A poor night’s sleep can sometimes result in us waking up in the morning feeling unrefreshed and groggy, setting us up for a bad day.
This is a common occurrence, though it shouldn’t be a regular one. Do you find yourself waking up every morning feeling this way?
Do you constantly feel exhausted throughout the day with no real explanation as to why?
We’re not here to diagnose, but if this sounds familiar, it may be worth reading on to find out more about Chronic Fatigue, as well as the symptoms, causes, and what vitamins might relieve your tiredness and recharge your body!
What is Chronic Fatigue?
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), is a long-term medical condition that has a wide range of symptoms, most notably extreme tiredness.1
Chronic fatigue can affect anyone, though it mostly targets those aged between their mid-20s and mid-40s. People living with the condition have described it like your body is powering off a dying battery!2
At the time of writing, there is no cure for the condition, particularly as the causes are not yet fully understood.
Though there are ways to help relieve the symptoms of chronic fatigue so you can attempt to live an easier life with the condition.
What are the Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue?
The main symptom of chronic fatigue is extreme tiredness and generally not feeling yourself.
Additionally, people living with chronic fatigue may have other symptoms3, including:
- Sleep disorders
- Headaches
- Sore throat
- Muscle and joint pain
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Flu-like symptoms
- Heart palpitations
- Feeling nauseous and dizzy
The severity of symptoms varies from person to person, and from day to day. Chronic fatigue can sometimes put the sufferer through a cycle of remission and relapse, making the symptoms even more difficult to manage in the long run.
Fatigue Vs. Being Tired
It’s important to note the differences between fatigue and being tired. Tiredness tends to go away after a while and is definitely not as debilitating as chronic fatigue.
Tiredness can often be addressed in the short term by catching up on a poor night’s sleep or having a cup of coffee for an energy boost.
Fatigue is a lot more limiting and tends to linger. You may experience unexplained and persistent exhaustion that a coffee and an afternoon nap simply cannot fix. You may also feel like simple everyday tasks are unachievable because of mental and physical feelings of exhaustion.
If you’re feeling persistently fatigued, it’s important to see your doctor about it!
What Causes Chronic Fatigue?
The causes of chronic fatigue are not yet fully understood, making it difficult to diagnose.
However, there are several causes or triggers that are often investigated by your doctor when you’re experiencing symptoms of chronic fatigue.
Suggested causes or triggers include:
- Viral infections
- Bacterial infections
- A weakened immune system
- Hormonal imbalances
- Mental health problems, such as stress and trauma
- Potentially your genes4
The Best Vitamins to Take for Tiredness
There may not be any cure or feasible treatment options for chronic fatigue, but it may be helpful to pay particular attention to some vitamins that may help symptoms of extreme tiredness.
These nutrients can act as natural measures that potentially play an important role in improving your symptoms and helping you live an easier life.
Let’s explore!
Coenzyme Q10
CoQ10 is an antioxidant that can influence the production of ATP, the bodies energy currency.
Research has shown that people with chronic fatigue syndrome have much lower CoQ10 levels, which may prevent the body from producing adequate ATP, thus causing fatigue.5
Some studies have noted improvements in symptoms of chronic fatigue when CoQ10 was added to the diet.
Vitamin B12
B12 is one of the 8 B vitamins that help the body convert the food we eat into glucose, which is the body's primary source of energy. There have also been some reports of B12 supplementation boosting energy, mood, and concentration!
Iron
Iron plays a vital role in our body’s energy production. To put it simply, the main purpose of iron is to carry oxygen in the hemoglobin of the red blood cells throughout the body so cells can produce energy.
Omega-3
There is some speculation around the function of omega-3 fatty acids in helping ease oxidative stress, which has been suggested to play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome. Though, more research needs to be conducted to explore this further.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin with antioxidant properties. It’s known to provide neuroprotective effects and benefits blood flow, which may be useful for sufferers of chronic fatigue.
Vitamin D
An essential vitamin, especially during the winter months when we are unable to synthesize it as often through sun exposure! A few studies have noted that a correction in low vitamin D has resulted in improvements in fatigue.6
Nutritional Supplements for an Energy Boost
In addition to vitamins and minerals, here are some other nutritional supplements and herbal remedies that may help give you a natural energy boost!
- Ashwagandha
- Citrulline
- Rhodiola Rosea
- Tyrosine
- L-Carnitine
- L-Theanine
Some of these vitamins, minerals, and ingredients are found in our supplements, such as Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi, Performance Lab Energy, and Performance Lab Omega-3!
Final Thoughts
If you’re not already taking supplements to help with your chronic fatigue, it may be time to explore implementing a supplement regimen to help boost your energy, and overall health and well-being.
However, if you think you are suffering with chronic fatigue syndrome, or are considering taking supplements to help, seek advice from your doctor first!
References
- NHS. (2021) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. NHS.UK.
- E. Davidson. (2020) How I Explain Chronic Fatigue to Those Who Don’t Have It. CreakyJoints.org.
- NHS. (2021) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. NHS.UK.
- NHS. (2021) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. NHS.UK.
- K. Patel. (2021) CoEnzymeQ10. Examine.com.
- Roy, S., Sherman, A., Monari-Sparks, M. J., Schweiker, O., & Hunter, K. (2014). Correction of Low Vitamin D Improves Fatigue: Effect of Correction of Low Vitamin D in Fatigue Study (EViDiF Study). North American journal of medical sciences, 6(8), 396–402.
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