Apart from getting ample rest, many factors do play a part in your well-being. If you often feel tired despite sleeping the desired number of hours, you may be lacking something else in your lifestyle.
Unhealthy diet
Proteins are very important sources of energy. Make sure you’re getting sufficient protein in your daily meals. Examples of food that are rich in protein include fish, nuts, seeds and beans. Reduce consumption of food that are high in saturated fats, processed foods, artificial sugars and trans fats. Not only can they lead to health problems related to obesity, they also sap your energy.
Be sure to consume generous servings of fruits and vegetables per day as well. Vitamin C helps to enhance your immune system, and fibres will stimulate bowl movements, thus detoxifying your body and keeping constipation at bay.
Deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals
Examples of those that have an impact on your fatigue levels:
Selenium: For thyroid function and metabolism. The higher your metabolism, the more activity you can indulge in without feeling spent.
Iodine: Low iodine levels result in fatigue.
Omega-3: As Omega-3 is a health fatty acid, and our brain is largely made up of fatty acids, lack of Omega-3 for renewal can cause cognitive, behavorial and memory-related deficiencies. This is also why people tend to not be able to remember things well when fatigues.
In addition, Omega-3 helps to prevent or control a myriad of health problems including heart disease and certain cancers like breast, prostate and colon cancer, diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis. They are even helpful to mental conditions like depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Vitamin D: Low levels of Vitamin D leads to low energy levels and depression.
Magnesium: Magnesium is essential for energy production in bones and muscles.
Consider getting vitamin prescriptions from your doctor if you’re not getting enough of this in your daily diet.
Lack of exercise / inactive lifestyle
Strange but true. The less you move, the more tired you feel. Regular exercise helps to boost energy and mood and fitness levels.
Poor quality of sleep
You may be going to bed and waking up at fixed timings, but are you really sleeping well throughout? Stress, menopause and andropause in people in their 40s and 50s, poor bladder control which leads to waking up in the middle of the night are examples of causes of lack of sleep. In fact, lack of sleep may not even be apparent. Dreams are part and parcel of your sleep cycle, but if you’re remembering your dreams vividly, or even getting waken up by them, it means that you haven’t been sleeping well at all.
Check out past articles I’ve written about improving sleep quality, or go to the doctor to get insomnia treated in serious cases.
Not having breakfast
Are you skipping breakfast just so you can sleep in longer? Well, don’t. For years, experts have proven through research that not having breakfast leads to a number of health problems, including a poorer ability to remain alert and focused throughout the day.
It’s in the mind
You may claim you’re tired, but sometimes, it’s more a case of “I can’t wait to get this over and done with.” This would explain why some people look listless at work, but become very energetic when they go out after work. You’d think they’d head straight home if they were really tired! If you’re mentally tired, you may want to try adopting more optimism, doing things you enjoy to cheer you up, or perhaps consider a job switch if it is really getting you down.
Illness
Constant fatigue may be a symptom of something much more serious. Anaemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism, hepatitis C and some cancers result in fatigue. Get a full body check-up and consult your doctor if your fatigue isn’t the result of any of the above.
Sources:
http://health.yahoo.net/articles/nutrition/7-hidden-causes-fatigue
http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/fats/what-omega-3-fatty-acid-does-for-you.html
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