I don’t know about you, but I’ve been waking up feeling really tired these days. My diet and workouts haven’t changed, and I’ve been going to sleep at my regular time. I think it may have something to do with waking up to complete darkness at 7:30am. The alarm clock says its time to get up, but your body is telling you otherwise because of the lack of natural light. Are you feeling this way too? If so, it may help to make sure you’re getting enough vitamin B12 or cobalamin.
B12 is known as the “energy” vitamin because it stimulates the body’s metabolism of proteins, fats & carbs. That being said, it’s best to take this one (along with your other B vitamins) in the morning. Not only will this give you an energy boost, but it will kick-start your metabolism; allowing your body to efficiently use the food you eat throughout the day, rather than store it.
It’s also important that children get enough of this vitamin (even though they usually don’t need extra energy!). It facilitates the growth of the myelin sheath, which is vital for the proper development & functioning of their brain & nervous system.
If you’re feeling extra tired these days; try and incorporate more vitamin B12-rich foods into your diet. Good food sources include beef, chicken (try to eat meat that is organic and/or free-from hormones & antibiotics), fish, shell-fish, egg yolks, milk, cheese and yogurt.
However, if you’re following a vegan diet, which doesn’t include fish or dairy, I would recommend taking a B12 supplement (multi-vitamin or B50 complex) to avoid deficiency. If you feel extremely fatigued most days it may mean that you are deficient, and could benefit from taking B12 separately. 500 – 1000 mcg can be used 1-3 times per week to help with extreme fatigue.
Exercising is also a great way to get an energy boost. To avoid skipping the gym; plan your workouts for the week on Sunday or make a workout date with a friend! Also, try and avoid alcohol during the week. Even one glass of wine can affect your sleep and leave you feeling groggy & tired the next day.
If you have any questions or requests for future blog topics, please email me at laur1982@gmail.com
Image Credit: Every Season
