End tiredness
The kitchen antidote for the 60% of women suffering from gut-brain disconnect that drains energy
There’s no way I’ll be able to go. Can you tell them I have a cold, or say that I have to work?” Angie pleaded with her partner, Cary. “Cary’s family had invited us over for dinner, but I was so exhausted that there was no way I could go. The problem was, this wasn’t the first time I had backed out of a commitment with them. Cary was always understanding, and his family was so nice about it—they would always call to see how I was feeling—but I worried that they were offended. And I knew it was important for Cary to see his family, so I always urged him to go without me, even though he felt bad about leaving me alone at home. Every time after I kissed him goodbye and collapsed on the couch, all I could think was, What has happened to me?
Always missing out
“I had considered myself a type-A personality, bursting with energy and up for any adventure…until the fatigue set in about three years ago. Suddenly everything in my life felt overwhelming, and it really set me back.
“When my friends would invite me out, I’d always decline. They said they understood and asked if they could do anything to help, but it was so disappointing that I couldn’t live my life the way I always had. Without anything fun to look forward to, I became depressed.
“The fatigue also impacted my business as a personal chef. Since
I didn’t have enough energy to plan, shop and cook for my clients, I was forced to cancel so many jobs. It was emotionally and financially devastating.
“Add in the chronic bloat, brain fog, irritability and anxiety, and I felt like I was falling apart. Plus I gained 15 pounds. I went to doctor after doctor, but each one told me I was just getting older. It was so frustrating to feel like no one was really listening to me.
“Since the doctors weren’t much help, I decided to do some detective work on my own. While attending school to become a nutritionist, I learned about the gut-brain axis—a communication pathway that connects the gut to the brain. I read that when the gut is overrun with bad
bacteria or fungi like yeast, the gut and brain basically can’t communicate effectively and levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin get out of balance. And when that happens, it can trigger a variety of symptoms, including all the ones I was battling.
“I took a stool test and learned I had candida yeast overgrowth, which is a main cause of the gut dysfunction that prevents the gut and brain from communicating. I also took an Organic Acids Test, which includes markers for neurotransmitters, and it showed I was deficient in serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, which is another red flag that there’s a problem with the gut-brain axis.
“As I looked further into the issue, I learned that diet and stress were the likely root causes. When I lived in Poland, I ate only whole foods, but when I came to the United States and began eating more processed foods, I started to get symptoms.
“To help get rid of the yeast and help my gut heal, I went on an elimination diet and cut out sugar and processed foods, ate more fiber-rich foods including cruciferous vegetables and drank water with lemon. I took probiotics to put the healthy bacteria back in my gut, and other supplements—including vitamins C and B6 , L-tryptophan and 5-HTP—to help increase my neurotransmitters. And to minimize my stress so my body could fully heal, I started yoga and practiced “grounding,” which involves having your skin touch the earth.
Loving life again!
“After two weeks, my energy improved and my symptoms started to subside. Within eight months, my energy was completely restored. I couldn’t believe that such simple fixes could make all the difference!
“Now that fatigue isn’t holding me back, I’m doing the things I love, like spending time with my friends, growing my business (ThrivingHormones.com) and traveling. Cary and I recently went to the mountains and hot springs and I had plenty of energy to hike all day. And now instead of staying home when his family invites us to dinner, I’m able to be present and enjoy their company. I’m living my life to the fullest!”
—As told to Julie Revelant