How To Increase Your Energy Level
Jul 14,2004 12:00
by
Dr_Wilson
THE BODY'S 'FUEL' SYSTEM
Like the automobile, the body has a fuel system. Each step of the system must be operating well for high energy production. In the body, the system begins with the ingestion of 'fuel' foods, which are primarily starches and fats. Protein may also be burned for fuel, although this is inefficient.
Food must first be digested, which includes adequate chewing and then mixing with stomach acid and enzymes. Eventually, starches are broken down to simple sugars, and fats are broken down to fatty acids. These must be absorbed in the small intestine and pass to the liver. The liver stores some of the fuel as glycogen, converts some of it to other forms, and passes it on to the cells.
At the cellular level, fuel molecules must be absorbed into the cells, where they are converted to a special form, adenosine triphosphate or ATP, the form in which fuel is burned in the cells. Many vitamins, minerals and other substances must be present in just the right amounts for optimum energy production. Any imbalance in this human 'fuel' system causes a loss of energy, which is felt as fatigue.
IMPROVING THYROID AND ADRENAL GLAND ACTIVITY
The thyroid and adrenal glands are the most important energy-producing glands in the body. Cortisol and cortisone, produced by the adrenals, convert stored fats and starch to glucose. This supplies the 'fuel' to produce energy within the body cells.
Thyroid hormone is like the spark plug that ignites the fuel. If the adrenal and thyroid glands are underactive or otherwise not functioning properly, energy levels decline. Hair mineral analyses on over 400,000 people reveal that the thyroid and adrenal glands are underactive in about 80% of adults today. Is it any wonder that many people feel tired?
Those with sluggish adrenal and thyroid activity are called slow oxidizers. They are not oxidizing or burning their food at an adequate rate. The object of a nutrition program for these individuals is to enhance their oxidation rate.
An opposite condition can cause fatigue as well. Some people who are tired are fast oxidizers. Their thyroid and adrenal gland activity is excessive. Like a bicyclist pedaling too fast, these individuals use energy inefficiently and become tired. They are often lavish in their expenditure of energy, and accomplish much as long as their energy holds out. However, they often run on nervous energy. They may have excellent energy for a time, and then suddenly become exhausted. When they become tired, they are attracted to stimulants, alcohol or other artificial means to sustain their energy.
Part of the task in correcting energy in the fast oxidizer is to even out the use of energy. Through diet and supplementation, these individuals can be helped to become 'long distance runners' instead of 'sprinters' who become exhausted quickly because they expend their energy rapidly.
TOXIC METALS AND ENERGY LEVELS
Toxic metals devastate the body's energy system.The energy-producing glands and glucose tolerance systems are often out of balance due to the accumulation of toxic metals in the body tissues. These metals include lead, cadmium, mercury, copper, nickel and aluminum. Toxic metals replace vital minerals in enzyme binding sites and interfere with many body functions. High levels of toxic metals are common today, due to contamination of the water and food, and in some cases due to occupational exposure. Today many children are born with high levels of toxic metals passed on from their mothers through the placenta. Scientific nutrition programs and detoxification with sauna therapy and other methods can remove toxic metals from body tissues.
THE IMPORTANCE OF DIET
Diet plays a vital role in causing impaired glandular activity, glucose intolerance and toxic metal accumulation. For example, adequate protein has a stimulating effect upon the glands. In general, animal protein, due to its amino acid, zinc and B vitamin content, enhances glandular activity more than protein from vegetable sources. Excessive sugars in the diet, even too much fruit or fruit juice, cause a short-term stimulation of the glands, but unbalance the energy-producing system and lead to more fatigue.
Poor quality food or refined food lacks essential nutrients and eventually leads to lower energy levels. When essential nutrients are deficient in the diet, the body more readily takes up toxic metals to perform certain functions.
CORRECTION
Eating correctly and taking the proper food supplements can correct many of the causes of low energy. Slow oxidizers often need more protein and less fat in their diet. Vitamins B, C, E, manganese, zinc and adrenal and thyroid glandular substance can help enhance glandular activity.
Fast oxidizers often feel better with more fats and oils in their diet. For fast oxidizers, nutrients such as choline, inositol, copper, calcium and magnesium help decrease excessively active thyroid and adrenal glands. Since multi-vitamins are often a combination of all the nutrients, they are less helpful than an individualized program.
YOUR ATTITUDES AFFECT ENERGY LEVELS
Another cause of low energy levels has to do with attitudes. For example, the adrenals are involved in the 'fight-or-flight response'. Adrenal hormones cause physiological changes appropriate for either a fight or actively running away from an overwhelming stress. If, however, a person is in a state of paralysis, apathy, extreme fear or 'give-up', the adrenal glands do not respond and energy is not available. Sometimes the feeling of paralysis or fear is not easy to detect. On a hair mineral analysis, it manifests as a very slow oxidation rate, often with a very high calcium level that we call a 'calcium shell'.
Other people waste energy by fighting all the time. This attitude also places excessive stress on the adrenal glands. Eventually fatigue results. Often these individuals are fast oxidizers. When they tire out, the ratio of their hair sodium to potassium decreases below 2.5:1. When the sodium/potassium ratio drops below 1:1, fatigue is often extreme. Such a low ratio correlates with attitudes of frustration, resentment and hostility.
In some cases, attitude is the primary cause for low energy. Many techniques from traditional psychotherapy to meditation may be useful to expose the attitudes and the causes behind them. Recently, I found the concepts in A Course in Miracles most helpful for identifying attitudes that can lead to reduced energy levels.
OTHER THERAPIES
Anti-microbial, structural, electrical, energetic, and even spiritual imbalances can impair energy. All these approaches and others as well have a place in the healing process. Of course, at times, low energy may be a signal simply for more rest. Rest is often needed as one changes and processes on many levels. Ignoring such signals just makes the shifts more painful or can suppress them altogether. For best results, it is best to consider all these possibilities.
Dr. Lawrence Wilson
P.O. Box 54
Prescott, AZ 86302-0054
Visit http://www.drlwilson.com/ for books, and audio tapes from Dr. Wilson.
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