Vitality and Energy

Do you struggle to get out of bed and feel exhausted for the first few hours of the day? Do you struggle to feel motivated first thing in the morning? Do you feel like sleeping during the day but find that you are wide awake in the middle of the night?

A lack of vitality and energy can really sap the joy out of life, but with many simple changes in nutrition and new perspectives on lifestyle choices that sense of vitality and energy can return!

Blood sugar awareness

Being aware of imbalance in your blood glucose levels can help you make the best choices about what and when you eat. Your body needs glucose because it is the only fuel used by your brain and every cell in your body needs it in order to function properly. Too little glucose circulating in your blood and your cells will not function properly, too much and this can be toxic to your body.

When there is too much glucose in your blood, a hormone called insulin is produced by your pancreas and this stimulates your liver and muscle cells to take up glucose and remove it from your blood. The problem is that your pancreas overcompensates by producing too much insulin thus removing too much glucose from your blood causing a drop in blood sugar. When your blood glucose levels drop, you will get a drop in energy and will start craving sweet foods and stimulants.

Fasting

Intermittent fasting changes your body in fascinating ways. As you fast, blood levels of insulin drop significantly and your body begins to burn more fat. Many people are horrified at the idea of fasting, but it really does not have to be a traumatic experience. A simple thing like delaying breakfast or having an earlier dinner can ensure your body takes a rest from digestion for up to 16 hours. It is best to try to fit all your eating into an eight-hour window and eat as much healthy proteins and fresh fruit and vegetables as you normally do!

During fasting periods, your body will go to its fat stores for energy, and fatty acids called ketones will be released into the bloodstream. Ketones promote positive changes in the structure of synapses that are important for overall brain health. Your growth hormones will increase to facilitate fat burning and increase muscle mass. Your cells will work harder to remove waste material and show an increase in cellular repair processes. Furthermore, this can result in reduced oxidative stress, reduced inflammation and a reduction in blood sugar levels and insulin resistance.

Who would have thought such a simple change could pack such a punch?! You can read more on my blog ‘Intermittent Fasting’. 

Thyroid

A poor functioning thyroid can often be the cause of fatigue and listlessness. Your thyroid gland regulates your metabolism and your metabolism is like the engine is to a car. In the same way that an efficient engine heats up a car quickly, your thyroid also controls your body heat which is why a good indication of a poor functioning thyroid is a low body temperature when you wake up in the morning, and cold hands and feet. Eating foods high in iodine can help support your thyroid.

Stress

Stress can be external, perhaps a stressful job, a demanding family life or an unhappy relationship, or it can be internal, particularly if you have had one illness after another or had an underlying infection you are unaware of.

You may benefit from doing an Adrenal Stress Profile which would show how well your body was coping with daily stress. There are several other functional tests that I can recommend as well as taking a thorough history and an EIS scan which can help determine the most appropriate approach for you.

Sleep

Sleep is one of the most important rhythms that regulate your body and sleep is necessary for neurological processes and physical restoration. Most of us are not in tune with the natural rhythm of light and dark so our bodies often struggle with many of its other physiological rhythms. The benefits of sleep cannot be overstated: while you are sleeping your body is working hard! It is clearing out cellular debris and repairing cells and systems and using the sleeping hours to ensure your body – cells, muscles, organs – recovers faster and better than any other known treatment.

Prioritising healthy sleep is also the best way to avoid burnout and fatigue, which has a negative effect on the immune system and leaves your vulnerable to dysfunction and disease. I have included more information and many tips on how to get restorative sleep on my blog ‘Restorative Sleep’. 

• Avoid TV or bright LED screens an hour or so before bed.
• Sleep in a dark bedroom – turn off all lights and block out any streetlights. You might find black-out blinds useful!
• Regulate your body’s internal clock by getting up at the same time every day.
• Resolve any emotional issues and calm your mind before you fall asleep.
• Since your body temperature needs to drop in order to fall asleep, make sure your house is cool during the night.
• Avoid stimulants in the evening and restrict coffee to mid-afternoon as it can stay in your system for 6 hours.
• Use lavender spray or essential oil to help you calm down and unwind before bed.

Oxygen

Healthy lungs have effective airflow in and out of the lungs, with flexible bronchial tubes and alveoli that inflate and deflate easily with each breath. Healthy lungs keep the blood oxygenated, but if levels of oxygen drop below 90%, this is a cause for concern. People with limited or obstructed airflow will typically have impaired gas exchange as their lungs are unable to take in sufficient oxygen and must work harder to clear excess carbon dioxide.

Relaxed breathing. You want to aim for slow, low and small breathing so that your diaphragm moves and not your chest. CO2 levels determine our breathing cycle so it is important to increase your CO2 tolerance level. Think about taking little breaths and prolonging your exhalation while still breathing slow, calm breaths through the nose.

Breath through the nose! Chronic mouth breathers habitually take in too much oxygen with each breath and ironically have very low levels of oxygen available in their body. Why is this? Read my blog on The Oxygen Advantage to find out how to improve oxygen levels and to find out more.

With every blessing,

Emma

Emma Maitland-Carew – Registered Nutritional Therapist

Dip.ION, mBANT, CHNC Registered Practitioner,

Metabolic Balance® Coach, HeartMath Coach, Accredited Wellbeing Coach.