I wish I could take a nap every afternoon.
I can’t seem to get my day started because I just don’t have the energy to do it.
Getting out of bed is impossible.
I need something to pump me up or make me feel energized to get through my day.
Does this all sound familiar to you?
Low energy or Fatigue is the No. 1 complaint I hear from my clients, friends and from the general public. Seems like we’re having an energy crisis in this country, and it’s not just about fossil fuels. Our frenetic modern lifestyles require constant momentum. We simply don’t have the time—or desire—to be still, regardless of how fatigued we feel. We live in an environment where our bodies are pushed to the maximum…often proclaimed as a badge of pride.
Millions of women and men around the world grapple with weight gain, chronic stress, poor sleep, forgetfulness, low sex drive, mood swings, hormone imbalances and constant fatigue. More often than not, they’re told: “That’s normal. You’re getting older”, it’s all in your head or it’s because you’re having kids, raising kids, managing the household, working too hard or getting old. The truth is neither of the reasons is true. Fatigue is an illness. And there are things we can do to get our energy back.
The chances that the reason for your fatigue is due to a common reason are much higher than that your fatigue is due to some absurd reason. (Simply by the numbers). But even when it comes to common causes of low energy, there are many of them. In the following article, we’re going to look at many of the common causes of fatigue in a general overview way. For more detailed information, I suggest you sign up for the free energy coaching and on how to make easy lifestyle changes by click on this link Or visit to www.performancelifestyle.com
Today you will find an entire market of energy drinks, caffeinated beverages, extreme coffees, and sugary foods has been developed in an attempt to capitalize on this phenomenon of low energy, often propelling the issue further. Energy has become a commodity that we buy and ingest. While overuse of caffeine is definitely of concern, drinking testosterone-laden names like Rock Star, Monster, Bottle Rocket, and Red Bull, which promise boundless energy and endless good times is really not a good idea. With as much as 300 milligrams of caffeine per serving, plus other stimulants, they definitely spike energy—for a while. But in the end, that sky-high energy can just as easily speed in the opposite direction. The end result of this roller coaster is fatigue, increased stress, and anxiety…or worse DEATH.
A Sky-Rocketing Crisis?
A new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that the number of energy drink–related emergency room visits doubled from 10,000 to 20,000 between 2007 and 2011. While this is still a relatively small number, the increase is cause for concern.
At the milder end of the spectrum, energy drinks can cause high blood pressure, anxiety, and feelings of panic. More extreme cases feature irregular heartbeats, seizures, and even heart attacks. These symptoms aren’t really surprising, since one energy drink is sometimes equal to five cups of coffee, but for people with underlying medical conditions, such as heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes, the results can be deadly.
Understanding Energy
Many of us want and need more energy, but we don’t recognize the biological systems that help us maintain our vitality. In traditional Chinese medicine, one of the keys to greater energy is found in what is called “kidney essence.” In Western medicine, this roughly equates to our kidney/adrenal system, which governs a large share of hormonal functions that can affect energy metabolism, blood sugar regulation, fat storage, cardiovascular function, and the conversion of fat and protein into fuel.
When our kidney/adrenal system is exhausted from chronic stress, poor nutrition, and other factors, we may suffer from adrenal fatigue syndrome and a host of related problems that include excess weight and sluggish metabolism. This is especially the case when, over time, adrenal fatigue negatively affects our digestive enzymes and insulin metabolism.
Some of the hormones excreted by the adrenals are responsible for balancing the autonomic nervous system: Our rest/relaxation and fight/flight responses. So for optimal energy and vitality, the adrenals must have flexibility: They need to wake up and respond quickly in times of danger, and let us relax when we’re safe. But when we use potent stimulants, such as commercial energy drinks, we’re pushing that part of our nervous system to the limit, and then it crashes very quickly. We’re stretching the rubber band, so to speak, so much that it loses its flexibility. This can have numerous detrimental health effects, and in terms of energy levels, it means we need more and more stimulation to achieve even a mild increase.
Common Causes of Low Energy
Change what and how you eat
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that one of the most common causes of low energy can be an imbalanced diet. After all, as human beings we get a big amount of their energy from the food we eat. Eat the wrong foods (aka put in the wrong fuels), and the “machine” won’t run well. Eat 90% or more plant based nutrient rich superfoods. Changing what you have been eating doesn’t have to be ordeal, there are lot of delicious, simple and easy recipes for you to try. Need inspiration on cooking nutrient rich recipes with 5 ingredients or less check out our Simple, Quick & Easy Recipe eBook, or Try our Premium Membership Today for only $12! and get the tools and support you need to get started. If can’t change, then just add superfood to the way you eat. More recently researchers discovered that superfoods are more powerful when combined together for synergistic effect, making each ingredient more potent. For that very reason our signature product LIVING FEAST is your best and safest bet.
Stress & Burn-Out
Let’s face it: we live in a challenging world. Everybody is constantly expected to perform, perform, and then perform some more. Employers now demand not 100% from their employees, but 110%. And with the current state of the economy, many people are afraid of losing their jobs and thus work harder than ever before. But there are long-term dangers to that. You can only expect so much from your body and your mind to follow suit. Yes, your body can handle serious strain for a certain amount of time. But once that “limit line” is crossed, you start to crack. For more information visit www.performancelifestyle.com
Sleep Problems
Whether you just don’t sleep enough, of whether the sleep you get is low-quality sleep – you’d be surprised how many people suffer from low energy levels “just” because of their sleep. There are many things that can naturally be done to improve your sleep quality, but be aware that they take a bit of time.
Depression
Many people with low energy also feel really bad – depression is a terrible state to be in. One of the big challenges with depressed people is that they lack the motivation to do anything – including doing something about their own state of well being. It’s not that they are lazy. It’s that their brain-chemistry is messed up and needs to be altered, before they can empower themselves again. There actually ARE natural ways to change the brain chemistry, through dietary changes and lifestyle changes, and I go into more detail in the manage your energy coaching at www.performancelifestyle.com
This was a quick overview of the most common causes of low energy and fatigue. I hope you found it useful.The healthy measures which I have talked about here in this blog will not produce the same rush as an energy drink or a coffee. No, they certainly won’t. Because that’s not the idea we want. Our goal is to build and maintain constant, stable energy, not to provoke peaks and crashes. And ultimately, healthy energy metabolism means we don’t need the extra stimulants to begin with. We simply allow our bodies to function efficiently with healthy nutrient rich diet and performance lifestyle habits that also promote overall health in the process.