Tea Time: Fatigue and Food

  • What contributes to low energy
    • Talk to a doctor to rule out medical conditions (thyroid, diabetes, HTN, Seasonal Affective Disorder, allergies)
    • Hormonal changes
    • Lifestyle factors
      • Being overworked
      • inadequate sleep
      • stress
      • lack of exercise/movement
      • inconsistent eating
      • inadequate caloric intake
      • low iron/anemia
      • vitamin/mineral deficiencies
  • What you can do (after you see your doctor)
    • Manage stress!
    • Manage sleep with sleep hygiene
    • Get moving – start slowly
    • Take a multivitamin/mineral (with iron if warranted)
    • Eat regularly throughout the day
    • Eat a balance of carbs/protein/fiber
      • whole grains
      • protein sources (meats, dairy, nuts/seeds, legumes)
      • fruits/veg
    • Eat iron sources regularly (avoid calcium at the same time, take with vitamin C)
      • lean meats
      • beans
      • tofu
      • nuts
      • eggs
      • fortified foods like cereals, breads
      • leafy greens like spinach

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