Fatigue refers to a feeling of tiredness. It can be temporary or chronic. Almost every person has to work overtime, sacrificing sleep and rest which causes temporary fatigue. This condition can be remedied by adequate rest.
Chronic fatigue is, however, a serious problem which requires a comprehensive plan of treatment. It can result from a variety of factors. Many people constantly feel that they cannot take rest until they complete all tasks at hand. These people are usually perfectionists, tense and cannot relax until they complete the whole thing, no matter how tired they may be.
CAUSESÂ :
The main cause of fatigue is lowered vitality or lack of energy due to wrong feeding habits. Fatigue is an indication that the cells of the body are not getting sufficient live atoms in the food to furnish them with the constant flow of needed energy.
The habitual use of refined foods such as white sugar, refined cereals and white flour products as well as processed, tinned and preserved food have a very bad effect on the bodily system. Such foods lead to nervousness, tiredness, obesity and a host of other problems prevalent today.
ANAEMIAÂ is a very common ailment leading to tiredness. It usually results from deficiencies of iron and vitamin B12. Sometimes deficiencies of vitamin B6 and folic Acid are also involved.
INSOMNIAÂ or lack of sleep can be a cause of torturing fatigue. Sleep induced by sleeping pills and other drugs does not banish fatigue. Infact the longer sleeping pills are used, the more nagging and chronic the fatigue becomes. Besides causing fatigue, sleeping pills lead to nervous tension which increases fatigue furthermore. The harmful effects of wakefulness are indeed smaller as compared to the effects of sleeping pills. Insomnia can be remedied by correcting diet and developing the will to relax.
INTESTINAL PARASITESÂ can also cause fatigue as they rob the body of good nourishment and gorge themselves on rich red blood.
MENTAL TENSIONÂ is one of the major cause of fatigue. The person who is tense and cannot relax has all the muscles of his body more or less contracted. This leads to a needless waste of unusually large amounts of energy. Food is continuously burnt, lactic acid accumulates more rapidly than it can be carried to the liver for conversion to body starch. A person who is high – strung, nervous and irritable usually suffers from this type of fatigue.
UNRESOLVED EMOTIONAL PROBLEMSÂ can also result in fatigue. Resentment to a situation, environment and even to a person can greatly contribute to the feeling of tiredness. It is better to express one’s emotions rather than store them. Other emotional factors like worry, a feeling of boredom and a defeatist mentally can result in fatigue.Â
Other ailments which can cause fatigue are low blood pressure, low blood sugar, allergy to certain foods and drugs caused by additives including artificial flavours, colours and preservatives.
DIETARYÂ TREATMENT :
Nutritional measures are most vital in the treatment of fatigue.several studies reveals that people who eat small mid meals suffer less from fatigue and nervousness ,they think more clearly and more efficient than those who eat only three meals daily.
The patient should take an optimum diet made up of seeds,nuts,and grains, vegetables and fruits.
Roughly, each food group should supply the bulk of one of the three meals. Sprouting is an excellent way of eating seeds, beans and grains in raw form. Sprouting increases the nutritional value of foods and many new vitamins are created or multiplied in seeds during sprouting .The patient should supplement the three health building food groups with special protective foods such as milk,high quality cold processed undefined vegetable oils and honey.
Lack of pantothenic acid; a B vitamin,in particular leads to extreme fatigue as deficiency of this vitamin is associated with exhaustion of the adrenal glands. It should, however, be remembered that while taking pantothenic acid separately, the entire B-complex protects nerves and increases energy by helping to nourish and regulate glands. The vegetarian food rich in vitamin B are wheat and other whole grain cereals, green leafy vegetables, unpolished rice,milk, nuts, banana,yeast,pulses and peas.
Other Vitamins play specific roles in fatigue in connection with various ailments.The fatigue will disappear by correcting deficiencies. Minerals are also important. Potassium is especially needed for protection against fatigue.
Raw green vegetables are rich in this mineral. Especially carrot juice ,taken separately or in combination with juices of beets and cucumbers, is highly valuable in overcoming fatigue.the proportions considered helpful in combination juice of 16 ounces are carrot 10 ounces,and beet and cucumber three ounces each. Calcium is essential for relaxation and is beneficial in cases of insomnia and tension both .
Sodium and zinc are also beneficial in treatment of fatigue.
The patient should avoid depending on crutches for energy lift such as aspirin , tranquilizers and other drugs, drinking coffee or alcohol, smoking ,eating some sugar or sweets. They only give a temporary boost and this is soon followed by a downward plunge of energy, leaving a person worse than before. Such crutches are very harmful in the long run and may result in diseases such as hypoglycemia and alcoholism.
Other measures include fresh air, breathing and other light exercises.
Proper sleep and adequate rest.
Written By
The Arbitrary Doctor
