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Exhausted? 8 Natural Ways To Overcome Chronic Fatigue For Good

William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C.
Author:
August 23, 2016
William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C.
Functional Medicine Practitioner
By William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C.
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Will Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C., is a leading functional medicine practitioner with a certification in natural medicine and a doctor of chiropractic degree.
August 23, 2016

We live in a society of extreme exhaustion. According to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 million to 4 million Americans suffer from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome1. But it's estimated that among that demographic, less than 20 percent have been formally diagnosed.

What is chronic fatigue?

Chronic fatigue is characterized by a number of related symptoms, including:

  • Constant or relapsing fatigue
  • Fatigue that's not significantly helped by resting
  • Fatigue that interferes with your daily activities and work
  • Exhaustion and achiness after physical activities
  • Impaired memory or concentration
  • Waking up tired, even after a full night's sleep
  • Frequent headaches
  • Muscle pain
  • Joint pain
  • Sore throat
  • Tender lymph nodes on your neck

If you're experiencing at least four of these symptoms, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) might be to blame. But the problem with the term "chronic fatigue" is that it's really only a description of how you feel—it doesn't explain why you are fatigued in the first place.

Natural remedies for chronic fatigue syndrome.

In functional medicine, the goal is to find out the root cause of problems like chronic fatigue. The reality is there isn't just one cause of chronic fatigue syndrome—it has many underlying pieces.

Still, there are a few steps you can take to start rehabbing your energy levels. Here are eight tips I recommend:

1.

Wake up your cells.

Your body is made up of trillions of cells. The energy factory of your cells is the mitochondria, and several studies have found evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction in those with chronic fatigue. Another study, published in NMR in Biomedicine, found low levels of the antioxidant glutathione2 in the brains of patients with CFS.

What to do: Supplementing with L-arginine, alpha lipoic acid (ALA), and CoQ10 are three natural ways to help increase glutathione as well as protect and boost your mitochondria and the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), your cell's high-energy fuel.

2.

Get your BCAA on.

Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) refers to three amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. BCAAs compete with your "sleepy-time" amino acid tryptophan and prevent its transport into the blood, thus decreasing fatigue.

What to do: Talk to your health care practitioner about supplementing with BCAA to fight fatigue. A typical daily dose of BCAAs is around 20 to 30 grams of the three combined amino acids one to three times per day.

3.

Support your gut.

Your gut is your second brain. In fact, your gut and brain were formed from the same fetal tissue and are inextricably linked for the rest of your life through the vagus nerve and the gut-brain axis. Most of your serotonin, the happy neurotransmitter, is made and stored in the gut.

What to do: I recommend having labs done to evaluate your gut health. Research suggests that probiotics such as bifidobacterium and lactobacillus can improve microbiome health3. Bone broth is rich in collagen and glutamine, which are both helpful in supporting the gut. Bone broth is also rich in glycine, which has also been shown to improve brain performance and energy.

4.

Manage stress and increase restorative sleep.

Doesn't it feel like life gets busier every year? These hectic and stressful lives we live are doing a number on our sleep.

What to do: Start and end your day with mindfulness meditation. An amino acid called theanine has also been shown to improve sleep and allows you to feel rested and rejuvenated when you wake up. Low-caffeine teas like white tea or decaf green tea are great sleep-promoting options, as well.

5.

Balance your hormones.

Underlying hormonal dysfunctions can wreck your energy levels. Adrenal fatigue, thyroid problems, and sex hormone imbalances like estrogen and testosterone can all fuel fatigue.

What to do: It depends on your specific issue. Read my article on the subject for a complete list, and talk to a functional medicine practitioner for a perspective on your case.

6.

Maximize your nutrients.

Low levels of iron, vitamin D, B12, and folate can all contribute to fatigue.

What to do: Get labs to check your nutrient levels. If you don't already, focus on eating a nutrient-rich diet with a wide variety of whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, organic meats, and healthy fats.

7.

Support your immune system.

Chronic infections (including Lyme disease) may be an underlying cause of chronic fatigue, but they are widely undiagnosed.

What to do: In addition to getting tested for underlying infections, consider blends of Siberian ginseng, samento, sarsaparilla, guaiacum, astragalus, resveratrol, and cat's claw for their immune-strengthening properties.

Bottom line

As you can see, while there isn't one single cause or solution to chronic fatigue syndrome, there are a number of ways to help your body overcome symptoms. Overall each step centers around promoting total health and well-being for your body.

William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C.
William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C.

Will Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C., is a leading functional medicine expert who consults people around the globe, starting one of the first functional medicine telehealth centers in the world. Named one of the top 50 functional and integrative doctors in the nation, Dr. Will Cole provides a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems. He is the host of the popular The Art Of Being Well podcast and the New York Times bestselling author of Intuitive Fasting, Ketotarian,The Inflammation Spectrum, and Gut Feelings.


Read More About William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C.

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Functional Nutrition Training

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Functional Nutrition Training

Check out Functional Nutrition Coaching

A cutting-edge nutrition deep dive taught by 20+ top health & wellness experts

Learn more
William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C.
William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C.

Will Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C., is a leading functional medicine expert who consults people around the globe, starting one of the first functional medicine telehealth centers in the world. Named one of the top 50 functional and integrative doctors in the nation, Dr. Will Cole provides a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems. He is the host of the popular The Art Of Being Well podcast and the New York Times bestselling author of Intuitive Fasting, Ketotarian,The Inflammation Spectrum, and Gut Feelings.


Read More About William Cole, IFMCP, DNM, D.C.

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