How to Beat Fatigue Naturally
Fatigue is a chronic medical condition that can affect many areas of your health including maintaining a healthy body weight.
Fatigue does not need to rule your life. You can get your energy back and beat chronic fatigue naturally by changing your diet and getting to the cause. But let's start by understanding the difference between fatigue and tiredness.
Fatigue is different from tiredness. Fatigue is a lack of energy and motivation. Some women desribe their fatigue as "deep fatigue, heavy fatigue, or debilitating fatigue" and are sometimes so chronically fatigued they cannot get out of bed, or struggle to get through a normal days work.
Fatigue is different from tiredness. Fatigue is a lack of energy and motivation. Some women desribe their fatigue as "deep fatigue, heavy fatigue, or debilitating fatigue" and are sometimes so chronically fatigued they cannot get out of bed, or struggle to get through a normal days work.
Tiredness is a normal response to exercise, stress, boredom, or insomnia.
What Causes Fatigue?
Fatigue, a symptom of a more serious underlying health condition is normally linked to mitochondrial weakness, toxicity, poor nutrition, inflammation, infection and stress.
Mitochondrial Weakness
Mitochondria are "the power house of the cell" and90% of the energy generated in a cell is in the Mitochondria. Damage to the mitochondria impairs the cells ability to generate energy.
Conditions such as insulin resistance, obesity, low thyroid function and low testosterone levels all influence mitochondrial function.
These are the main reasons why fatigue leads to weight gain - your body's metabolism can not work efficiently.
Toxicity
Toxicity may worsen inflammation and oxidative stress, worsening fatigue. Exposure to toxic chemicals has been linked to chronic fatigue syndrome.
Poor Nutrition
Dietary deficiencies of iron, B12, folate and other nutrients may contribute to anaemia, stress, inflammation and reduced functional energy.
Inflammation
Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1 may inhibit mitochondrial function and energy production in the cells causing symptoms of fatigue.
Infection
Viral and bacterial infections may be linked to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with evidence suggesting that a severe viral infection may cause mitochondrial degeneration.
Stress
During chronic stress, HPA axis over-activity may result in adrenal fatigue. Critical nutrients such as magnesium, carnitine and calcium are required for mitochondrial function but may be "used up" during times of chronic stress due to the increased demands placed on the body. This can leave the mitochondria nutritional deprived causing fatigue.
Testing For The Cause Of Fatigue
To successfully beat fatigue, you must first start by identifying the underlying cause. Symptomatic profiling combined with targeted pathology testing is the first place to start.
If you are suffering from fatigue, take heart in realizing there are many things you can do naturally, without drugs to feel like yourself again. Improving your lifestyle and with the right dietary changes; you can restore your health successfully, kick start your metabolism and lose weight.
Narelle Stegehuis, is a
practicing naturopath with over 30,000 hrs of in-clinic
experience specializing in the natural treatment
of women's health and hormonal imbalances. She is both an accomplished writer, editor and
recipient of the Australian Naturopathic Excellence Award.
To find out more, visit www.massattack.com.au
To find out more, visit www.massattack.com.au
