Fatigue and feeling tired is such a big topic.  This episode is the second part of our podcast of ‘Why Am I so Tired All The Time.’ As we discussed, there are many reasons causing fatigue ranging from medication to having too much caffeine.  Below is a list that with many (not all) of the causes of fatigue.  

• Medications: such as antidepressant meds, anti-anxiety, heart meds.
• Liver – sugar, alcohol and overall number of medications
• Excessive amounts of Caffeine
• Anemia/low blood iron
• Insomnia/lack of sleep
• Stress: adrenal and thyroid
• Blood sugar/insulin imbalance
• Depression / Anxiety
• Stress / Cortisol
• Thyroid –hypothyroid, Hashimoto’s,

Of course, fatigue is not just as simple as a list.  We believe that fatigue is the interaction between the pancreas, liver, thyroid, adrenal glands, brain and reproductive organs.  

This interaction can also help explain adrenal fatigue or adrenal-dysfunction, which is such a vague term or concept. When you consider the interactions between the adrenals, pancreas, liver, and brain from outside factors, you can get some SERIOUS FATIGUE.  

Fatigue is one of the most common reasons why people visit the doctor.   However, most of the time your conventional doctor cannot help you because the interactions of the organs/glands do not typically show up on a routine blood test.

The stressful American Diet and lifestyle can make these glands and hormones react in a way that can eventually lead you to be tired.  But in most cases, you do not have a disease.  Because these organs are healthy, but behaving in a way that makes you tired.
It is a complicated process to explain.  To keep it simple here is a short list to explain how it works.  

Adrenals:

High stress will cause an increase in cortisol, catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine: aka adrenaline).  This will cause ups and downs in energy, cravings for sugar and belly fat.  Caffeine from coffee and black tea will also falsely increases cortisol and catecholamines (adrenaline) initially but will fall off over time.  

Pancreas:

High glycemic foods and high levels of cortisol will raise your insulin.  Insulin is the only fat storing hormone. Hence, causing weight gain and ups and downs in blood sugar.  Ups and downs in blood sugar cause your energy to crash.

Liver:

The mitochondria in the liver become overwhelmed with high carbohydrate/sugar ingestion.  This high carbohydrate/sugar will cause insulin elevation. Then you will not work as efficiently.  That means the more sugar you eat, the more congested your liver is.  The more congested your liver is, the less efficient it can work.  An overburdened, congested liver will cause a drop in energy.  Leaving you mentally and physically fatigued.  

Brain:

Dopamine is the feel-good neurohormone.  More accurately the FEEL AMAZING neurohormone.  When you eat sugar, you get a nice little hit of dopamine.  Unfortunately, that feeling of “pleasure” is short-lived, and you go back for more and more and more and more sugar.  Also, the more sugar consumed causes more blood sugar and cortisol fluctuation, which negatively affects brain function.  

Again, the more sugar consumed will cause fatigue, lethargy, weight gain and brain fog.  Avoiding the sugar will cause your dopamine to maintain a steady balance.

The best way to improve your energy throughout the day is to make the proper changes to your diet to improve your insulin and cortisol status.  To understand more and start improving your energy, visit our Content Library where you can download our Keto Carb Cycling Program.