Chronic Fatigue
Chronic fatigue is a persistent and ongoing state of physical and mental exhaustion that is not fully relieved by rest and may significantly affect daily functioning and quality of life. Unlike normal tiredness, chronic fatigue can persist for months or longer and may impact energy levels, concentration, memory, mood, sleep and physical stamina.
Symptoms can vary between individuals and may include low energy, brain fog, unrefreshing sleep, reduced resilience to stress, muscle aches, headaches, poor concentration, dizziness and difficulty recovering after physical or mental exertion.
Chronic fatigue may be influenced by a range of underlying factors including stress, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, poor sleep quality, chronic inflammation, gut health disturbances, infections, mitochondrial dysfunction, immune dysregulation, thyroid hormonal imbalances, adrenal hormone imbalances and heavy metal toxicity.
A functional approach aims to identify and address the underlying contributors to fatigue through comprehensive assessment, personalised nutrition, lifestyle medicine and targeted support strategies designed to improve energy production, resilience and overall wellbeing.
How Nutritional Therapy can Support
Chronic Fatigue
Investigation into the root causes of ongoing fatigue with particular focus on functional testing for:
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Thyroid health – assessing thyroid hormone balance, as underactive thyroid function can commonly contribute to fatigue, low mood, weight changes and persistent tiredness.
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Adrenal health – evaluating cortisol patterns and stress response function, as chronic stress and adrenal dysregulation may contribute to fatigue, poor resilience and hormonal imbalance.
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Mitochondrial health – assessing cellular energy production and the nutritional cofactors required for optimal mitochondrial function, energy metabolism and detoxification processes.
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Gut health – analysing digestive and microbiome health to support immune regulation, nutrient absorption and overall wellbeing, recognising the important connection between gut health and immune function.
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Food intolerances – identifying potential food sensitivities that may be associated with fatigue, digestive symptoms, joint pain, inflammation and brain fog.
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Hidden infections – assessing for underlying viral, bacterial or tick-borne infections, including Lyme disease, which may contribute to ongoing symptoms and immune dysregulation.
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Heavy metal toxicity and liver function – evaluating toxic burden and the body’s detoxification capacity, as impaired detoxification pathways may contribute to worsening symptoms and inflammation.