Spring into spring

The current demand for 24/7 living inevitably leaves people feeling fatigued, exhausted and wanting more energy. Some find that as they get older, their energy tank doesn’t feel as full as it should. The arrival of health-related problems, for example, heart and lung disease, more weight to carry around and life-changing events such as moving home can exhaust energy reserves despite great efforts to maintain energy levels through regular sleep.

Persistent fatigue, not alleviated by sleep, is often a by-product of an underlying health problem so it’s important to get medically checked out. Anaemia, an underactive thyroid gland or depression may be responsible for a lack of energy and if diagnosed, can be treated with conventional medicine or supplements, such as St John’s Wort for depression.

Simply correcting the lifestyle balance is often all that’s needed. It may sound like a contradiction but being active actually helps to make a person feel more energetic. It doesn’t have to be the gym or marathon running. A brisk walk each day, dancing, even housework or DIY count. Ensuring that the recommended eight glasses of water are consumed each day can increase energy levels dramatically. Many people are surprised how much more energetic they feel having made these two lifestyle changes.

For those with a less-than-healthy diet, simply making better food choices can overcome tiredness. This means plenty of vitamin and mineral-rich fruit and vegetables each day, a couple of portions of fish (at least one oily) each week and lots of fibre to keep the digestive system working well - if the bowels become sluggish, the rest of the body will feel the same way. It’s best to keep refined foods, that can disrupt blood sugar and cause energy crashes, to a minimum. Try eating whole grains that release sugar slowly and provide long-lasting energy and reducing the intake of stimulants such as caffeine for a while. It should go without saying, but always eat breakfast. Taking a prebiotic fibre supplement not only helps to keep the gut moving well but also assists the growth of necessary friendly gut bacteria. B vitamins help boost energy levels and a multivitamin is good insurance that the body will get the correct nutrients. Magnesium also aids the body in producing energy, as does co-enzyme Q10, a naturally occurring nutrient found in all of our cells. It’s known as the energy spark plug since it plays an essential role in the process of converting food nutrients into the energy that every cell needs if it is to function well. The body manufactures some co-enzyme Q10 but this decreases as we get older. It’s available from foods such as fish, meat, green vegetables and nuts or in supplement form.

Alcohol is a depressant and an excess will leave a person feeling chronically tired and under the weather so keeping to within safe amounts is important. Artichoke extract and milk thistle can help to cleanse and support the liver and in turn this can help the body to feel more energetic.