Feeling Tired? Here’s 5 Reasons Why Excess Carbohydrates Could Be the Cause.

Fatigue is a condition seen commonly in health practices. In fact around 75% of people presenting to a health practitioner will complain of feeling tired and fatigued. Fatigue can of course go hand in hand with serious health problems but it is frequently due to mineral deficiencies or even diet.

Our diet consists of carbohydrates which are good and bad. The good carbohydrates are mainly the green leafy vegetables which contain valuable phytonutrients, are nutrient rich and calorie poor. Processed varieties like bread, pastries, most cereals, pasta, crackers etc. are nutrient poor and calorie rich. They cause us to put on extra fat and are usually associated with weight gain.

There are several known ways that excessive bad carbohydrate intake can affect your energy levels:
1. The majority of carbohydrates that are being consumed are gluten based. Gluten causes multiple problems in the body including damage to the small intestine wall, food intolerance and it is associated with suppression of your basal metabolic rate due to its effect on the thyroid function;
2. Some people rarely eat the good carbohydrates but consume the highly processed ones in large amounts. When you are eating a lot of these foods such as bread or pasta, you tend to not be having the nutrient rich and low calorie varieties. Subsequently malnourishment is common;
3. Excessive carbohydrate intake of the sugary, processed varieties contributes to fat gain and obesity. This results in increased inflammation which triggers an immune response;
4. Grains contain phytates which block the absorption of the vital nutrient, zinc;
5. The high sugar content of processed or sugary carbohydrates results in an increased production of insulin which in turn results in low blood sugar. Low blood sugar then makes you feel tired and crave more carbohydrates. And on and on it goes, unless you start eating more protein and good fats.

With each meal try to remember the ratio of proteins (30%) to fat (30%) to carbohydrate (40%). Many people are still stuck in the 70% carbohydrate eating group. Breakfast tends to be the worst meal of the day. Make an effort and plan ahead to make sure you are getting your adequate intake of muscle building protein and lots of beneficial fats to decrease your inflammation. For help with any of your dietary needs, look out for these great new books, How to Fix Fatigue, Naturally: The Energy Makeover and How to Stop Metabolic Syndrome: A Prevention and Treatment Guide to Heart Disease, Diabetes and Fat Loss.