. A portable sauna blanket is an excellent accessory during winter when most people are not getting enough sunlight.
You should also avoid using electronic screens and significantly reduce your blue light exposure a couple of hours before bedtime. Blue light influences melatonin levels and even reading your backlit Kindle without a blue light filter can keep your brain on high alert despite you feeling dog tired. Even if you do fall asleep, it will be low quality and not very restoring.
3. Post Viral Syndrome
Post viral syndrome is a condition that causes residual fatigue despite having recovered from a cold or flu virus.
In medical terms, the residual muscle soreness and fatigue are referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis. You may also experience a cognitive deficit or foggy brain.
One of the best things you can do to recover from post-viral syndrome is to take vitamin B1 primarily but include some of the other B group vitamins. Vitamin D3 and zinc should also help you recover and restore some of your lost energy.
A few sessions in an infrared sauna to ensure you have plenty of melatonin is recommended. Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that will assist your immune system.
4. Low Stomach Acids
With age, stomach acid levels decrease, making it harder for the body to absorb iron and B12. Low volumes of these nutrients can lead to anemia and cause fatigue.
Protein absorption will be affected, which could lead to an explosion of bacterial growth in your small intestine, referred to as Small Intestine Bacterial Growth (SIBO). This condition can make you feel completely drained. It’s a sorry situation when you combine it with the digestive issues you will be experiencing.
Try drinking apple cider vinegar and taking betaine hydrochloride to balance your gut biome. You will need more at first but can gradually reduce the volume as you start to feel more energetic. You will need to be patient and consistent, as it can take a few weeks to return to your former self.
5. Insulin Resistance
A diet high in carbs can create a foggy brain where it's difficult to concentrate and focus. An excessive volume of carbs will essentially put your brain to sleep. Following a low-carb diet, such as keto, can restore your ketone levels, which is your brain's preferred fuel source.
6. Lyme Disease
Another cause of fatigue is Lyme Disease. It is caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete, which invades your body to trigger an immune response. Your body, in its fight against Lyme disease, creates all of the symptoms. Unfortunately, the body can't kill off the microbe, but you can help it by taking natural antibiotics like garlic, thyme, oregano, and sage.
7. Vitamin Deficiencies
While not as common as many other causes of fatigue, a vitamin deficiency is still worth investigating if you have exhausted every other avenue.
Potassium and magnesium are critical compounds used in the cells to create energy. You also need sodium for this process, but we're all getting plenty of that in our diets. Potassium is a little harder to come by unless you eat a lot of leafy greens, which also increases your magnesium intake.
As you can see, one of the most important things you can do to restore your energy is to review your diet to ensure you get all your vitamins and minerals. Having a more active lifestyle and finding ways to reduce your stress levels can help. Portable saunas are an excellent way to relax after work in your home and deliver remarkable health benefits, so check out your options today for getting more energy into your life.
