Do you want to have more energy? Are you feeling so sluggish and tired it is hard to get through the day? If so the naturopathic approach may be just the answer you need to help you feel vital and full of the zest of life.
There are numerous reasons for feeling low in energy. There may be mental health problems, hormonal imbalances, adrenal gland problems, infections, or other physical complaints, that are contributing to general lethargy. Naturopaths are able to help identify these and show you how best to support your body for great energy.
Diet & Nutrition can increase or deplete energy
A diet high in damaging sugars, and poor quality fats provides little nutrition. It causes low energy and a host of problems for your body. Deficiencies of nutrients such as water, high quality fats, Enzyme co Q10, B vitamins, iron, vitamin C and magnesium can result in poor energy production.
B vitamins, Enzyme Co Q10, Vitamin C and magnesium
B vitamins are essential for energy production, and to cope with stress. Enzyme Co Q10 is also vital for energy production[1-3]; this is also likely to be low if you have any heart or circulation problems[4] or bleeding gums. Certain medications such as Statins used to lower cholesterol, and Metformin used to lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes, cause depletion of Enzyme co Q10 resulting fatigue[4, 5]. Vitamin C and magnesium are also needed for stress management and are important for the health of your adrenal gland.
The role of the adrenal glands
The adrenal glands help us manage stress they produce a hormone called cortisol. Small increases of cortisol are a natural response to short term stressful events. However, elevated cortisol levels from prolonged or chronic stress can cause weight gain, fatigue, muscle weakness and mental exhaustion, lower immunity and chronic physical and mental disease states.
Nutrients such as magnesium, B vitamins, Vitamin C, and the Essential Fatty acids help the adrenal glands work correctly to produce only the amount of cortisol your body needs, this helps improve energy and enables us to cope better with stress.
Read more in the herbal section; herbs also play a significant part in the naturopathic treatment of low energy, in support of the adrenal glands, digestion and nervous system.
Original Article April 2014 Copyright Jaine Kirtley
Supplements-
Entire Katoa Food State Vitamin B complex
Entire Katoa Food State Antioxidants plus co-Q 10
Entire Katoa Food State Magnesium 80
Entire Katoa Food State Vitamin C
References
1. Fu X, Ji R, Dam J: Antifatigue effect of coenzyme Q10 in mice. J Med Food 2010, 13:211-215. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20136457
2. Maes M, Mihaylova I, Kubera M, Uytterhoeven M, Vrydags N, Bosmans E: Coenzyme Q10 deficiency in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is related to fatigue, autonomic and neurocognitive symptoms and is another risk factor explaining the early mortality in ME/CFS due to cardiovascular disorder. Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2009, 30:470-476. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20010505
3. Mizuno K, Tanaka M, Nozaki S, Mizuma H, Ataka S, Tahara T, Sugino T, Shirai T, Kajimoto Y, Kuratsune H, et al: Antifatigue effects of coenzyme Q10 during physical fatigue. Nutrition 2008, 24:293-299. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18272335
4. Okello E, Jiang X, Mohamed S, Zhao Q, Wang T: Combined statin/coenzyme Q10 as adjunctive treatment of chronic heart failure. Med Hypotheses 2009, 73:306-308. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19409711
5. Villalba JM, Parrado C, Santos-Gonzalez M, Alcain FJ: Therapeutic use of coenzyme Q10 and coenzyme Q10-related compounds and formulations. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2010, 19:535-554. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20367194
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