Today I wanted to talk about about something I hear about a lot (a lot! From clients and readers), and that is— fatigue and how to fight it naturally. It seems more and more people are talking about how physically fatigued they are, rather than experiencing high energy (which is what we all long for, isn’t it?!). So let’s talk about what we can do to ensure we are getting the rest needed for our health and beauty, from the inside out.
Fatigue…
Oh, the dreaded “fatigue” word. It seems to have become a chronic, widespread issue. What’s crazy is, even people who are incorporating a more natural approach to their daily lifestyle (not just standard American dieters), are feeling it.
Is fatigue connected to high levels of stress?
There are definitely a lot of studies connecting stress to all kinds of diseases. It’s a concept that some in the medical community believe in, and others dispute. I personally definitely agree that stress IS related to all kinds of health and physical issues- and it shows up on your face and in your skin. They prefer to use “adrenal insufficiency” or other terms, but overall, stress wears and tears our system. Bottom line, it just exhaust our adrenals and weighs down on our energy.
As a society, ridiculously high levels of stress are systemic. Our poor nervous system is doing too much, too fast, too often and for too long of a period. We’re overstimulated. It therefore takes longer to recover properly.
Combat Adrenal Exhaustion…
This is where diet can be really important, because we know that stress depletes our B vitamins. As the world becomes faster and faster, we can’t control every component of it. BUT if we set up rhythms in our life, regularity, and places where we can really self-nourish (such as our diet and incorporating more self care into your regular schedules), then we can help sustain ourselves more through stress.
Our goal is to consume as much nutrition as possible, without the digestive burden of many foods on the market (such as refined sugars and excessive meat, which is really hard to digest). Easy-to-digest foods that restore our natural energy include natural super energizers such as bee pollen or goji berries. Both have a ton of nutrition, including the B vitamins.
Plant beauty foods are also super energizers to help replenish us from stress, while digesting easily and having lots of fiber to provide sustained energy without weighing us down.
When we talk about this idea of digestive load, it also goes back to the health of our guts. If we’re not absorbing nutrition and don’t have the right balance of bacteria in our system, our immunity is lower, and we’re simply not as energized.
Research around the gut and the importance of the gut just seems to be snowballing right now (but, ahem, in Beauty Detox we’ve been focusing on gut health for years!). Digestion is an energy-intensive process- and if your gut is off, your digestion is going to be off, and in turn, your energy is going to be massively effected.
Some of the primary things that we recommend for rebuilding yourself and fighting fatigue is to take the right probiotics. I’ve experimented a lot with my own body and I can honestly say I love the SBO probiotics because they’re the most natural formula out there. They mimic the microflora found in the soil, which our ancestors used to consume in small amounts on unwashed fruits and vegetables.
Soil-based organisms are very different than trying to take billions and billions of a few strains, or even twelve strains, but aren’t necessarily the right formula for your gut—ultimately making the digestive process difficult for your gut.
What to Avoid…
It’s also important to avoid very inflammatory foods, like dairy and gluten, which will only congest the gut, making the digestion process take longer (leaving bad toxins to linger and cause health issues…and aging you!).
Dairy is the one thing I will never eat, no matter what! You have to pick and choose. I admit that I’m not perfect and will avoid gluten 85% of the time- except sometimes when I’m traveling and am more flexible out of necessity.
Something else to be careful of are “natural energy drinks”, because our bodies lose the sensitivity to caffeine. If you’re at a level where you’ve had a lot of caffeine every day, your body gets adjusted and as a result, it starts having less and less of an effect. Either you need more, or you feel more tired from the same amount of caffeine.
Sounds suspiciously like a drug, right?! Well it is a form for sure!
A lot of times when people are fatigued, part of it is that they’re so used to the stimulation of caffeine that when it’s gone down, the effect has gone down. When the effect has gone down, then basically the energy that they’re used to getting from it is no longer there. This is when you might start asking yourself, “Why am I so tired?” or “Why is my brain not working?” Inevitably, this leads to another cup—creating a vicious cycle.
Everybody has different priorities and goals. I’m not saying to give up caffeine but to at least take a break once or twice a week if you can. Even if you can’t focus on cutting the coffee out completely, at least you could start your day having my Glowing Green Smoothie®.
The nutrients and fiber will help your body utilize the energy in a controlled, sustained way. In no time, you’ll be able to reduce your coffee intake—which is a huge step towards eliminating fatigue.
The BIG Question
The BIG thing to think about is why are you so tired in the first place that you reach for so much coffee? It could (ie probably!) require a lifestyle shift. But don’t be scared. I’m here to support you every single step of the way! In my new book, Radical Beauty, that I co-authored with Deepak Chopra, we outline 6 Pillars for living your most beautiful life, including a pillar on sleep and one on meditation, so you can learn to de-stress (as well as new dietary information). Check it out!
We live in a culture where we prop ourselves up with caffeine and need anxiety-quelling meds to fall asleep. Instead, we need a more balanced lifestyle, which is what the Beauty Detox and Radical Beauty lifestyle teach!
Recap…
So by eliminating inflammatory foods and so-called energy drinks, and instead, starting your day off with a GGS and some good SBO’s, you’ll soon be on your way to feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. It’s all a matter of priorities and baby-steps.
I really hope that you incorporate some of these tips and start to feel your best. Life is so joyful and precious, and every day should be enjoyed and savored. I want you to have the most energy as possible Beauties, so let’s work on getting your energy up for the long term! ;)
Sending you love,
Kimberly
We had a great trip to NYC, See you back in LA Beauties!
Hi,
My husband has gout and ,therefore , refrains from consuming mushrooms. However, due to the benefits of this food , would it be ok to use use a supplemental, powder version.
Gratefully,
Debby
Hi Debby and thanks for reaching out to me with your question. When it comes to health issues I always encourage my Beauties (and their hubby’s), to consult with their Health Care Practitioner to ensure you are receiving what your body personally needs. I would have your husband take any supplements that you’re questioning with you, so they can look at the ingredients and know exactly what you’re wishing to take. They will be able to provide the right answers for him personally. Sending you both lots of love and support! ;)