Dr. G’s Top 5 Ways to Send Fatigue Packing
Get an energy boost when you need it
We all get tired now and then, but have you ever experienced true fatigue?
I’m talking about the kind of tired that doesn’t go away with a power nap or taking it easy for a few days.
The kind of tired that makes it difficult to concentrate, or that can make you moody or short-tempered.
Exercise will go a long way toward battling chronic fatigue — and so will eating a whole-food diet, cutting out sugary and fried foods, and eliminating food allergies.
Of course, this kind of lifestyle overhaul takes time and dedication.
In the meantime, there are a handful of supplements that have been proven to help battle fatigue and give you an energy boost.
Here are five of the best.
- Vitamin B12
Like other B vitamins, vitamin B12 play a key role in transforming the food you eat into energy for your body to utilize.
Vitamin B12 also helps make red blood cells, which transport oxygen throughout your body. Without enough oxygen, you feel tired and weak—and no amount of sleep will help.
When choosing a supplement to boost B12 levels, make sure it’s the methylated (active) form.
- Iron
Iron is necessary for making hemoglobin, which is the protein in your red blood cells that transports oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.
Without sufficient iron, your tissues don’t get the oxygen they need. This leads to iron-deficiency anemia, which makes you tired and weak.
Good food sources of iron include meat and seafood. You can also consider iron supplementation, especially if you’re already experiencing fatigue caused by anemia.
- CoQ10
This supplement is most commonly associated with brain and heart health, but it’s just as vital for your energy levels.
Your cells use CoQ10 to make energy. When you don’t get enough CoQ10, your cells don’t get the energy they need, which leads to fatigue.
The best food sources of CoQ10 include fish, meat, and nuts.
But if you’re already experiencing fatigue, a CoQ10 supplement will be your best option for boosting your levels to where they need to be.
- Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is known as an adaptogen, which is a substance that helps your body adapt to both mental and physical stress.
Supplementing with ashwagandha has been shown to improve measures of stress and anxiety, and to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Studies have also shown that ashwagandha improves both physical and mental fatigue.
- Magnesium
Fatigue can be a symptom of magnesium deficiency.
Magnesium is yet another cog in the wheel that turns to convert glucose from food into energy. It’s also required for the production of ATP, which provides energy for your body.
So, it’s no wonder that a lack of magnesium could contribute to fatigue.
Food sources of magnesium include shellfish, nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables. Stress drains your body of magnesium, so cutting down on stress is like plugging the holes in your energy bucket.
For an energy boost, consider supplementing with 400 mg of magnesium.
