HOLISTIC HEALTH NOTEBOOK

Q uestions. Questions. Questions. Every day I am asked lots of questions about "what to do about..."

I am always gratified to see how well the body responds to good food, sleep, exercise, and lots of sunshine. Even in health conditions that seem resistant to treatment, we can nearly always see huge benefits when we make lifestyle changes.

So in the new few weeks, I will outline some things you can personally do to deal with specific health conditions. This is not to say you don't need medical care. If you are under the care of a physician, please let your doctor know when you start taking specific nutrients or herbs so he can coordinate your treatment plan and make sure you get the best of both worlds. (That is not just a disclaimer. It's important!)

Today, let's talk about chronic fatigue. This is not the type of fatigue that follows a night of revelry or a day of digging ditches. This fatigue dogs your steps from the time you awaken each morning, unrefreshed, until you pull the sheets over your head again at night. It is the kind of fatigue that makes ordinary activities impossible.

Here are some considerations:

1. Have your thyroid

and adrenal glands thoroughly checked. The doctor with whom I work recommends tests like active T3 and 24-hour cortisol because the thyroid and adrenal glands are "master glands" in the production of energy. Years of high stress frequently causes long-term fatigue, and treatment is required to bring energy back up to normal levels.

2. Follow a hypoglycemic diet that helps regulate blood sugar levels. So many people eat sugary foods to combat fatigue, not realizing that while the sugar makes them temporarily feel better, it is actually making them worse. Sugar also feeds yeasts and molds, a common cause of fatigue. Are you iron depleted? Magnesium? B complex? Many nutrients are used to produce cellular energy so make sure you are well nourished.

3. Check food and environmental allergies. Believe it or not, allergies and other types of sensitivities can make you feel completely exhausted. Find out what foods or environmental factors are bothering you and work them out of your life.

— Carol is a certified lifestyle educator at the offices of Dr. Alan Gruning in Fort Myers, 939-3303. She owns the Island Nutrition Center on Sanibel, 472-4499.