Sick and Tired of Being Tired?

January 26, 2022
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Award-winning nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author.

The two solutions I trust to boost energy for good

Fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome are rampant these days. Whether the cause is a long-term viral infection, mold, parasites, or heavy metals, dealing with the root cause is first and foremost. But beyond that, many of us have experienced the kind of fatigue that results from being overworked or not getting enough sleep. This sensation goes away when we rest for a bit, get caught up on our sleep, or take a vacation.

But burnout, as the term suggests, is more than that: the adrenals are literally exhausted, so the body is tired all the time. This type of fatigue can’t be corrected by more rest or a vacation. Because the adrenals are underfunctioning, they simply aren’t able to give the body the energy it needs to rise to the challenge of stressful situations.

Few of us appreciate how many stressors our adrenals respond to every day. They really are mighty workhorses that constantly respond to everything we encounter in our daily lives, producing hormones that help balance blood sugar. Since blood sugar is the fuel that virtually all body cells (especially brain cells) require for energy, the adrenals in effect make sure we have the right amount of fuel to meet our varying demands for energy day in and day out.

When we run into stressful situations, we require more energy to cope, so the adrenals kick in with the extra get-up-and-go we need. But, like everything else, they have a limited supply of energy. If we have an excessive stress load and can’t creatively cope with unavoidable stress, the adrenal glands weaken, no longer producing adequate amounts of stress hormones. The fatigue that results can be so overwhelming for individuals with adrenal burnout that they often become compulsive about anything that gives them a lift. They feel the need for frequent coffee boosts to get (and keep) going, or they turn to “natural” herbal stimulants for quick charges of pep. Unfortunately, these only weaken the adrenals more in the long run.

The Adrenal Solution I Trust

Supplementing with adrenal glandulars can provide the necessary building blocks to regenerate adrenal function for a long-term lasting energy boost. I helped develop UNI KEY’s Adrenal Formula which contains whole adrenal gland and raw adrenal cortex sourced from bovine.

These glandulars carry the DNA/RNA blueprint of the adrenal gland to promote cellular healing, plus gland function and repair. The formula also contains spleen and liver glandulars for complete absorption and assimilation, as well as important revitalizing nutrients including vitamin C, pantothenic acid, zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin A and tyrosine (a thyroid-supportive amino acid).

If you are overwhelmed by stress and want to give your adrenal glands the support they need, I recommend taking 2 caplets of Adrenal Formula during the adrenal “times” of 7am, 11am, and 3pm for a total of 6 caplets daily.

Low Levels of Magnesium and Energy

In my over 40 years of research and experience, I have found this “master mineral’ to be the best single nutrient for energy. As the superstar of over 300 key metabolic functions, magnesium reigns supreme in the mineral kingdom.

But, if you’re like most, you are likely deficient in magnesium even if test results show you have enough. That’s because levels of magnesium are hard to measure with serum blood tests. A much more accurate measure of magnesium is a RBC magnesium, but that test is usually not performed in laboratories. Your doctor may tell you that you have enough when you most likely do not.

In a study published in The Lancet, several hundred patients were evaluated for a magnesium deficiency. Researchers used three different methods including serum magnesium, magnesium retention and RBC magnesium. It was found that half of the patients were found to be deficient.

Whether you may have a detectable deficiency or a subclinical one, if you have chronic fatigue, it is worth adding magnesium to your supplement protocol. Here’s why:

Magnesium, in sufficient amounts, is critical for energy production. If you are lacking magnesium, you are also lacking the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Without enough ATP, your body simply will not be able to produce enough energy which allows fatigue and exhaustion to set in. And to compound that further, stress (which is in even greater supply for most of us these days) places additional demands on this vitally important mineral.

The more stress you have, the more magnesium your body needs. Our bodies use up our supply of magnesium dealing with daily stress. The bottom line is that we’re using up this adaptogenic mineral faster than we can take it in – and we should be taking in 5 mg per pound of body weight or about 500 – 1,000mg per day.

How to Increase Your Magnesium Levels

Put magnesium on the menu tonight.

Rich dietary sources of magnesium are housed in leafy green vegetables (think spinach and kale), fish, avocados, dark chocolate, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and a multitude of seeds (chia, flax, sunflower, pumpkin and millet, to name a few).

Take a high-quality magnesium supplement.

Supplementing with magnesium is crucial, but please trust me when I say that not all supplements are created equal. After much research, I’m convinced that the ideal magnesium supplement should have the magnesium cofactors Glycinate, Malate, Taurinate and Orotate, as they are more effectively absorbed to support organ systems and bodily functions than any other forms.

Here’s what the “powerhouse four” do for you:

Magnesium Glycinate For The Mind

  • Controls anxious feelings, irritability, insomnia, concentration and hysteria
  • Minimizes laxative effects and is the least likely form to induce diarrhea
  • Corrects long term deficiencies
  • Reduces numbness, crying and depression
  • Increases mental calmness and relaxation

Magnesium Orotate For The Body

  • Enhances athletic performance
  • Boosts DNA formation and heart repair and function

Magnesium Malate For The Muscles

  • Treats fibromyalgia
  • Calms muscle fatigue
  • Manages PMS, and headaches
  • Supports digestion (so take with meals)
  • Increases energy production

Magnesium Taurinate For The Heart

  • Supports healthy heart function
  • Prevents migraines
  • Suppresses heart palpitations and arrhythmias

Besides taking a magnesium supplement with these particular cofactors, it is also extremely important that a comprehensive magnesium supplement contains vitamin B6 (especially in the activated Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate targeted form). B6 determines how much magnesium will be absorbed by the cells in the first place.

The Magnesium Solution I Trust

Mag-Key is the magnesium supplement I helped formulate to deliver all four of the essential magnesium cofactors, as well as the critical B6. This harmony of ingredients creates a targeted delivery system that focuses broadly on your body, and more specifically on your mind, your muscles, and especially your heart. It’s my go-to recommendation when my clients are concerned with keeping their hearts healthy, as well as for people dealing with a large stress load in their lives and/or sleepless nights. It’s also worth noting that if you’re taking over-the-counter or prescription drugs and are still experiencing unresolved and recycling symptoms, or if you are pre-diabetic or have osteopenia (pre-osteoporosis), this is an ideal supplement staple.

May magnesium bring you a peaceful mind, a happy heart, a strong body, and a tranquil night’s sleep!

Related Articles and Podcasts

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and her latest book, Radical Metabolism. She’s been rewriting the rules of nutrition for more than 40 years and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of diet, detox and women’s health issues. 

For a FREE daily dose of tips and strategies for maintaining healthy weight, conquering insomnia, and much more…check out my Radical Health Tips.

I’d like to meet and greet you on my Facebook groups, so won’t you check us out at the Radical Metabolism RevolutionFat Flush Nation, or my Inner Circle!

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