We all suffer tiredness – it may be from extreme physical exertion, working hard all day, or pushing yourself mentally to achieve a goal or meet a deadline. Or it may be that we are just worrying more than normal. Regardless of the reason, all the body usually needs to bounce back is a night or two of good sleep.
But what if this doesn’t fix things?
If you continue to feel worn out, or struggle to find motivation, the best way to describe this is “ I always feel tired”.
But it may be something different. If you cannot identify the specific reason, then inflammation may be playing a role in the development of your fatigue.
Fatigue can be good or bad – physiological fatigue occurs when we over-exert our body for an extended time without taking a rest – it’s essentially our body protecting itself and saying it’s time for a rest.
‘Bad’ fatigue is an inflammatory response by our immune system, to irritation or pathogens and may occur in seemingly healthy people – as many as 40% of the healthy population may experience this type of fatigue.
Ways to reduce inflammatory-induced fatigue include:
1. Eat good Quality fats such as Omega-3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish such as salmon, trout, or tuna
2. Daily movement – be active while listening to your body and adapt your activity plan as needed
3. Get adequate good-quality sleep by avoiding caffeine late in the day, spending some time in the fresh air, and notating your thoughts before sleep if you are prone to worry.
4. Choose foods such as a higher intake of fruit and vegetables that are high in anti-oxidants and linked to lower inflammation, such as nuts, yoghurt or milk beverage.
In summary, inflammation can play a role in chronic fatigue so having a healthy lifestyle and diet is a great way of assisting you to return to healthier energy levels.
Anti-oxidant supplements also play a large part in helping the immune system combat fatigue and disease.
