by Amy K Davis, M.D.
“Fatigue” is the most common complaint that I hear from patients. It can vary from tired to full blown exhaustion, often accompanied by poor endurance, brain fog and irritability. The challenge to treating Fatigue is that it can come from so many potential sources.
By breaking down the potential causes we find effective solutions. Here are some of the common causes of fatigue that can be easily corrected.
Diet – Processed foods, sugar, carbs and grains can all contribute. The solution is straight forward. Stay away from the middle part of the grocery store where the processed foods are placed. Eat fresh vegetables and fruits and limit your carbs and grains. Reduce sugars! Make a green smoothie each day. Greens are high in B-Vitamins which are critical for energy production. It will give you a quick boost of energy and as a bonus supports the body’s natural detoxification process.
Poor digestion – This is a very common problem today. When there are not enough digestive enzymes and bile present to efficiently digest food to the simplest particles, you cannot produce adequate energy. Symptoms of poor digestion may include: bloating, heartburn, bad breath, loose stools, constipation, food craving and weight gain in the mid-section. There are many good professional grade digestive enzymes available today. I use these in my practice based on the specific symptoms that are present.
Dysbiosis (imbalanced intestinal flora) – The micro-environment of the small intestines is very complex and contains beneficial and non-beneficial bacteria and yeast. There are influences that impact whether the flora is healthy or not. The negative influences include antibiotics, poor digestion, poor fiber intake and sugar. Probiotics (Promoting life) are healthy bacteria. To support healthy flora you may benefit from digestive enzymes (starves the bad guys), probiotic supplements (supports good guys), and fiber (food source for healthy flora). This will help to tilt the scales towards a healthy gut.
Sleep – not enough or poor quality. Natural agents that can be helpful for sleep include: Melatonin, or 5-HTP which helps to calm and improves sleep. By gently supporting serotonin levels in the brain, sleep and mood improves. Passion flower, chamomile, valerian, lavender are botanicals that can be effective. There are many products sold that contain these as a blend.
Make an appointment today and optimize your energy now.
Amy K Davis M.D.
Crossing Back to Health
636 778-9158
www.Crossingbacktohealth.com