Why am I Fatigued?
Fatigue is a very strong symptom that is usually secondary to a bigger problem. Feelings of fatigue include tiredness, low energy, low motivation, exhaustion, brain fog, and muscle pain. Fatigue is a deeper issue that involves multiple parts of the body. It is important to look into the root of the problem, especially because fatigue can be tied to many hormonal issues in the body.
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1. Thyroid
The thyroid can be one of the answers to the question ‘why am I fatigued?’. The thyroid gland is one of the strongest proponents of metabolism. Found in the throat, the gland produces T3 and T4 hormones. These need to be balanced, or else this will cause hypothyroid (doesn’t produce enough T3 and T4) and hyperthyroid (produces too much T3 and T4). Both scenarios are not beneficial for metabolism, but specifically, hypothyroid causes fatigue. This is because the thyroid is not producing enough hormones to make energy properly, and this results in weight gain. Since the body can’t produce enough energy for itself to use, it is stored, and fatigue is the result.
2. Too much Exercise
Doing too much exercise is another answer to the question ‘why am I fatigued?’. Exercise is a form of stress on the body and although it has many benefits, you need to have enough recovery time in between sessions. Without enough recovery, your muscles will not be able to repair and this can cause inflammation and fatigue. Additionally, exercising too much can impact your nutrient intake and body composition. Our bodies need enough time to repair the muscle fibers that were torn during exercise. Another issue with too much exercise is that our bodies need a stable body fat percentage to maintain a normal menstrual cycle, and estrogen levels will drop as body fat drops. As a rule of thumb, most females need at least 17% body fat to maintain a normal menstrual cycle to ovulate.
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3. Not eating enough
Not eating enough is another one of the answers to the question ‘why am I fatigued?’. The nutrients in our food contain building blocks that the body uses to make hormones. If you are not consuming enough food, then the nutrients will be prioritized towards other mechanisms in the body rather than hormone production. Specifically, amino acids, which come from protein sources, are building blocks for many hormones. Fiber supports gut health resulting in better hormone regulation because estrogen is passed through the gut. Many B vitamins are crucial for hormone and energy production, regulating stress levels.
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4. Stress
Stress is another one of the answers to the question ‘why am I fatigued?’. Stress is a physiological response that happens in response to a stressor. Normally we associate stress with a hard job, difficult family problems, busy schedules, or hard exams, but we can become stressed due to imbalances in the body not necessarily caused by those external factors. Nutrient imbalances, blood sugar increases, and low hormone levels can all lead to stress. It is important to understand that stress is not always just a product of a stressful lifestyle and that sometimes the stress you feel is an indicator of something that is imbalanced internally. When these imbalances occur, our cortisol production is increased from the adrenal glands, which sets off a cascade of negative effects in our body like fatigue.
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5. Excess Caffeine
Lastly, excess caffeine intake can be an answer to the question ‘why am I fatigued?’. While consuming caffeine can help you feel energized and awake in the short term, it is important that you don’t hit a wall of fatigue when the caffeine wears off. Caffeine is an addictive substance, and withdrawal effects can lead to fatigue. Consuming more caffeine to avoid the aftermath crash is also a poor decision because this can impact your sleep.
