Continuing with our last article of the winter blahs, here we examine more ways we can beat the blues, combat stress and improve our energy levels.

1) Too much stress

Today’s hectic lifestyle is a recipe for living in a chronic state of stress, bouncing between flight and fight and  eventually the wear and tear on our bodies finds us collapsing and literally burning out. If we don’t pay attention to alleviating stress by taking breaks and recharging our batteries and minds, we have the potential to suffer permanent stress damage e.g increased body mass, raised blood pressure and increased cholesterol. By incorporating daily activities, such as deep breathing, exercise & meditation, we can break the stress cycle and regain our equilibrium. However, if we don’t have these breaks, we will gradually drain and flatten our energy reserves, leaving us feeling exhausted, unmotivated, and unhappy. During stressful times, the body demands additional nutritional requirements such as vitamin C, magnesium and the B vitamins found in fresh foods, however during these stressful times we have a tendency to reach for convenience & fast foods, which are usually high in calories, sugar and fat but which are deficit in vitamins and minerals.

The adrenal glands (they look like little hats sitting on top of the kidneys) are the ones pumping out the hormones epinephrine and cortisol in response to stress, which although helpful in the short term to fuel the reptilian fight or flight survival response, are harmful and corrosive in the long term, causing oxidative stress amongst other baneful effects. According to the Journal of Hypertension, the result of cortisol constantly dripping into the bodies system is potentially damaging and creates a myriad of health problems (Fraser et al., 1999).

We can help the body to cope with and treat stress burnout with the use of adaptogens, which are commonly used to support and replenish overworked adrenals by nourishing them with the likes of the adaptogen family of herbs, for example, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as “Indian Ginseng”, Siberian gingseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) and Rhodiola rosea also known as Golden Root or Rose Root.

2) Dehydration

An often overlooked cause of energy depletion and fatigue, is dehydration caused by too little fluid intake or too much fluid loss, which can not only create stress in the body but can also cause fatigue. Other symptoms can include light-headedness, muscle and joint aches, and other serious symptoms such as irregular heartbeat.

Dehydration risks are exacerbated by hot climates, prolonged exercise, and of course vomiting and diarrhoea. All of these can contribute to an excessive loss of fluids and essential salts, with both needing to be replenished to prevent dehydration fatigue.

Even mild dehydration can be the cause of headaches, listlessness, digestive issues and can further have a noticeable effect on how much energy we have and how we feel. A mere 1% loss in body mass from dehydration can significantly diminish energy levels in both men and women, negatively impacting moods, and hindering concentration levels.

Quite often thirst is mistaken for hunger and the body is telling you to replenish fluids. Listen to the body carefully and keep the fluids up, during the day continue to drink water, non-caffeinated or herbal teas (Black teas generally are a diuretic and counter-productive if fluid intake is aimed at staving off dehydration), broths and fruit. If mild dehydration is suspected, essential water and salt intake can be achieved by opting for natural electrolyte replacement drinks and will quite often do the trick. So keep drinking is the message.

We can provide nutritional & exercise advice to help find the best balance for your body. So if you want more energy, want to feel better or just want to talk to someone, simply pop in to, or call, VaVa Complementary Health and Wellbeing, and let us take care of you. The herbal supplements mentioned in this article are available from us on request.

Namaste, Ashlí

References

• Fraser, R. et al. (1999) ‘Cortisol Effects on Body Mass, Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol in the General Population’, Hypertension, 33(6), pp. 1364–1369. Available at: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/ 10.1161/01.HYP.33.6.1364.

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