Do you sometimes feel overly fatigued?

You need to balance your physical needs with the rest of your humanness to prevent burnout.You are a physical being.

I’m not saying you are physical beautiful. I’m simply saying you are physical. You have a body. Not many people would argue this point, but you’d be surprised how many ignore it.

Maybe due to emotional distress they neglect their physical being and needs. This body has basic needs to function properly.

Your body has physiology and chemistry, none of which is perfect in this imperfect world. Because our bodies are imperfect we have disease and sometimes need medicine or other treatment.

Some people think this is a moral failing – to need physical treatment, especially if this physical treatment involves mental health issues.

We know there is overlap between the emotional, spiritual, social, intellectual and physical aspects of people, - they can affect each other, but we need to be careful not to neglect the physical needs by calling it a spiritual or emotional problem.

If you need medicine because of a chemical imperfection in your body, then take it. A physical imperfection requires a physical treatment.

The same holds true in reverse. We need to not neglect emotional or spiritual needs by calling them physical. I’ve seen it happen both ways. Take care of your body.

Challenge it to be strong and healthy without being overly focused on it, leading to neglecting the spirit and the emotions.

 This information comes from the pages of "Mental Health Matters"  a Gratiot Medical Center newsletter, April 2007. It is an excerpt from an article written by Christina Weasel PA student from Central Michigan University.

Vitamin C aids in reducing dry mouth, a common side effect of many anti-depressants. Deficiency of this vitamin has been found to cause irritability and depressed mood. It is found in many fruits and vegetables including citrus, leafy greens, tomato, broccoli and green pepper. 

Studies indeicate the mineral selenium significantly affects mood. One study found those with a depressed mood who consumed a diet high in selenium reported decreased feelings of depression after five weeks. It is found in Lean meats and seafood, Brazil nuts and whole grains.

The amino acid tryptophan is effective by way of serotonin, one of the key brian chemical involved in regulating mood. Serotonin promotes feelings of calmness, relaxation and sleepiness. Lack of serotonin is associated with depression. Becuase the body cannot make tryptophan, it must be a part of the diet and for this reason tryptophan is known as an "essential" amino acid. It is found in oats, bananas, dried dates, milk, cottage cheese, meat, fish, turkey and peanuts.  

Omega-3 fatty acids foudn in fish are also key in maintaining a healthy mind. Fish oil is an excellecnt source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an essential fatty acid found in nerve and brain tissue. Omega-3 fatty acids are involved in chemical messaging in the brain, help regulate blood vessel activity and aspects of the immune system affecting the central nervous system. Studies have shown low levels of these fatty acids may be associated with depression, bipolar disorder and suicide. It is found in fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna and lake trout along with fish oil and flax seeds.

The challenge is to increase your intake of one or all of these nutrients. it's always best to get them in food. So look for them. Processed supplements are harder for your body to process and often less beneficial.