Whether you are a busy mom, an office worker or a gym instructor, you can’t deny that fatigue is a condition that we all experience at different times. Often, people are pushed by this condition to reach for energy drinks, coffee or other stimulants. 

What can cause fatigue?

Certainly there are a number of causes that most people are already aware of like: illness, lack of sleep, obesity, physical exertion, medications, depression, stress, alcohol, limited exercise etcetera. How about the times when you experience being tired despite sleeping well, exercising, and sticking to a good diet? It’s confusing, but it’s often not your fault. There are quite a few less known reasons that can possibly cause fatigue. Toxic exposure, food allergies, and nutritional deficiencies are less known causes of fatigue. 

Toxic Exposure

Although often overlooked, toxicity is one major cause of fatigue – Energy production is  robbed at the cellular level. The mitochondria are the powerhouse units of each cell. Unfortunately, toxic exposure causes mitochondrial dysfunction, which hinders energy production, leading to a lack in vitality. All of us are exposed to toxicity on a regular basis. Yes, we inhale, ingest, inject or have direct contact with poisonous chemicals daily. Getting to know which toxins are present in the body, detoxifying, and avoiding (as much as possible) is one sure way to increase energy production.

Food Allergies

Reactions to food and drink vary a greatly person to person due to our individual biochemistry. If someone is unaware of the food allergies they have, that same person will be unaware that they are triggering their immune system each time they consume the irritating food or drink. When the body comes into contact with a irritating food, the immune system will fire up to neutralize the perceived attacker. In fighting allergy, the body diverts a large portion of energy to make the immune system as robust as possible. As a result, energy is zapped from reserves that we use for typical daily activity.

Nutritional Deficiencies

It should come as no surprise that nutritional deficiencies cause low energy. It’s a fact that the body’s trillions of cells rely on ample nutrition in order to produce energy. While enough nutrition from the various vitamins and minerals are required to have vitality, the three listed below are critical to energy production.

B Vitamins

B vitamins are specially needed by the mitrochondria in the cell for energy production. If the body has an increased need for B vitamins, or the intake is too low, the individual is bound to feel worn out. 

Magnesium

Magnesium is a very important mineral to the body considering its involvement in more that 300 metabolic reactions, making it critical at all times. One key chemical reaction that magnesium contributes to is ENERGY PRODUCTION.  

Antioxidants

(Vitamin C & E, Selenium, and COQ10) Antioxidants are major players in feeling vibrant due to their ability to neutralize free radical damage within the cell. A healthy cell with less toxins will always have the ability to produce more energy! More cellular energy = less fatigue. 

Thanks to modern technologies, testing toxin levels, food allergies and nutritional deficiencies can now be done within very short time, in the office or at home. 

Francesca Quinn
Naturopathic Doctor Denver
(720) 310-0797
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