The most common problem clients mention in my nutrition clinic is feeling ‘tired all the time’. GP’s hear it too. Beyond running a full blood test to look for possible causes there can be no real solutions on offer.
Here are the top 6 reasons I find my clients are feeling tired all the time:
Food intolerances:
If feeling tired all the time is accompanied by either bloating, random aches/pains or skin breakouts then food reactions could be the reason you feel tired. It can be difficult to figure out which food is causing the problem because the effects are usually delayed. Food reactions can become masked when the food is something you eat regularly. If you are feeling tired all the time it can become impossible to link the tiredness with a specific food. You can book an appointment with us and we can help you tease apart your symptoms and identify possible offending foods. You can also order a food intolerance test through us. Long term food intolerances can also affect your absorption of nutrients which brings us to the next reason for feeling tired all the time.
Low nutrient status/nutrient deficiencies:
I should stress that developing nutrient deficiencies is not usually due to eating an unhealthy diet. Many clients I work with have really good diets when they come to me. Deficiencies are more often due to issues with digestion and absorption. Not breaking down and absorbing the nutrients in food is a common problem. Especially if you struggle with IBS-type symptoms or bloating. Sometimes deficiencies are created from taking supplements, for example, supplementing iron could lower absorption of zinc. Whilst low iron levels are a common reason to feel tired, you should only supplement if testing has shown your levels to be low. Consistently low levels of iron should be investigated further as quite often this is an absorption problem.
Blood sugar issues:
Riding the blood sugar rollercoaster can leave you feeling tired and depleted. If you find that you get ‘hangry’ when you skip or delay meals or rely on caffeine, cigarettes or starchy food for energy then you are probably struggling to keep blood sugar levels stable. Simple dietary strategies and targeted supplementation can help you to keep blood sugar and energy levels stable.
Low immune function:
If you tell me that you’ve ‘never been well since’…. you had that virus or long-lasting cold last winter then it’s possible that your immune system needs support. This can be tied in with poor nutrient status and food intolerances too. If you had a course of antibiotics for a bacterial infection then it’s possible your gut bacteria might need a little support too.
Chronic stress:
It’s unsurprising to hear that long-term stress or acute stress can leave us feeling tired all the time. Our adrenals are responsible for helping our bodies adapt and cope with stressful situations. The problem is if the stress is huge or ongoing then this can be taxing on our bodies resources. In this situation you need to be sure that you are taking care of yourself and supporting your body in the right way. A programme to support adrenal function usually involves all of the above – correcting nutrient deficiencies, balancing blood sugar, supporting immune system function and identifying food intolerances. We can help you develop the right nutritional programme to support you through tricky times.
Thyroid issues:
You might have sub-clinical hypothyroid issues, symptoms of this can include feeling cold, constipation, some hair loss or coarse hair as well as feeling tired all the time. Even diagnosed thyroid issues can still cause symptoms. We can use a targeted nutritional programme to support thyroid hormone conversion and uptake to support thyroid function.
If you want help to figure out what is causing your fatigue and comprehensive advice on the best way forward then we can help.
Get in touch and book a personalised nutrition programme to help you recover your energy and feel fabulous.
