SOLUTION: KICK YOUR SUGAR HABIT

CONSUMING large amounts of processed sugar triggers spikes in our body’s blood sugar. This causes a temporary surge in energy, but then leads to a massive crash that makes us to feel more tired than we did to begin with.

These constant highs and lows cause the body to stop being able to regulate our own energy.

The bottom line: a diet rich in sugar is going to worsen any tiredness you already feel.

The trouble is, sugar is in everything: all processed foods, including bread (even wholemeal), our drinks, yogurts and cooking sauces, to name just a few. And it’s utterly addictive: mrI scans taken while people eat it show that it activates our brain in a similar way to cocaine.

Another reason sugar makes us tired is that it disrupts the brain’s orexin system (orexin is a protein- like molecule that regulates a wide range of mental processes from sleepiness to hunger).

Because we feel so tired we consume more sugary foods for a boost, but this just disrupts our orexin cells further. It’s a vicious cycle.

Conversely, a diet rich in proteins such as meats, fish and eggs excites orexin cells and turns them on, boosting our energy levels.