ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE AN AFTERNOON SLUMP?

According to nutritionist Joy Bauer, doctors in England have discovered that protein stimulates cells in the brain that promote wakefulness.  If you always seem to have midafternoon fatigue, think about what you are eating for lunch and/or snacks.  Try adding more protein and see if that won't help you fight that dreaded afternoon fatigue.  Too often we eat a carb-heavy lunch or afternoon snack and then wonder why we are fighting fatigue.  Try adding some peanut butter, nuts, etc for more protein.  Having a salad for lunch?  Be sure to add a chopped boiled egg, bacon bits, sliced chicken breast, etc to give it that protein boost.

file photo

EATING TO BATTLE FATIGUE

If you are fighting chronic fatigue, there are some things you can do at mealtime to help you in that battle.  

#1, don't eat heavy meals late at night.  Make breakfast your hearty meal to get your day off on the right start.  Avoid large meals at night which may tend to keep you from a good night's sleep.

#2, be aware of the foods you do eat.  Be sure to eat meals that are high in potassium, magnesium, and iron.  Be sure your meals are also high in the B vitamins as well as vitamin C.

Chronic fatigue is a hard one to overcome, I will be honest about that.  I battle it myself and it can be a real drag!  But by following the above guidelines you should start to notice improvement over time.

BELIEVE IT - POPCORN IS A HEALING FOOD

Sometimes popcorn gets a bad rap.  We are warned to avoid it in movie theaters, etc.  But it is not the popcorn that is bad.  We have slathered popcorn with butter, salt, sugary syrups, etc. to the point the healthy, healing popcorn has a hard time getting noticed.  Make your own healthy, healing popcorn by air-popping it.  A handful of air-popped popcorn has only 6 calories.  Popcorn contains a little bit of iron to help us fight fatigue and it contains some B-vitamins that help to steady one's nerves.  So, make yourself some popcorn and sprinkle it with a tiny bit of salt or some other spices and herbs.  Curry powder, chili powder, garlic powder, etc are all great for sprinkling on popcorn.  Mix with some pumpkin or sunflower seeds and/or some nuts for a healthy snack.

IMPORTANCE OF WATER

Almost all of us know we need to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day, even though many of us don't do it!  But do you know why?  How about this?  The experts say water is second only to oxygen as essential to life itself!  Is that reason enough for you? No, you want more reasons?  Check the bullets below.

• Water decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%.
• A lack of water is one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue!
• Water reduces fat deposits in the body. 
• Water helps maintain proper muscle tone.
• Water reduces the risk of bladder cancer by 50%.

The above bullets are just a few of the ways water is helpful to the body.

One thing we should do that most people say they don't even think of doing is to drink at least one glass of water right after getting up in the morning.  Remember we aren't talking about a 16-oz glass.  A glass that holds a cup of water counts as a glass.

Do your body a big favor and drink plenty of water!

HEARTBURN AND VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY

If you have a lot of heartburn that you choose to treat yourself with OTC antacids, you should pay a visit to your doctor, especially if you are feeling tired.  Did you know that chewing a lot of antacids can cause a vitamin B12 deficiency?  Antacids interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12.  The occasional antacids are not what we are talking about here.  This is referring to those who are continually chewing antacids and not checking in with their doctors. 

A deficiency of vitamin B12 causes fatigue and according to Danine Gruge, MD, associate medical director of the Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa in Miami, Florida, this deficiency is often found in persons who don't eat much animal protein.

 vitamin B12