Health Tip of the Week: How to Combat Fatigue Naturally

Feeling depleted? Persistent mild fatigue or a chronic lack of energy due to day-to-day stressors or hectic schedules can affect your youthfulness and productivity. You can help address these issues by eating healthy and keeping your blood sugar levels stable (avoid high glycemic food, extra sugar and simple carbs), getting enough rest and exercise, and adding the following supplements and herbs to your diet:

fatigue, exhausted woman, depressed woman, drained woman1. Magnesium and calcium. Oral magnesium supplementation has been shown to help reduce symptoms of fatigue, especially for those with low magnesium levels.

2. Coenzyme Q10. This vital nutrient is involved in cellular energy production throughout the body.

3. Cordyceps. A traditional Chinese medicinal fungus that may help fight fatigue and boost energy levels, it is used as an energizing tonic and to help increase aerobic capacity and endurance.
 
4. D-Ribose. A five-carbon sugar used in the generation of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), it helps maintain energy production in cells and can be especially beneficial for those with chronic fatigue.
 
5. Ginseng (American or Asian). Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) are used for stimulant and adaptogenic (stress-protective) properties, respectively.
 
6. Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus). A woody shrub from northeastern Asia with properties similar to those of ginseng, it has a long history of use to maximize athletic performance. Studies show that eleuthero can help enhance mental activity as well. 
 
7. Arctic root (Rhodiola rosea). An adaptogenic herb that helps prevent fatigue, stress and the damaging effects of oxygen deprivation.
 
8. Vitamin B complex. B-vitamins act as cofactors in many metabolic reactions and assist in the metabolism of carbohydrates into energy.
 
Additionally, I recommend taking a good brand of antioxidants, which contain B vitamins. You can also try astragalus for its antiviral properties. Another possible tonic to experiment with for increasing energy is ashwaganda (an Ayurvedic remedy).
 
Along with the addition of the above supplements, an anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet plus 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least five days a week is also recommended. It may be the last thing you feel like doing when you are trying to combat fatigue, but exercise can really help. A few years ago, a British study found that 55 percent of the chronic fatigue patients who took part in a 12-week exercise program rated themselves "much" or "very much" better as a result, and even a year later 74 percent still considered themselves improved. The study was published in the June 7, 1997, issue of the British Medical Journal.
 
Best of You Today reccomends:
 
- Life Extension Magnesium Caps
- NSI CoQ10
- Cordyceps
- NOW Foods D-Ribose Pure Powder