Fatigue is the number one complaint today and is frequently what drives people to see a doctor.  There is no drug to fix this issue.  In fact, drugs can be the problem, since a study a few years ago showed 109 out of the top 150 prescriptions listed fatigue as a possible side affect.  Obvious lifestyle issues are all too common: working too much, not enough, too much exercise, wrong diet, etc.  I will address one aspect of this problem here.

 An efficient body should be burning fat for energy (versus sugar).  Healthy, natural fats are very important to overall health.  "No-fat" diets, as well as, too many wrong fats, are both bad, and no, the healthy fats will not make you fat.  Ideally, the ratio or omega 3 fatty acids to omega 6’s should be 1:1.  With most people today it is 1:50 or even 1:100.  The fats in the diet are what the body has to work with for energy production and are also what wind up in our cell walls.  Hydrogenated fats and oils harden our cell walls and increase inflammation.  They should never be eaten.  Most of Europe has severe restriction on the amount of these fats that can be in any food product.  The U.S. has none.  Healthy fats include fish oil (purified), krill oil, wheat germ oil, flax oil, and walnut oil.  If oils are a problem, use dry sources (like chia seeds), or add the enzyme lipase, when you take them.  If you burp up oil, you can freeze it before taking. 

Within our cells, the powerhouse component is the Mitochondria.  This is where food is turned into energy.  Without mitochondria, there is no life. Fatigued mitochondria age more quickly.  L-Carnitine is the nutrient that transports energizing substances inside the mitochondria and gets rid of things that are interfering with normal functioning.  If our mitochondria are happy and energetic, so are we.  Start with healthy fats and L-Carnitine.   Your energy level will go up and, as a side benefit, body weight will begin to normalize.  L-Carnitine taken ten minutes before meals, will be a significant step in the right direction toward weight management and more energy.  

This discussion will be continued on my next Health Tip.