Fatigue

Everyone experiences fatigue occasionally: it’s the body’s way of signalling its need for rest and sleep. But when fatigue becomes a persistent feeling of tiredness or exhaustion that goes beyond normal sleepiness, it can be a sign that something more serious is amiss.

Symptoms of fatigue

  • Lack of energy
  • Drowsiness
  • Tiredness
  • Sleepiness
  • Malaise
  • Listlessness
  • Feelings of muscle weakness
  • Slowed movements or reactions
  • Lack of mental clarity
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty remembering things

Contributory factors associated with fatigue

Nutrient deficiency: certain nutrients are essential for ensuring that the energy production process in the body runs properly. These include the B vitamins and the mineral magnesium. Unfortunately these are the nutrients that are most often lacking in our modern processed diets!

Low nutrient status can be identified using the comprehensive screening in the NutrEval Test, and addressed using diet and supplements if necessary.

Imbalanced blood sugar: a diet high in sugars and refined foods can make us feel great one minute and really low the next. This can make us feel permanently tired as well as causing mood swings, cravings and weight gain.

Longer term poor blood sugar balance can lead to insulin resistance and possibly eventually diabetes.

If you experience these symptoms, an Insulin Resistance Test measures your insulin levels, and Smart Nutrition can give you expert advice on practical diet changes to rebalance your blood sugar and or manage insulin resistance.

Food allergy or intolerance: fatigue is a common symptom of food intolerance, especially for people with an intolerance to grains, such as wheat.

If your fatigue is accompanied by digestive symptoms or headache, or if you think you have a food allergy or intolerance, a Food Allergy or Intolerance Test can give you key insights to help you manage your condition.

Candida infection: a Candida infection occurs when there is an overgrowth of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans in the gut. This can be caused by poor dietary habits, compromised levels of friendly bacteria in the gut or poor immunity to name just a few.

Common symptoms include digestive disturbances, craving sweet foods, difficulty losing weight, mood swings, joint pains, headaches and poor memory as well as fatigue.

If you think you may have a Candida infection, a Candida Test can confirm this.

Anaemia: anaemia is a condition which occurs when there is a reduced number of red blood cells or not enough iron in the blood.

Red blood cells are vital for carrying oxygen to our cells. This is needed for energy production, so one of the primary symptoms of anaemia is tiredness.

Low thyroid function: fatigue is a very common symptom of hypothyroidism – an underactive thyroid. The thyroid gland controls the body’s metabolism, so it has a huge influence on how energised we feel. Hypothyroidism also slows down many of the body’s other systems. This can result in constipation, cold hands and feet, weight gain and depression.

If you think hypothyroidism may be a factor in your fatigue, a Thyroid Test can give you this vital information.

Adrenal exhaustion: two small glands, known as the adrenals, help us deal with life’s stresses by releasing the hormones cortisol and DHEA.  Periods of longterm or profound mental or physical stress can cause these glands to go into overdrive. If this is sustained over a long period or happens regularly, the adrenal glands can become exhausted. This can cause the levels of cortisol and DHEA in the blood stream to become imbalanced, leading us to feel tired and exhausted.

A stressful lifestyle may be contributing to your fatigue.  An Adrenal Stress Test can help pinpoint precise imbalances in the stress hormones.  These can then be targeted by Smart Nutrition, who can help you to support and nourish your adrenals and restore your energy levels.

Useful Links

Please do not return samples to the laboratories that may arrive after Wednesday 27th March and up to and including Monday 2nd April.

The laboratories are closed from the 28th March – 2nd April for the Easter Holiday.