Does it seem like you always feel tired? Find out which “tired” you are – and what that means – by watching this video, where Dr. Beverly Goode-Kanawati discusses the two types of energy involved when it comes to fatigue.
Video in Summary: Which Tired Are You?
Hi, this is Dr. Beverly Goode-Kanawati and I would like to talk to you today about energy. A lot of people tend to say, “Oh, I just don’t have the energy to do that” or “I’m just too tired”. So there are two types of energy involved when it comes to feeling tired.
Physical Energy
Physical energy is dependent on these little powerhouses in our cells called mitochondria. Mitochondria are responsible for creating energy for your body -and all of your cells. Sometimes our mitochondria can become polluted to the point of malfunction. As a result, they don’t make enough energy anymore.
So what we use as a rescue of mitochondria is supplementation with vitamin C and minerals. Particularly magnesium and potassium are important for this. You need enough Vitamin C and minerals for your mitochondria to function properly. There are other nutrients that play into that, but those are the two main things that we use for cell energy production.
Mental Energy
The problem is that low mental energy can feel like low physical energy. This form of energy has to do with dopamine. Dopamine is what motivates you to want to get up and do things.
For an example:
Say you have a messy closet in your house. With high dopamine, you will be more tempted to actually clean up the closet when faced with the task. However, for a low dopamine level person, they’ll just take one look and shut the door.
Low dopamine can occur for a number of reasons. Sometimes it has to do with a lack of tyrosine, or B12, or even B6. If you have a malabsorption and/or maldigestion issues, sometimes supplying those can make a big difference.
In Conclusion
So take a moment to get a feel within yourself to determine, which tired are you? Are you low on dopamine or is it because you’re low in your mitochondrial function? Or perhaps, both? The more you learn about your own body and brain, the better you can figure out the next steps to take when it comes to increasing your energy levels.
