Fighting Fatigue with Dr. Holly Phillips
Fighting Fatigue with Dr. Holly Phillips.
We have covered fatigue before as it is a common symptom of both multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia for example.
So we thought this would be of great interest to our readers!
Leaky gut syndrome
“Leaky gut syndrome” is a proposed condition some health practitioners claim is the cause of a wide range of long-term conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis (MS).
Proponents of “leaky gut syndrome” claim that many symptoms and conditions are caused by the immune system reacting to germs, toxins or other substances that have been absorbed into the bloodstream via a porous (“leaky”) bowel.
While it’s true that some conditions and medications can cause a “leaky” gut (what scientists call increased intestinal permeability), there is currently little evidence to support the theory that a porous bowel is the direct cause of any significant, widespread problems.
There is also little evidence that the “treatments” some people claim help to reduce bowel “leakiness”, such as nutritional supplements and herbal remedies, have any beneficial effect for most of the conditions they supposedly help.
The inside of the bowel is lined by a single layer of cells that make up the mucosal barrier (the barrier between the inside of the gut and the rest of the body).
This barrier is effective at absorbing nutrients, but prevents most large molecules and germs passing from inside the bowel into the bloodstream and potentially causing widespread symptoms.
In some circumstances, this barrier can become less effective and “leaky”, although this in itself is not generally thought to be sufficient to cause serious problems.
Alcohol, aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen are well-known irritants of the bowel lining. They can damage the seals between cells, allowing some substances to pass through the gaps and into the bloodstream.
Gastroenterologists (specialists in gut conditions) generally agree that these irritants don’t usually cause anything more than just mild inflammation of a particular area of the bowel.
This will usually cause no obvious symptoms and will improve over time if you stop taking the medication or stop drinking alcohol. At the very worst, the inflammation might be bad enough to occasionally cause ulcers in the bowel lining.
The following conditions and treatments can also damage the seals in the bowel lining:
inflammatory bowel diseases – such as Crohn’s disease
infections of the intestines – such as salmonella, norovirus and giardiasis
chemotherapy medicines
radiotherapy to the abdomen (tummy)
immunosuppressants (medicines that weaken the immune system)
complicated surgery
Generally, even in these situations treatment for a “leaky” bowel isn’t necessary. However, under certain circumstances people with Crohn’s disease, for example, may benefit from a liquid diet to reduce bowel inflammation, which also improves the “leaky” bowel (read more about treating Crohn’s disease).
Exponents of “leaky gut syndrome” – largely practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine – believe the bowel lining can become irritated and “leaky” as the result of a much wider range of factors, including an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria in the bowel, a poor diet and the overuse of antibiotics.
They believe that undigested food particles, bacterial toxins and germs can pass through the “leaky” gut wall and into the bloodstream, triggering the immune system and causing persistent inflammation throughout the body. This, they say, is linked to a much wider range of health problems, including:
tiredness and chronic fatigue syndrome
lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS)
skin conditions such as scleroderma and eczema
However, there is currently little evidence to suggest these conditions are in fact caused by having a “leaky” gut.
Many different “treatments” have been suggested by people who promote the idea of “leaky gut syndrome”, including diet books, nutritional supplements (containing probiotics, for example), herbal remedies, gluten-free foods and other special diets, such as a low FODMAP, low sugar or antifungal diet.
However, you should be wary of treatments offered by people who claim to be able to “cure” “leaky gut syndrome”, as there is little scientific evidence to suggest they are beneficial for many of the conditions they are claimed to help.
Some people even promote various nutritional “treatments” for autism, despite conflicting evidence and a recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) that special diets shouldn’t be used to treat the main symptoms of the condition.
Some of the dietary changes suggested for “leaky gut syndrome” (such as a low FODMAP diet) can help people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but these seem to work irrespective of the presence of a “leaky” gut.
Generally, eliminating foods from the diet is not a good idea unless it’s strictly necessary (for example, if you have coeliac disease) and done on the advice of a healthcare professional, as it can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
10 Guaranteed Ways To Feel Awesome
Feeling a little bit down or lacking energy is normal, especially if you live a busy life with little spare time. However, it doesn’t mean that it is enjoyable. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do that will let you re-energise and feel better when you are lacking the energy or motivation to get out and do things.
The following ten things will help you feel awesome and will boost your energy levels and make you want to get out and try new things every day.
Food is the secret to life. It makes sense therefore, that good food is the secret to a good life! What you eat has the potential to change your life for the better. If you currently consume a typical 21st-century diet, then your body is probably full of toxins, poisons, and nasty chemicals. You are burning all of your energy simply trying to expel these, and therefore you probably feel down and out all the time.
It is as simple as changing what you eat. If you make the switch to a healthier diet, then you will be amazed at how much more energy you have and how much more awesome you feel. Be easy on your body and let it recover and purge itself of toxins: start eating better today!
Exercise goes hand in hand with eating well. If you are unfit, don’t exercise, and spend all of your days sitting in an office chair or on the couch, then of course you won’t have any energy. Sometimes you have to make an effort to make the change in your life. Starting to exercise regularly is one of the best things that you can do, as it will give you more energy, will improve your physical health, and will even make you happier!
Being social is a good way to purge the negativity and bad thoughts from your mind. Holding on to negative ideas can drag your entire body down, making you feel like you have no energy. Therefore, removing these and replacing them with positivity and with positive forward thinking is one of the best ways to get energy quickly.
Go out for a coffee, meet up with your friends, or join a club so that you can meet new people – you will be surprised how good you feel when you make the effort to be social.
Gardening is one of the best ways to get out of the house and connect with nature. If you are lucky enough to have some time on your hands and some outside space to plant things, then starting a garden can be a good idea. Doing so will encourage you to spend time outside, and will give you something to do in your times of boredom.
CrossFit is one of the best ways to exercise in a social setting. It involves various exercises which are aimed at training your entire body. Completing CrossFit workouts regularly will help you feel more energetic, will let you meet new people, and will help kickstart your body. It can be hard to decide what the best crossfit shoes are, but that is nothing more than a minor speedbump!
The ocean has a wonderful way of making you feel better. There is something about being on the beach in the sea air which seems to drain away all of the negativity from your being and fill you with energy. If you live within driving distance of the ocean, then get in the habit of spending some time on the beach – you will feel better before you know it!
Start yourself up on a hobby. Try something which you have always wanted to do. This will give you something to look forward to on the weekends, will give you an excuse to escape from everyday life, and will help you become more energetic and happier in no time!
Alcohol is one of the most toxic and dangerous chemicals in modern society. Despite this, people consume it with surprising regularity. Cutting back on your alcohol consumption will leave you energized and feeling good.
Sporting clubs are great places. They provide a safe, friendly environment where you can socialize and exercise regularly. Joining a club will help you remain motivated to get out of the house and do things, rather than just sitting around all the time.
It is incredible how good helping someone who is more disadvantaged than you can make you feel. Try it today – if you are feeling a little down and out, volunteer some of your time to help someone. We guarantee that you will feel awesome in no time!
10 ways to stop feeling tired
I know I keep on talking about fatigue but it is a key symptom of such conditions as fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis.
So I thought I would share this great (and very short video) on 10 great tips for dealing with fatigue! Oh and it’s funny as well!
Jessie Pavelka
Meet Jean Kerr who climbed Ben Nevis six months into participating in Jessie Pavelka’s CiscoPavelka programme to strengthen employee mental wellbeing
An alarming one in three British working professionals have confessed that they do not feel supported at work with over half saying they would consider changing jobs this year as a result, according new research commissioned by Cisco.
Whilst many businesses have adapted to support their employees as the pace of work has rapidly increased, the research shows that companies are struggling to retain employees. More than one in four working professionals complain the stress they experience at work directly impacts their overall mental and physical wellbeing.
Jean Kerr is a classic example of a working professional struggling to carry on after suffering personal tragedy. After Jean’s family was involved in a car accident, she had a profound mental impact, which made her question why she was feeling so burnt out.
“I shouldn’t be so tired,” was Jean’s biggest wake-up call since she found herself questioning that every morning as she made her way to work.
Jean participated in international fitness and wellbeing expert, Jessie Pavelka’s CiscoPavelka programme, which strengthened her mental health resilience and provided her with the foundation that led to her six months later climbing Ben Nevis, the highest mountain on the British Isles.
“It’s the faith that I needed to find in me,” said Jean confessing that her biggest weakness was not being comfortable with asking for help.
After adjusting her lifestyle and making time for fitness and wellbeing, Jean feels like a new person and says: “Why didn’t I just ask sooner.”
Follow Jean’s journey below with Jessie Pavelka and the CiscoPavelka programme