Energy: What are the main causes of fatigue and low energy?
The causes can include:
Energy is the capacity for vigorous activity. It is needed for:
"Energy transfer" is the process by which the body transports chemical energy stored in food to a special energy carrier molecule in the body called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP has been called "energy currency." It works especially within a cell's energy factory (mitochondria) to help the body to break down chemical molecules in food and make energy constantly available for all of the body's cellular processes. Three types of nutrients are required for the body to manufacture energy:
A high-energy diet must therefore contain foods rich in each one.
All of the systems in your body are stimulated by Human Growth Hormone (HGH). HGH increases your metabolism helping to break down fat, build proteins, and create lean muscle. It is often referred to as the "fountain of youth hormone" due to it’s youth-promoting benefits.
It is not gender-specific, meaning it appears in the
same amounts in both men and women. Siberian Ginseng is a nickname for Eleuthero which belongs to the Araliaceae family and is a distant relative of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng). Eleuthero is native to the southeastern part of Russia, northern China, Korea, and Japan. The root and underground stem is used. According to Chinese medicine records, the use of Eleuthero goes back 2,000 years. It was used to prevent respiratory tract infections, colds and flu and it was also believed to provide energy and vitality. In Russia, Eleuthero was originally used by people in the Siberian Taiga region to increase performance and decrease infections. In modern times, Soviet Olympic athletes used it to increase stamina and endurance to enhance their training. Explorers, divers, sailors, and miners used Eleuthero to prevent stress-related illness. After the Chernobyl accident, many Russian citizens were given Eleuthero to counteract the effects of radiation.
Siberian ginseng can support the body in the following ways:
Eleuthero improves the use of oxygen by an exercising muscle so a person is able to maintain aerobic exercise longer and recover from workouts quicker. Generally, Eleuthero is taken continuously for six to eight weeks, followed by a one to two week break before resuming. Reported side effects of Eleuthero have been minimal with just a very small number of users reporting mild diarrhea. It is not recommended for individuals with uncontrolled high blood pressure.
A full-spectrum B vitamin supplement can aid people suffering from low energy levels. Members of the vitamin B complex, found most abundantly in foods such as brewer's yeast, wheat germ and liver, are essential to the body's energy transfer processes. Most of the B vitamins, however, are water-soluble, and the body stores them only briefly.
People complaining of tiredness who were given large
amounts of vitamin B6 daily for two weeks found these
helped treat their fatigue. Some key minerals for the body's energy processes are:
What are common symptoms of mild depression?
About 370 species of plants belong to a family of plants called Hypericum. The 'St. John's Wort' available from herbalists is most often prepared from a genus known as Hypericum perforatum. St. John's Wort is a common perennial herb with bright five-petalled yellow flowers that grows wild in much of the world. The plant was associated with St. John the Baptist as it was said to bloom first on his birthday, June 21. In Germany, where the medical establishment keeps an open mind regarding herbal therapies, St. John's Wort is commonly prescribed by doctors for those suffering from depression. It is even covered by the national health-care system.
German research has shown that an extract of the plant can be clinically effective as an antidepressant. It may work through biochemical mechanisms similar to the widely prescribed non-herbal antidepressant drugs. It is also safer than the 'synthetic' antidepressants such as Elavil and Prozac as there are fewer unpleasant side effects with St. John's Wort. In clinical trials, the dose which has been shown to be effective is about 300 mg of Saint John's Wort extract taken three times a day. From the evidence available, it seems St. John's Wort can help lift the mood of mildly depressed individuals in the population at large. Tests conducted on endurance athletes showed positive results from using St. John's Wort. It also has a calming effect, which may also reduce mental fatigue and thus enhance endurance performance. The plant world is the source of approximately 25 per cent of all prescription drugs and many other herbal compounds offer relief for various maladies. Examples:
It is not surprising then that St. John's Wort should have the capability to lift moods and act as an anti-depressant.
Caution is the word when it comes to herbal products. Before you begin using any herbal product it is wise to check out the actual scientific research first and make sure you buy herbal preparations only from very reliable suppliers. C.W. Fetrow, co-author of The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicine and a clinical pharmacist at St. Francis Medical Center in Pittsburgh said this: "There are some 25 to 30 trials on St. John's wort that show the same kinds of results, and typically the majority of the trials are overseas . . . The Germans are particularly enthusiastic about St. John's wort. Germany was hip to alternative medicine long before we were in the United States." St. John's Wort doesn't appear to be toxic. It's possible side effects include dry mouth, vertigo/dizziness, nausea and diarrhoea, and dermatitis if the user is exposed to much sunlight. However, the widespread use of St. John's Wort in Germany is an indication that these problems occur quite infrequently. One study for example, showed that nausea and diarrhoea occurred in only 6 out of every 1000 users. When it comes to a cure for depression, this caution from C. W. Fetrow is appropriate: "People who are depressed need support in the form of counseling and they could need psychotherapy as a part of a general treatment approach. They also need to be monitored if they are taking St. John's Wort for any possible side effects."
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