Several years ago, I remember going to my doctor and complaining of very low energy levels. I read about several celebrities who were receiving vitamin B injections for energy. I thought if I had one of these I would be able to function without always feeling so tired. My doctor dismissed my cries for help from fatigue by saying "you're a single mother" "you work hard of course you're tired". My blood work indicated that I wasn't vitamin B deficient. As a result, she would not give me the vitamin B injection. Instead she offered me a prescription drug to help me relax. I took it once and experienced a horrific allergic reaction and never took it again. Looking back now, I believe that was God's way of showing me another way.
So I left her office and sought a holistic approach to battle my continuous need for sleep. I now know that there were a few factors that were contributing to my fatigue. I'm happy to say my energy has dramatically increased as a result of me making a few small changes. The changes I will now share with you. Statistics show that approximately 25 million Americans are suffering with disabling fatigue. Here's 3 things I have found that contributed greatly to my fatigue.
1. Sleep Deprivation: Ha! Talk about stating the obvious. Well, the truth is that most people need 8 hours sleep for the body to function properly. Now, I must admit I currently operate on a little less than 8 hours. I average about 6-7 hours of sleep nightly however when I was battling fatigue I was getting significantly less than that. I had severe pain at that time that interrupted my sleep. I started drinking chamomile tea at night. I also took Isotonix L-Tryptophan for awhile. L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that induces sleep & tranquility. I also discovered that taking a Calcium and magnesium supplement produces calming effects on the brain and aids with sleep. I personally prefer natural methods as opposed to Tylenol PM or any of the other OTC drugs. I'm happy to say, I no longer need L-Tryptophan or chamomile tea so I have stopped taking them. Of course I still take my calcium supplement for the other health benefits.
2. Nutritional Support- Getting proper nutrition is essential to well being. My diet used to be pretty terrible. The truth is many of us do not eat the proper foods. A large portion of our society is nutritionally deficient. Taking supplements in my opinion is is not optional. Our bodies cannot and do not get what we need to optimally perform from the foods we consume-Period. Eating fresh fruits & veges, drinking plenty of water, and taking a quality multi-vitamin/mineral formula and a few other nutritional supplements has become essential in my life. I've also eliminated or cut back significantly on my sugar intake, white foods, and processed foods. Proper nutrition can make a huge difference in your energy levels.
3. Immune Dysfunction - A weak immune system = a body open for infection, disease, and malfunction. A strong immune system = health, well-being, and vitality. A poor immune system sometimes can be indicated by an excess of yeast in the body. If you experience excessive nasal congestion, mucus, gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation those are clues you may have an excess of yeast in your body. Guess what? --- A poor diet and insufficient sleep contribute to a lowered immune system. By eliminating sugar, white products and caffeine you can reduce the amount of yeast in your body. Yes, it's a vicious cycle! There's a lot more I can say about supplements to boost your immune system but I'll save that for another post! =)
So there you have it. Working on these 3 areas contributed to my increased energy levels. If you're reading this and you find you're always feeling tired. I encourage you to go to your doctor, have blood work check your hormone levels, and work on the things listed above. Of course this isn't Rx for the cure to fatigue I'm not a doctor however, it definitely made a difference in my life. Hope it does for you!
Stay Healthy,
Melissa
To Hear More About My Story Click Here
No comments:
Post a Comment