Why Am I Feeling So Exhausted
Fatigue is defined generally as a feeling of lack of energy and motivation that can be physical, mental or both. While fatigue is not the same as drowsiness — a desire to sleep often accompanies fatigue. While fatigue is common, it is not normal and does interfere with our quality of life. Fatigue symptoms, like most symptoms, often indicate a deeper issue.
Not Enough Sleep
Sleep is essential to health. There are two aspects that must be considered when looking at sleep health — quality and quantity.
Aim for 7 to 9 hours of consistent sleep. If you are sick or recovering from injury, you may need more. Invest in a quality mattress. Ensure your room is dark (cave-like is best) and cool (around 68 degrees). Keep all electronics out of your bedroom. If you need an alarm clock and you’re using your cell phone, place the device in airplane mode. Additionally, consider a high-quality air filter.
If you know you snore, consider enrolling in a sleep study or visit a Biological Dentist, who can help you get fitted for a mouth guard.
Not Enough Exercise
Exercise may often help with the recovery from low to mild fatigue. It’s important to remember that overtraining may lead to increased fatigue and other health issues. Studies indicate those who participate in low to moderate exercise two or three times a week report less fatigue than those who don’t. Activities such as walking, yoga, Tai Chi, dancing, and light resistance training are ideal.
Too Many Carbohydrates
The relationship between insulin and blood sugar is complex. Diets that are high in carbohydrates can create a sharp increase in blood sugar levels, which often leads to a blood sugar crash. The problem with long term spikes in blood sugar is that a battle between insulin (a hormone released by the pancreas) and cortisol (a hormone released by the adrenal gland) ensues. This creates a never-ending cycle of spikes and crashes. In the long term, these two hormones competing may lead to hypothyroidism, obesity, metabolic syndrome disorders/diabetes, and the conditions known as adrenal fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.
When the body is forced to initiate an immune response to frequently eaten foods or the body’s natural detoxification process is compromised, a person may experience increased fatigue and mental brain fog.
Many people have experienced less fatigue, weight loss and blood sugar stabilization by switching over to a diet focused on high quality fats, proteins and vegetables.
Other Considerations
Consider greatly reducing or removing these common food triggers that may result in fatigue: gluten (wheat, rye, spelt), grains (corn, rice, quinoa, buckwheat), industrial seed oils (canola, corn, soy) and sugar. Other potential fatigue-inducing sources: heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, etc), biotoxins (such as mold), electro-magnetic frequency toxicity (cell phones, wifi, computer screens, TVs) and medications.
Work with a qualified functional medicine practitioner who is able to help you identify any food sensitivities or toxicities. Resolving them will be an outstanding step in helping you address the underlying causes of your fatigue.
The feelings of fatigue are not specific to any one disease or disorder, which makes treating the symptoms of fatigue much more difficult. This is one of the many reasons why I suggest working with a functional medicine practitioner who will often dig deeper to identify and treat the underlying conditions that drive fatigue.
Jeremy Gilsoul is a functional medicine health specialist and a licensed acupuncturist. He has been helping clients recover from health concerns for over 10 years. For more information, visit gilsoulhealth.com.






