Fatigue

Background

Fatigue is very common, and most people would like more energy. Although it is important to have your doctor make sure you do not have anemia, low thyroid, diabetes or other common causes of fatigue, in most cases it improves by simply cleaning up your lifestyle a bit. In some cases, hormonal deficiencies (even with normal tests) and hidden infections are also playing a role.

If you have insomnia or widespread achiness/pain along with severe fatigue, you may have chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. These, and even day to day fatigue, can now often be effectively treated using the S.H.I.N.E. Protocol (see S.H.I.N.E. under "More" tab).

Treatment

Energy will often markedly increase by adhering to the following.

Diet & Exercise

Limit sugar and caffeine

Cut out excess sugar (except for chocolate — which helps energy), sodas (diet are OK, avoiding aspartame if able), and caffeine (an 8-12 oz cup of coffee or a few cups of brewed tea a day are OK).

Exercise

Pick something fun so you stay with it. Shopping (park far from the entrance) is an example. Make a daily appointment to meet a friend to exercise with if you have trouble sticking with it.

Sleep

Get 8 hours a day (see Insomnia).

Recommended Supplements

Multi-nutrient powder

Improving your diet and taking a good multi-nutrient powder (see Energy Revitalization System).

Ribose

A special sugar, called Ribose, can increase energy an average of 45%, with improvement beginning at an average of 12 days (according to one study). Take 1 scoop (5 gms) 3x day for 3 weeks, then 2x day. It can be used like sugar.

Other Therapies & Advice

Thyroid hormone

If fatigue persists, consider a trial of thyroid hormone (see Hypothyroidism) or adrenal support (see Adrenal Exhaustion). In addition, see the sections on Sinusitis or Irritable Bowel Syndrome if you have symptoms for these, plus the section on Candida (the yeast infection that triggers sinusitis and spastic colon).

Read My Book

You can also learn more by reading my book From Fatigued to Fantastic!

More Information Online

Energy Analysis Program

Contributor

Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, MD

Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. is a board certified internist and author of the popular free iPhone application “Cures A-Z,” which was ranked in the top 10 of all health/wellness downloads on iTunes.

Dr. Teitelbaum is the author of the perennial bestseller From Fatigued to Fantastic! (Avery Penguin), which has sold over half a million copies; Pain Free 1-2-3 (McGraw-Hill); Three Steps to Happiness: Healing Through Joy (Deva Press); the Beat Sugar Addiction Now! series (Fair Winds Press);  Real Cause, Real Cure (Rodale Press); The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution (Penguin/Avery); and his latest, The Complete Guide to Beating Sugar Addiction (Fair Winds Press, 2015).

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