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Energy truly governs our lives. Low energy can mean the difference between crawling and walking through life. In fact, fatigue-related complaints are one of the top five reasons people visit their physician.  Sometimes, a little recuperation is all you need to recharge. Other times, the damage is more serious, and simple menial tasks, like  holding a hairbrush, become a struggle. In the case of modern fatigue syndromes like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, professional help is often required to get back on your feet.

How is energy produced in the body?

The foods you eat provide the fuel for your life. The thyroid gland governs your metabolism, directing the conversion of nutrients from the food you eat into complex tissue substances. The Krebs cycle then changes these compounds into chemical energy (ATP); ATP is either used immediately for tissue energy or stored as fat for future use. But, food is not the sole supplier of energy; sunshine showers us with energy from healing vitamin D. Standing outside right before a storm brings energy into your body. And, of course, lifestyle is involved––the foods you eat, your environment, people you surround yourself with, and your attitude towards life. Good health––emotional, physical and spiritual––is the absolute basis for body energy. 

Don’t let your energy go to waste. Your body requires energy for all of its functions: including muscle activity, hormone secretions from  glands, healthy maintenance of cell membranes and the absorption of the food in your digestive tract. Without enough energy, all systems begin to crash, inviting depression and a myriad of other ailments.

What zaps your energy?

Here are the five most common areas of energy depletion

• Lack of sleep: Almost 50% of the U.S. population has sleep-related problems like insomnia. Lack of sleep drains your energy, reduces immune response, lowers your sex drive, and raises blood pressure. Giving up 90 minutes, of the standard 8 hours, reduces daytime alertness up to 33%!

• Stress: Stress depends on how you react to the changes and demands of your life. Chronic stress targets organs like the adrenals, taxing their stores to the point of depletion, effecting how you look and feel. The more stressed you become, the more vulnerable you are to chronic health problems.

• Adrenal Exhaustion:  The adrenal glands are the most affected by stress, emotional strain, anger or exhaustion. When you are under pressure, the adrenal medulla secretes adrenaline and norepinephrine to accelerate metabolism, heart rate, respiration and perspiration. These are natural responses vital to survival; they strengthen the body and increase its resistance to stress. But when the adrenals release too few or too many hormones, exhaustion can result.

• Thyroid Malfunction: Because your thyroid gland governs your metabolism, its smooth running is crucial to providing vital energy resources. Since World War II, more people have developed thyroid problems; thought largely, to be a result of new chemicals and pollutants in our environment. Today hypothyroidism (low thyroid) affects 15 million people, the vast majority of them women.

• Over-Use of Stimulants like caffeine, sugar or drugs: Nine out of ten Americans use caffeine, typically 2 cups of coffee a day. Caffeine acts as a nervous system stimulant and is notorious for wiping out the adrenals, leading to lowered energy levels. Sugar consumption of the average American is 150 pounds of sugar a year. Over-use of  caffeine or sugar results in an increase in blood sugar levels. In an effort to clean up the excess sugar in the blood, insulin, our body’s blood sugar regulator, removes too much sugar, causing low blood sugar reactions and more fatigue.

The good news is...Natural energizers have great advantages over chemically processed stimulants. They don’t exhaust the body, and are supporting rather than depleting. They can be strong or gentle, as needed.

For more good news from Dr. Linda Page about natural energizers for specific applications, see: Energy- Part 2, in the Jan/Feb issue of The Messenger!

Linda Page, Ph.D., Traditional Naturopath, is an internationally renowned author, educator, and classical herbalist. Dr. Page’s best-selling book, Healthy Healing, A Guide To Self-Healing For Everyone, is now in the 12th edition. Dr. Page owns and formulates Crystal Star Herbal Nutrition supplements. For more information about Dr. Page, Healthy Healing, and Crystal Star Herbal Nutrition go to:

http://www.healthyhealing.com

Products, services and advice in this article are intended for informational purposes and not as medical advice. Consult a medical professional if you have questions about your health.

©2004 Healthy Healing Enterprises