Feeling Fatigued?

Fatigue and lack of energy is one of the more common complaints a doctor hears from patients. If you find you don't have the energy you used to have, there is a lot you can do right now to get back on track to a more energetic you. 

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

It is no surprise that women are tired; they are busier than ever. Many are juggling work, children, family and endless responsibilities — it is a recipe for fatigue. All of this hustle means that women are not taking care of themselves; not eating right, not getting enough nutrients, nor are they getting enough exercise or sleep.

Our busy lives leave us with low energy, irritability, stress, worn down immune systems, and may even lead more serious conditions like depression.

WHAT CAN I DO?

You might think that drinking coffee or taking other stimulants is a solution, but these are only temporary fixes that often lead to more fatigue in the future. If you are looking for a better way to ensure your long-term energy needs, try these energy boosters:

Exercise is an important part of your fatigue-fighting routine. Research has shown that regular exercise releases endorphins which help us feel good and exercise has been shown to reduce tiredness.

Getting a good night's sleep is one of the best tools in your fatigue-fighting arsenal. Try going to bed at the same time every day, avoiding caffeine late in the day, or read a book instead of watching TV.

Food is the fuel for your body; try eating healthier, avoiding sugar and processed foods, and don't skip meals.

Take care of yourself. A massage, lunch with friends, a walk in the woods can all help. Take time during the day to relax (even 10 minutes alone can help).

Supplementation:

Multivitamin: even if you try to eat healthy, you may be lacking some key nutrients, so a good multivitamin is a great place to start.

B-Vitamins (including B12 and folate) are important in many metabolic processes in the body and have long been used for people looking for energy. In a study, supplementing with extra B vitamins improved energy, stress, mental health, and improve cognitive performance.

Magnesium deficiency is one of the more common deficiencies in America, with close to half of people in the US not getting enough.ⁱⁱⁱ Magnesium is required for over 300 processes in the body, including the breakdown of glucose into energy. The best form of magnesium to take is a time-release formula; to ensure a steady stream of magnesium.

Iron is an important mineral for women who are still menstruating and low iron can lead to lack of energy, especially in young women who have heavy menstrual bleeding. 

Your lack of energy can be turned around with a little effort and good nutritional supplementation. Remember that fatigue can be a sign of an underlying condition. If your fatigue persists, check with your health care provider.

Shaklee has great alternatives to helping you naturally with Shaklee's Core Energy and Shaklee Energy Chews. Here are the links to the products and I hope you have an awesome Thursday! 

Core Energy: http://mjshealthyway.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=20732

Shaklee Energy: http://mjshealthyway.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=20158

MJ

http://mjshealthyway.com

http://weightloss180.info

Info Compliments of Shaklee Health and Wellness

Women and Stress

May is Nation Women's Health Month and women are stressed more now than ever and this increased stress may be harming their health. Most women hit the ground running early in the morning and don't let up until late at night, trying to balance work, family, and home life.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

A survey of women has shown that they tend to experience physical symptoms of stress more than men.ⁱ Stress in women is thought to contribute to a number of conditions including Irritable Bowel Syndrome,ⁱⁱ frequent colds,ⁱⁱⁱ insomnia, poor mental performance, and even weight gain.^iv

WHAT CAN I DO?

The first thing to do is recognize the early signs of stress. When you have identified your triggers then you can take action to calm yourself.

Try the following:

Recognize the signs: Loss of appetite, increased appetite, headaches, crying, sleeplessness, and oversleeping are all signs that you may be too stressed.

Relax: Deep breathing, exercise, and meditation are all helpful.

Control what you can: Focus on what you can get done and then let the rest of it go. You will never be able to accomplish everything you want to.

Exercise: The stress response is also known as the "fight or flight" response, meaning that when you feel stress, your body is ready for action. Exercising has been shown to help with stress and anxiety.

Supplementation: there are many nutrients that can help with stress reduction.

L-Theanine is an amino acid which is known to help reduce stress.^vi It works on the brain to help people feel relaxed but not drowsy.

Ashwagandha is an herb that has been studied to help reduce stress in humans.^vii

Beta Sitosterol is a natural plant sterol and that has helped reduce the increase in cortisol in normally seen in stressed athletes.^viii

L-Tyrosine is an amino acid used by the body to create the neurotransmitter norepinephrine and has helped to prevent a decline in cognitive function in response to physical stress.

One of the hardest things for many women to do is to think of themselves first, but taking care of yourself and reducing your stress is a great way to be present and available to the people around you. Shaklee has many helpful products to deal with this daily stress. Check them out at http://mjshealthyway.com

Have a Healthy and Productive Wednesday 

MJ

http://mjshealthyway.com

http://weightloss180.info

Thanks to Shaklee Health and Wellness Update for the info.