Green Mountain Natural Health

Fatigue

by Bernie Noe, ND

Fatigue is a very common complaint that can take many forms and have many causes. Some people have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), which is characterized by new onset fatigue that has lasted longer than 6 months and is severe enough to impair activity by 50% or more. Other criteria for CFS include fever, sore throat, muscle pain or weakness, joint pain, enlarged lymph nodes, sleep disturbances, and mood or neurological disturbances. Most people who experience fatigue, even if it is chronic, do not have CFS. They have fatigue that may be chronic. This article will discuss treating fatigue that is not CFS. CFS treatment is beyond the scope of this article.

Fatigue can have many causes, including low thyroid or adrenal gland function, anemia, infection, heart disease, lung disease, physical inactivity, chemical toxicity, and diet. Anemia is a common cause of fatigue, but it is commonly tested and treated, so it will not be discussed in this article. Infection and heart and lung disease are also beyond the scope of this article.

The most common cause of fatigue that I see in my practice by far is diet. Diet can cause fatigue in a variety of ways. The most common is from eating too many high glycemic foods. High glycemic foods cause the blood sugar to spike because they either contain too much sugar or they are rapidly converted to sugar by the body. This includes grains, potato, and alcohol. On the glycemic index scale, which goes from 0 to 100 (with 100 equal to pure sugar), white bread is a 95 and baked potato is a 90. For all practical purposes these foods are the same as sugar to your body. Even whole grain breads, however, are about an 80, which is still high. Low glycemic foods include proteins (beans, nuts, soy, dairy, eggs, meat, fish, poultry), vegetables, and even most fruits which contain a different type of sugar than most other foods.

The human body didn’t evolve with high glycemic foods in our diet – that came with agriculture. As a result, our bodies are not equipped to handle these kinds of foods. Eating too many of these foods can eventually result in insulin resistance, which then prevents the sugar in the blood from getting into the cell where the mitochondria turn them into energy. Fatigue is therefore a very common effect of eating too many of these high glycemic foods, as is depression, weight gain, and hypoglycemia.

Another common dietary cause of fatigue is food allergies. While most people think of a food allergy as an immediate reaction to peanuts or strawberries resulting in difficulty breathing, a far more common reaction is delayed and more insidious. It can take the form of fatigue, headaches, eczema, irritable bowel, asthma, seasonal allergies, and many other conditions. Most people with this type of delayed allergy are unaware they are allergic. The most common allergens are dairy, eggs, and gluten (a protein found in wheat and other grains). Other common allergens include yeast, beans, peanuts, and almonds. Food allergies can be identified by blood testing or by a trial elimination of the above (and possibly other) foods.

Hormonal causes of fatigue are also fairly common. People with low thyroid function have a low body temperature and are often tired, depressed, constipated, and overweight. People with low adrenal function are generally tired, they may have mood problems, and they often suffer from allergies and inflammation. Both of these conditions can be diagnosed by checking hormone levels.

Chemical toxicity is pervasive in our modern world. In a 2004 study performed by the Environmental Working Group, 10 newborn babies were checked for levels of 413 toxic chemicals. An average of 200 toxic chemicals were found in these babies, which get passed to them through cord blood from their mothers.  Because many of these toxic chemicals damage the mitochondria that produce our energy; fatigue, low body temperature, weight gain, depression, allergies, headaches, and/or chronic pain often result.

Lastly, physical inactivity is a common cause of fatigue, as well as weight gain and depression. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity, most days of the week. Optimal, rather than minimum, levels of physical activity are 45-60 minutes daily.

Naturopathic doctors are physician experts in treating the underlying cause of disease and using natural medicines to help people get and stay well. To determine the cause of your fatigue and get effective treatment, please make a selection below.

Need more help (or more information)? Schedule a visit (most insurance accepted) Schedule a phone or Skype consult Get a food allergy test Get our free nautural health newsletter