Top 4 reasons you have low energy

Low energy is one of the most common symptoms that patients present with in my office.

Everyone has those days where maybe they had a busier day than usual, or the kids woke them up in the middle of the night.

But constantly waking up every morning feeling unrefreshed, needing naps throughout the day, or needing to drink cups of coffee to make it through the workday is not normal.

There are reasons behind why you have low energy. Your body is trying to tell us something.

When we listen to our bodies and determine the root cause of our low energy, we can put a plan in place to stop the daily crashes for good.

Here are the top 4 causes of chronic fatigue I often see in patients:

1) Lack of good quality sleep

Most of us tend to focus on how many hours of sleep we get each night. Although this is important, if we are not getting enough good quality sleep where our body is able to rejuvenate, we will feel constantly fatigued. It’s possible to sleep for 10+ hours and still feel exhausted. If you wake up several times a night, or feel unrefreshed in the morning, this is a sign that supporting your sleep is key to improving your energy levels.

2) Nutrient deficiencies

If we are not nourishing our bodies adequately, then our bodies have to work even harder to carry out every day processes. This in turn makes us feel tired more quickly. Think of it like planting a garden. If you have no tools to help you dig up the dirt, you can still do it but it will be a lot more difficult and you will be more exhausted afterwards. This is the same when it comes to our bodies. We need the tools to help us carry out the demands of everyday life. Common deficiencies I see include: iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and protein.

3) Hormonal imbalances

If you have any of the following symptoms, it is likely that hormones may play a role in why you feel fatigued: irregular bleeding patterns, hair loss, feeling nausea or out of breath, feeling dizzy or “hangry”, cravings for salt or sugar, PMS symptoms and more! Hormones to consider that can cause fatigue include cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, and thyroid hormone. Determining why your hormones are unbalanced is the key to improving your fatigue in these cases.

4) Environmental and Food Triggers

If you notice that you are unable to tolerate certain foods without feeling gas or bloating, or having abnormal bowel movements, it could be that your body is having a hypersensitivity reaction to foods or environmental triggers. These are different from typical allergies in that symptoms can occur up to 72hrs after consumption or exposure. Almost always, hypersensitivity reactions will result in fatigue. This is why it’s important to determine your triggers and learn how to avoid them.

What are your energy levels like?