Whenever I have a new patient, I ask every detail I can of the many symptoms that people report. And I don’t dismiss any of them. In fact I often spend a few minutes acknowledging the frustration of having been told that their symptoms are all in their head, psychosomatic or they must just need an anti-depressant.
The most common symptom I hear that is invalidated is fatigue. They’re told:
“You’re just getting older”
“Would you like to try an anti-depressant?”
“You just need to sleep more” (Problem is, they can’t sleep)
Or it’s insinuated that they’re just histrionic – REALLY? – I thought that died with Freud. But apparently it’s rampant. And while it frustrates me, I am so glad that I can be the one that helps.
Everyday, I am consciously aware of my energy. I know that if I:
- eat at the wrong times
- eat too many carbs (and at the wrong time any carbs at all)
- forget to take my supplements
- don’t eat something before exercise, my energy will tank a few hours later
- don’t drink enough water
- exercise and don’t replenish with minerals/electrolytes
I won’t be able to keep my energy high all day. And because I am a mother of 3 busy kids, run a business, like to take care of myself – and have fun on occasion! – I need to have as much energy as I can from the minute I get up til it’s time to wind down.
I would say that 90% of the people who walk in my office don’t have the energy they wish they had – and the great thing is that I have a LOT of tools to improve energy.
Our bodies work better when we have more energy – all our systems, our hormones, our immune system, our brains. And we just feel better.
Things that can zap your energy:
- blood sugar dys-regulation
- low-lying undiagnosed infections
- exposure to mold
- heavy metals
- environmental toxins (e.g. pesticides/herbicides)
- nutrient deficiencies
- hormonal imbalances (subclinical hypothyroidism being the most common)
- food sensitivities
- pain
I don’t know about you, but for me, there is nothing that can improve the quality of my life more than great energy.
The first place to start – is making sure your blood sugar is even.
Try these before moving on to other possibilities:
- Eat within 30 minutes of waking and every 2-3 hours throughout the day.
- Avoid carbs until after lunch.
- 5 grams of protein before bed can help keep blood sugar more stable to improve sleep
You can try them all at once or add a new one each day. Let us know if you see an improvement!