Diet Not the Only Reason for Fatigue

As we age, we tend to get slower, more sluggish, less strong, and many times complain about a lack of energy.  While diet is one of the biggest reasons that most people will compromise their natural level of energy and health, there are other contributing factors that may come into play, especially as we age.

One of the more common reasons that we feel less energy than accustomed to is an increase in stress. Stress comes in many forms, especially the stress that is put on the body to digest and deal with the unhealthy foods that we put into it (salt, sugar, and fats being the most significant three).  However, there is also the stress of financial matters - having too little money and too many bills. Especially with the rising price of oil, we all feel the pinch that happens as a result of paying 4 times what we did just three years ago for the same traveling habits.  Even studies show that the #1 reason listed for divorce was money.

Other reasons that may be related to a lack of energy as we age:

1. Anemia - not enough red-blood cells to carry enough oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body. When this happens, we feel fatigue. Some causes can be related to diet - iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency.

2. Underactive Thyroid (Hypothyroidism) - Slow thyroid or hypothyroidism can be the issue if you feel sluggish, run down or a little depressed. Undiagnosed thyroid disorder is one of the major female health problems. By age 60, approximately 17% of all women will have thyroid disorder according to the American Thyroid Foundation. The result? Slow metabolism.

3. Food Allergies - again, an issue of diet that often goes unnoticed. Some doctors believe that hidden food intolerances or allergies can leave you feeling sleepy instead of giving you energy.

4. Undiagnosed Urinary Tract Infection - especially in women, a urinary tract infection can show up as fatigue being the only symptom. Urinary Tract Infection is caused by bacteria in the urinary tract, usually the result of improper bathroom hygiene.

5. Sleep Apnea - more common than most people realize, this is a sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing momentarily, often many times during the night. You awaken unaware of this just long enough to disrupt your sleep cycle each time you stop breathing. The result? Constant fatigue during the day.

6. Caffeine Overload - too many Americans drink too much coffee and other caffeine-filled products (i.e. soft drinks!). The half life of caffeine is 12 hours, which means it remains in your system for at least half the day. Reduce or eliminate caffeine intake from your diet. This includes coffee, chocolate and also medications that contain caffeine.

7. Undiagnosed Heart Disease - many people have heart disease and it doesn't show up until a severe event, i.e. a heart attack. Talk to your doctor if you feel exhausted after some activity that used to be easy to you. Heart disease is one of the leading cause of death in women.

Bottom Line: a healthy diet is responsible for solving more problems than medications ever will. The body needs a proper balance of good nutrition, yet it suffers with unhealthy foods and beverages. Look to diet plans that will put you back on track to the good life!

Note: Diet and exercise can help reduce the risk of degenerative diseases like heart disease and stroke, diabetes and cancer. Click here to learn why eating fruits and vegetables is especially important, and how you can benefit from adding Juice Plus+® to your diet. Juice Plus+® is the most thoroughly researched nutritional product in history.

If you are interested in a meal plan to assist with your weight loss and health, Medifast provides a diet that makes it easy to plan the foods and meals you will eat. Click here - Medifast - to try the Medifast diet meal plan to help you get started losing weight. Medifast is physician-developed.

The Health & Wellness Institute, DC PC