Fighting fatigue

Thursday, December 20, 2012 by: Hesh Goldstein
Tags: fatigue, adrenal glands, high energy

(NaturalNews) Probably the most common complaint of people today is fatigue. This is not a disease per se, but rather a major symptom of many disturbances. Unfortunately, fatigue must be dealt with generally as the single most presenting disorder, without much else to help in diagnosis. As you can understand from the following long, but endless, list of possible causes, such a seemingly simple complaint can be very complex in its proper diagnosis and treatment: hypoglycemia, stress, anemia, toxicity, allergy, glandular imbalances, poor eliminations or assimilation, cardiovascular causes, improper diet, lack of demanding exercise, excess sex, birth control pills, overweight, overwork, lack of sleep, sedentary occupation, psychological disturbances, heavy metal poisoning, degenerative diseases, shallow breathing, etc., etc., etc.

A good physical examination will usually reveal the clues to the origin of fatigue. Despite many factors involved, in reality most of them involve a nutritional basis. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is one of the most frequent causes that is more obvious in the midmorning and afternoon, becoming more continuous as the body's system becomes less able to cope with its repeated stress.

The adrenal glands and the pancreas become overburdened and eventually fail to function properly. The type of diet usually responsible for hypoglycemia is high in refined carbohydrates and deficient in the vitamins and minerals essential for the health and well-being of the body's glands and organs - Vitamins A, B complex, B12, C, E, Chromium, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Bee pollen, Brewer's yeast, Kelp, Spirulina.

Stress is very common in fatigue and can cause a form of hypoglycemia by depleting the adrenal glands, which respond to any fear, anxiety, worry, or similar emotion, as if they were emergency conditions. To meet this "danger", a wide range of physiological actions come into play to provide necessary energy. But, eventually, the adrenal glands become exhausted and, as vital energy reserves become overtaxed, fatigue results.

Unlike true nutritional hypoglycemia, this type of fatigue does not necessarily occur between meals, but may be more related to an incident of intense stress or emotion. And, if this stress is in the same time and space as a refined diet coupled with caffeine intake, the hypoglycemic state can take on a totally unpredictable character.

In reality, caffeine is a drug. A socially accepted drug, nonetheless. Unlike sugar, which at least draws part of its energy from its caloric nature, caffeine and caffeine-containing drinks like unsweetened coffee or tea, and sodas, have no intrinsic energy value whatsoever. Rather than give energy, they cause an endocrine emergency action to extract energy from the body's vital reserves in the liver and muscles.

Caffeine causes glycogen stored in these tissues to become mobilized and converted to the body's fuel, glucose. Ultimately, this extraction of energy leaves the energy reserves severely depleted, just as an unwise spender soon finds his or her pockets empty. The result is profound weakness and chronic fatigue.

Caffeinated drinks are probably the greatest curse to the body, after refined sugar. Habitual coffee, tea, or soda drinkers literally become addicted to their brew. How many times have you heard someone say they just can't get going without their morning coffee, or who get a morning headache unless they drink coffee? What clearer sign of dependency could be more evident? The bad news: absolutely no progress will be made with chronic fatigue as long as coffee/caffeine is part of the diet.

Other than by upsetting the effects of low blood sugar, diet can influence the energy reserves in other ways as well. Many vitamin and mineral deficiencies are related to a lack of energy. These deficiencies are fairly common as a result of devitalized food consumption, or may be related to conditions of blood loss through menstrual periods or bleeding ulcers.

Protein deficiency, in some cases, could be a cause of fatigue, while excess protein consumption could be a factor as well. The habit of skipping breakfast or just having a donut and coffee is associated with both low blood sugar and morning fatigue.

Usually, a change to a substantial unrefined grain breakfast will completely remove the morning "blahs". Excess protein, especially saturated fat animal proteins, cause more problems than Bayer has aspirins. Some of those problems being, cardiovascular disease, and liver and gallbladder disease and toxicity, all with symptoms of fatigue. Taking a walk on the wild side, a sedentary person eating excess vegetarian proteins may experience similar fatigue.

In general, the more demanding exercise a person does, the more protein he or she can eat and deal with effectively. Any excess clogs the system, causes toxicity, and lowers the body's vitality as it attempts to deal with the excessive amounts of unneeded and often more toxic waste products of protein metabolism.

Another form of toxicity results from poor eliminations. Slow bowel transit time, aka loaded bowel syndrome or constipation, causes toxic residues in the colon to be reabsorbed, causing lethargy, depression, coated tongue, fatigue, and other signs of ill health. A high-fiber diet corrects this situation quite easily.

One of the primary roles of the liver is detoxifying the harmful or unwanted elements in the body. If the liver is overworked, general toxicity results. A congested liver due to excess toxins such as pesticides (like GMOs), food colorings, artificial flavors like MSG and/or aspartame, preservatives, etc., from foods, excess fatty foods, excess protein, chemical exposure, or drugs, also will leave the person in a sluggish, toxic state.

Lack of demanding exercise and poor skin function, cause poor circulation of blood and lymph. This results in stagnation and ultimately toxicity in various organ groups, causing lowered vitality and fatigue. It is kind off paradoxical that exercise, which initially requires energy, produces such an abundance of vitality and more energy.

Occupations that require little physical exertion are much more fatiguing than good, hard physical work. Exercise stimulates blood and lymph circulation, aids in tissue nutrition, stimulates the endocrine system, tones and cleanses the cardiovascular system, and generally acts to "grease" our entire body machine. Exercise also helps keep our energies directed and concentrated, preventing many emotional and mental disorders.

Food allergy is a frequently ignored cause of poor vitality, depression, listlessness, fatigue, and other similar symptoms. This can be caused by any food and may cause sudden acute symptoms almost to the point of lying flat on your back, or the more subtle chronic fatigue if the allergen is consumed on a regular basis.

Cardiovascular disease, arteriosclerosis, and arthrosclerosis can reduce the efficiency of blood circulation. If the blood flow to the brain is reduced due to narrowing the vessels of blood supply, mental fatigue and lethargy can result. A similar effect occurs due to cervical arthritis, where the bony changes encroach on the vessels, which pass through them and supply blood to the brain.

Other degenerative diseases like cancer usually are first noticed by vague feelings of tiredness and lack of energy and vitality.

As you can see, simple fatigue can be fairly complex and, by all means, nothing to ignore.

As far as diet goes, what was listed in the previous article, Anemia Reversed, should be adhered to when fatigue manifests.

Briefly put, the diet should be an organic vegetarian diet, no refined grains, no processed foods, no caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco, and by all means, nothing that had a face or a mother, or dairy, or eggs. You want to build, not continue to break down.

Aloha!

About the author:
I have been doing a weekly radio show in Honolulu since 1981 called "Health Talk". In 2007 I was "forced" to get a Masters degree in Nutrition because of all the doctors that would call in asking for my credentials. They do not call in anymore. Going to www.healthtalkhawaii.com enables you, among other things, to listen to the shows. I am an activist. In addition to espousing an organic vegan diet for optimum health, I am strongly opposed to GMOs, vaccines, processed foods, MSG, aspartame, fluoridation and everything else that the pimps (Big Pharma, Monsanto and the large food companies) and the hookers (the doctors, the government agencies, the public health officials, and the mainstream media) thrust upon us, the tricks.
After being vaccinated with the DTP vaccine as a child I developed asthma. After taking the organic sulfur crystals (they are harvested from the pine trees in Louisiana) in November of 2008 for 10 days my asthma reversed and has not come back over 4 years later, 18 cases, so far, of autism have been reversed, as has cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, osteoarthritis, joint pain, astigmatism, gum disease, increased sexual activity, heavy metal and radiation elimination, parasite elimination, free radicals elimination, faster athletic recovery time, increased blood circulation, reduced inflammation, resistance to getting the flu, reduction of wrinkles, allergy reduction, reduced PMS and monthly period pain, nausea, migraines and so much more. And it's only possible because of the oxygen it releases that floods the cells of the body. The sulfur, as proven by the University of Southampton in England, enables the body to produce vitamin B12 and the essential amino acids. You can find out more about this incredible nutrient also on my website - www.healthtalkhawaii.com -.
My book, "a Sane Diet For An Insane World", has been published. It can be viewed at
www.asanediet.com.