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What's Causing Your Energy Drain?
This is such a busy time of year, isn’t it? Whether it’s school or
after-school commitments, social or philanthropic organizations that
start meeting again after the summer, end of the year plans at work, or
all of the above, fall activities are demanding! If you’re like me, you
know you plan too much, but you still want to be efficient, accomplish
everything, and do it well. There is no time in the schedule for
running out of energy or getting sick, and “Collapse From Exhaustion” is
not on the TO DO list. But your body will stop you if you don’t stop it
first. How will you know if you are running on empty? The number one
warning sign is fatigue.
Abnormal fatigue can be a sign from your body that you are overworking,
over thinking, under resting, or undereating. (I don’t know if all
those are words, but they should be.) A variety of illnesses and
medical conditions can cause fatigue, including hormone disorders,
depression, and pregnancy, so if you notice a dramatic or persistent
change in your energy level, it’s wise to consult your physician. The
good news is that if it’s your hectic agenda that’s leaving you drained,
you can give yourself the best chance of staying well by looking at a
few key areas – sleep, nutrition, hydration, and relaxation.
As with many beneficial life habits, these four staples of health do not
have catchy slogans or expensive promotional campaigns. Bottled water
brands and sleep number beds are starting to change that, but they’re
based on the premise that you need a very extravagant bed or water
purification system, rather than the idea that you need sleep and water
to be healthy. (Common sense, you say? How long has it been since you
got eight hours of sleep and drank two liters of water in the same
day?) Most nutrition-related marketing promotes one food or food group
over another, rather than the guiding principle that you faithful
readers know by now: eating frequent, small amounts of a variety of
foods.
On the other hand, I’m sure you’ve seen and heard multiple
advertisements for energy bars, energy drinks, and energy boosting
supplements, promising more energy if you eat or drink the magical
concoction of chemicals. Remember what you learned in Nutrition 101:
Your body can only make energy from three things: carbohydrates,
proteins, and fats. ONLY. Other nutrients help your body USE energy,
including iron and B vitamins, but nothing you get in a pill can
actually give you more energy than eating actual food. Caffeine,
ginseng, guarana, ma huang, ephedra, and xenedrine are all stimulants
that make your heart beat faster, so your brain gets more oxygen, so you
FEEL like you have more energy…but it’s a trap. When the effects wear
off, you will be more tired than you were before. If you use the
chemicals again, you perpetuate the cycle, or in other words, you’re
hooked!
Quick Tip: Real energy means calories. If a product contains 0
calories, it’s a fake.
The good news (yes, there’s more!) is that although no supplement can
make up for poor habits, changing habits can eliminate the need for
these potentially harmful chemicals in your body. Easier said than
done, I agree. But start in one area, and experiment with a small
change. If you see results, you will have proved to yourself that the
change is worth it! In the coming weeks, we’ll look at each of the key
areas, sleep, nutrition, hydration, and relaxation, with the goal of
maintaining exceptional energy throughout your day.
If you need an energy makeover, why not keep an energy log? On 2
weekdays and 2 weekend days write down the following: What time it is
each time you eat (you don’t have to write down WHAT you eat); what time
it is when you go to sleep and when you wake up; what beverages you
drink throughout the day; any relaxing activities you did that day; and
a description of your energy (highs or lows) throughout the day. In two
weeks we’ll meet back and see what your results mean and where to
improve! To be continued…
Jessica Setnick is a registered
dietitian in Dallas, Texas who travels the world
spreading nutrition wisdom. As an accomplished speaker
and writer, Jessica’s passion is promoting a positive
relationship with food and eating as a key component of
a healthy and happy life. Find out more or contact
Jessica to speak at your event by visiting her website
at
www.understandingnutrition.com.
© 2004 Permission is granted to reprint this article in
print or on your web site so long as the paragraph above
is included and contact information is provided to
www.understandingnutrition.com.
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