There are many different ways you can boost your energy, but if you feel your fatigue is unmanageable contact your health practitioner .

Food gives us energy! Fuel your body with beneficial things.

The body’s preferred energy source is glucose, from carbohydrates , but it can also use fatty acids (from fats) and amino acids (from proteins). Glucose is delivered to virtually every cell in the body by the bloodstream, and is then burned with oxygen to produce energy.

If you want more energy, look at your diet and make sure you’re following these basic guidelines:

• Drink lots of water. A dehydrated body functions less efficiently and enhances fatigue.
• Be careful with caffeine. 1 or 2 caffeinated drinks per day like coffee, tea or cola can boost your energy and mental alertness, but more than 6 caffeinated drinks per day may make you anxious, irritable, and negatively affect your performance.
• Eat breakfast. Food boosts your metabolism and gives your body energy to burn. The brain relies on glucose for fuel, so choose carbohydrate-rich breakfast foods such as cereals or whole grain bread.
• Don’t skip meals. Going without food for too long allows blood sugar levels to dip. Try to eat regularly to maintain your energy levels throughout the day.
• Don’t crash diet. Low calorie diets or diets that severely restrict carbohydrates don’t contain enough energy for your body’s needs. The typical crash diet also deprives the body of important nutrients.
• Eat a healthy diet. Increase the amount of fruit, vegetables, whole grain foods, low fat dairy products and lean meats in your diet. Reduce the amount of high fat, high sugar and high salt foods.
• Don’t overeat. Large meals can drain your energy. Try smaller meals more times daily to increase digestive efficiency

A common cause of fatigue is not enough sleep, or poor quality sleep. Suggestions include:

• Get enough sleep. Adults need about 8 hours per night.
• Limit caffeine. Too much caffeine, especially in the evening, can cause insomnia.
• Learn how to relax. A common cause of insomnia is fretting while lying in bed. Experiment with different relaxation techniques until you find one or two that work for you; for example, you could think of a restful scene, focus on your breathing, or silently repeat a mantra or phrase. Meditation can work wonders for easing into a peaceful nights sleep.
• Avoid sleeping pills. Sleeping pills don’t work in the long term because they don’t address the causes of insomnia.
• Create a sleep routine like a nice warm bath, meditation a calming cup of tea before bed.

Some general health advice for beating fatigue includes

• Don’t smoke. Cigarette smoke contains many harmful substances. There are many reasons why smokers typically have lower energy than non-smokers. For example, the body needs to combine glucose with oxygen to make energy, but carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the amount of oxygen available.
• Limit the time you sit down. Reduce sedentary behaviours such as watching television and using computers.
• Increase physical activity. Physical activity boosts energy levels, while a sedentary lifestyle is known to cause fatigue. Being active has many healthy effects on the body and mind. It reduces blood pressure, helps to maintain a healthy weight, and is an effective treatment for depression and anxiety. A good bout of exercise also helps you sleep better at night.
• Limit alcohol consumption

Believe it or not, studies suggest that between 50 and 80% of fatigue cases are mainly due to psychological factors. Suggestions to address these factors include:

• Assess your lifestyle. Are you putting yourself under unnecessary stress? Are there ongoing problems in your life that may be causing prolonged anxiety or depression? It may help to seek professional counselling to work out family, career or personal issues.
• Relaxation training. Constant anxiety drains the body of energy and can lead to burnout. Relaxation techniques, such as meditation and yoga, help to ‘switch off’ adrenaline and allow your body and mind to recover.
• Learn to do nothing. A hectic lifestyle is exhausting. Try to carve out a few more hours in your week to simply relax and hang out. If you can’t find a few more hours, it may be time to rethink your priorities and commitments.
• Have more fun. Are you so preoccupied with commitments and pressures that you don’t give yourself enough time for fun? Laughter is one of the best energy boosters around.

Remember as silly as it may sound DON’T TAKE LIFE TO SERIOUSLY, NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE. Please learn to enjoy the little things.

Wishing you happiness

Eva