Ideal for fighting your fatigue
If you reside in the Big Smoke, or any big city in the UK for that matter, then no doubt you’ve seen (and identified with) that Floradix advert; the one with the yawning woman which asks ‘’are you tired of being tired?’’. As you pass it, no doubt a contagious yawn is involuntarily triggered. And no doubt you’ve considered an investment in this magic elixir which promises to reduce tiredness and fatigue.
Feeling overtired can be debilitating to the point it may be starting to have a severe impact on your daily life. Everyone feels a little drowsy from time to time, but if it has got to the point where you’d rather stay tucked up indoors as opposed to going out simply because you haven’t got the energy, you may need to evaluate what is happening to your body.
There are many factors as to why you may be feeling extreme fatigue, whether it be lack of sleep, eating the wrong foods or a potential underlying health condition – and it would be worthwhile to get to the bottom of it to improve your quality of life.
Here are some of the possible explanations as to why you may be feeling constantly tired.
DIET
If your body isn’t getting the correct nourishment or you frequently skip meals, your calorie intake will likely be too low, which can affect energy levels.
While eating junk food may give you a sudden energy boost when hungry, you’re likely to fall flat just hours later as it typically does not contain enough protein and good carbohydrates.
Keeping your body supplied with vitamins and minerals will keep you in great health and prevent chronic fatigue. If you’re struggling to know what foods to eat, adding superfood powders from Healthxcel to your meals and drinks (other brands are available) will help ensure that you’re getting the correct intake of vitamins and could be the answer to your lack of energy.
That said, it should be noted that the best way to achieve perfect harmony in terms of nutrition is through a balanced diet. There is no substitute, supplementary or otherwise, for a varied, balanced and healthy diet, primarily comprised of the five major food groups: vegetables, fruit, grains, protein and dairy.
Indeed, as the NHS points out plainly, ‘’Most people…can get all the vitamins and minerals they need by eating a healthy, balanced diet.’’ That said, there are some people who are at risk of deficiency and who do need certain supplements to maintain proper levels of nutrition, as the Department of Health and Social Care advise.
ANAEMIA
One of the most common reasons for extreme tiredness is anaemia. This is a condition caused by a lack of iron in the bloodstream and is most common in those who have suffered blood loss or are pregnant. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, heart palpitations and pale skin.
Your GP may advise you to take a blood test to diagnose whether you’re anaemic. If the test comes back positive, you will be prescribed iron tablets to counteract the deficiency.
You can also add more iron-rich foods to your diet. These include liver, shellfish, dried fruit, pulses and legumes, dark green leafy vegetables, and cereal that’s been fortified with iron.
CLINICAL DEPRESSION
As well as making you feel melancholy, depression has also been linked to persistent fatigue. While mental health can affect people in a variety of ways, some of the most common symptoms are understood to be lack of focus, memory loss, affected eating and sleeping patterns and low energy.
While there are no physical tests that can be undertaken to diagnose depression, your GP may encourage you to disclose your inner thoughts and feelings and ask relevant questions to confirm the diagnosis. You may be prescribed antidepressant medication or advised to visit a counsellor to undertake certain therapies, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).
STRESS
Stress is one of the major factors of fatigue. Coping with extreme anxiety can be exhausting both for the body and mind. This is especially true if you have recently gone through a major life event, such as a bereavement or divorce, or are constantly troubled about finances, family or work. Learning how to keep your stress levels low will prevent your body from going into overdrive and leading to burnout. There are many ways you can tackle extreme stress – it’s all about finding the right strategy for you.
NOT TREATING YOUR SLEEP SERIOUSLY ENOUGH
Getting your regular dose of Zzeds can bring myriad health benefits, ranging from keeping your heart in good shape to reducing stress and so much more. But so many of us treat our sleep with something approach disdain, viewing it as an obstacle to productivity and fun. Whilst it might sound obvious, this could well be the reason you’re feeling so tired.
There are many ways you can treat your sleep with the respect it deserves, ensuring quality and just the right amount of quantity. On that note, you could do much worse today than checking out these clever ways to make your sleep more restful. Good luck!