What else could be driving your low energy or fatigue?
As mentioned in last week’s blog (https://www.deonhall.com/single-post/are-you-always-feeling-tired-and-fatigued-could-you-be-suffering-from-adrenal-fatigue), excess cortisol and stress are big drivers of fatigue. But there are other factors that could be driving your fatigue or low energy.
Here are a few other areas to consider.
Low Testosterone
Issues related to low levels of testosterone is often undiagnosed and is frequently misdiagnosed as stress. Low levels of testosterone can cause you to frequently feel fatigue, sluggish or tired. Testosterone is the hormone responsible for a healthy sex drive, mood, emotional stamina, energy, and strong joints and bones. It is important to note that testosterone levels can vary during a woman's menstrual cycle, throughout the day or over her life.
Thyroid Condition
The thyroid regulates how your body uses energy. It is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in your neck and plays some very important functions on your body. It produces two main hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), and these two hormones affect every cell in your body. The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating your:
Metabolism, the rate at which you use energy or you burn calories
Body temperature
Hair growth
Mood
If your thyroid is not working as it should, you could experience low energy, weight gain and have difficulty losing weight.
There are two main malfunctions of the thyroid, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid wherein it does not produce enough thyroid hormone.
Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone or overactive.
Perimenopause and menopausal women often suffer with underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism. Both conditions deplete your energy resulting in fatigue. If you have too little thyroid hormones, your body slows down and if you have too much thyroid hormones, your metabolism increases, which can impact your sleep and drain your body’s energy.
Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance occurs when your cells can no longer respond to insulin. When you eat, your body converts the food into glucose that your body uses for energy. In order for this glucose to be used as energy, the pancreas releases insulin that will take the glucose to your cells where it can be used for energy. Since the glucose cannot get into the cells (resistant), it remains in your bloodstream, causing your body to slow down.
Here are a few tips to increase your energy
Adopting a whole foods diet. Remove inflammatory foods such as anything that is highly processed and replace them with anti-inflammatory whole foods such as sweet potatoes, cruciferous vegetables (if you can tolerate them), salmon, sardines, etc.
Incorporating high quality supplements and herbs such as Vitamin D, Iron, Holy Basil herb (naturally boost energy, improve sleep, normalize blood sugar levels) and Maca.
Adopting a daily essential oils ritual. Citrus oils, Peppermint, Eucalyptus,, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, basil, etc. are great for supporting fatigue and low energy.
Diffuser blend: 3 drops Eucalyptus and 3 drops Peppermint essential oils
Diffuser blend: 2 drops Peppermint and 3 drops your choice citrus oil
In Good Health,
Deon
DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended to provide medical advice. The purpose is to provide education and broader understanding to my readers. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. I do not recommend or prescribe, or recommend changing dosage or discontinuing, any prescription medications or pharmaceutical drugs.
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Source: Drmarizasynder.com, The Hormone Cure, Dr. Sara Gottfried
