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| Life is too short to waste when you have no energy. This post is a good place to start. |
Though we all get tired, some of us succumb to that feeling much sooner than others. Of course, there can be a variety of reasons from too much physical activity, certain drugs like antihistamines, cough medicines, alcohol to some of the medications that you’re currently on. Not getting enough sleep or experiencing jet lag can also explain why you might be feeling exhausted more than you should. Yet, what if I told you that there could be issues with your diet that also could be to blame for your lagging energy.
One of the biggest causes of fatigue, especially in women, is due to dehydration. When you don’t get enough water, you cause the body all kinds of grief because water cuts down the normal blood flow to the organs to cause that drained feeling. Try drinking six to eight (8-ounce) glasses of water a day and see if your energy levels improve.
If you’re not sure that you drank enough water, here is an easy way that you can tell. Check the color of your pee. A pale yellow color means that you’re doing a good job of keeping well hydrated.
Another thing to think about is how passionate you are about white bread, pasta, cakes, cookies, pies, etc. as well as other processed carbohydrates. Relying too heavily on the wrong kinds of carbohydrates can really cause spikes in blood sugar. Once that happens, they can suddenly plummet and you're left exhausted. The body needs those carbohydrates, but 50 percent though should be of the complex variety such as fruits, whole grains and vegetables.
Something else that can be triggering that unexplainable tiredness is skipping meals. Regardless of how busy you are, you need to stop and eat or risk low blood sugar. The body is a human machine that needs fuel just like your car. When your car is running low, it might stall or when it runs out of gas simply not go anymore. The same principle applies to the body when you don’t eat, you can’t work or think to your full capacity.
You also might be shortchanging yourself when it comes to two important nutrients that could be affecting why this may be happening to you too frequently. Enough magnesium that helps cell efficiency and omega-3 fatty acids for regulating metabolism and oxygen intakes are important for maintaining normal energy levels.
You need at least 400 mg of magnesium a day, which most women commonly lack. Besides a supplement (I take mine in one tablet of calcium, magnesium and zinc), which you can also find in foods like peanut butter, green leafy vegetables like spinach, Swiss chard, almond, black beans, yoghurt, etc.
A typical fish oil softgel capsule can be 1000 mg. You can expect 300 mg of omega-3 fatty acids from each, depending on who manufacturers. Trusted health organizations recommend about 500 mg per day, which would be two of those 1000 mg. However, if you’re on a blood thinner like coumadin (warfarin), do not take fish oil. According to the Heart Association, you should eat fish twice a week. Their preference is 3.5 ounces of a cooked fatty fish like salmon, mackerel or herring. Three-fourth cups of flaked albacore tuna is also just as good.
Other energy zappers are ones that you may not have thought of. You’re not getting outside enough or lacking vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin. Try a brief walk outdoors each day and see if you notice any improvement. You could also look into supplementing your diet with a tablet or with more cheese, eggs and along with other vitamin-D rich foods.
Sometimes sadness can overwhelm us. It can drain the spirit as well as energy. Inability to move on can keep people indoors in front of the television for longer than is healthy. Instead of moving, the weight can sneak up on you and rob energy, only to worsen the problem. Giving yourself a little break can be a first step. Try going to for a short walk because it just might help the brain to release endorphins, the chemical responsible for happiness, to make you feel somewhat better. Naturally, walking is not going to make your real problems vanish, but it could be a good place to start.
There could be medical reasons for your unexplained lack of energy that’s behind this problem. Before starting omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium or adding vitamins, minerals, or herbal supplements, make sure to check with your physician first to see if it is right for you. The information that I am providing here is not meant to treat or diagnose because only your physician is capable of doing that. I am only suggesting possible causes of this problem and what may help you at home as a first step.
