Q: I’m not sick — I have been checked out -- but now that I am 50, I’m tired a lot of the time. How can I get my energy back? — Darlene R., Kansas City, Missouri A: You say you’ve been checked out by your doctor, so we will assume you don’t have hormonal imbalances, a thyroid condition, anemia or heart disease — and you are not taking a medication that causes sleepiness. (You were screened for those possibilities, right?) So, what could be going on?
Lack of get-up-and-go can have lots of causes, ranging from depression to constantly sedentary behavior, with a large dash of poor nutrition thrown in. But one common cause of chronic weariness is an overload of work, family and personal matters and the chronic stress — and emotional distress -- those can cause. Clues that chronic stress is the cause of your fatigue include moodiness, problems with shortterm memory, lack of focus and trouble sleeping. The smart move is to find ways to ask for help from friends or see a therapist and to prioritize obligations.
The experts at Harvard Medical School suggest that exercise like Tai Chi, walking and swimming also can dispel stress and energize you so that your muscles, bones and heart are strengthened, and your brain is sharp. Plus, strength training two or three times a week provides a big boost in muscle strength and overall energy.
As you add physical activity to your daily routine, you want to make sure that what you eat provides the energy you need. You can get that from a plant-based diet that ditches added sugars, processed foods, and red and processed meats. For great recipes, check out Dr. Mike’s “What to Eat When Cookbook” and the recipes at iHerb. com/blog. For information on energizing foods and supplements, check out “Constant Fatigue: Common Causes + the Best Foods and Supplements to Boost Energy” And “Feeling Fatigued? 5 Supplements for a Natural Boost of Energy” at iHerb.com/blog.
