I posted a recipe for beef brisket in my Facebook group recently which got me thinking about red meat and how many of us try to avoid protein, and red meat in particular, to lose weight. But that can cause other issues.
Do you have any of these?
- Fatigue or exhaustion (having to take naps during the day)
- Weakness
- Cold hands and feet
- Headaches
- Brain fog
- Weight issues
Did you know those symptoms may sometimes be due to low iron levels? Or your thyroid levels are not optimal. Both require a simple blood test you can ask your doctor to run. And I’ve got a free checklist of the labs you should ask your doctor about so click here for that.
Regarding low iron (which many have, especially women), there are numerous reasons why we have low iron levels and are anemic. Some of you may know you have a gluten intolerance as I do. Or maybe you have celiac disease, IBS, colitis, or other digestive issues. All can cause low iron levels due to poor nutrient absorption.
Although I don’t have celiac disease, I do have several autoimmune diseases and have been eating gluten free for about fifteen years now which has helped my symptoms tremendously and helped my thyroid antibody levels decrease from a very high 4000 IU/mL to around 200 currently. (Normal levels should be 30 or below.) I am taking thyroid medication, but I also know that eating healthier, identifying my trigger foods, and eliminating or reducing them, and making lifestyle changes has helped as well. My iron and energy levels are so much better because a few years ago I was having to take afternoon naps just to make it through the day. Plus, improving both my thyroid and iron levels has helped my mental clarity, hair, and weight.
Now I’m not against eating plant-based or decreasing protein if that works for you. But for my own body and for many of my clients, we need protein (and red meat especially) to help with our iron and ferritin levels – which helps our energy and cognition. Yes, you can take iron supplements, but sometimes those can cause their own issues, like constipation – not fun! Having your iron levels in optimal ranges helps with your thyroid and your metabolism. They all work together. And here’s a link to another article about low thyroid.
One of the easiest ways to increase your energy in general is to focus on what you’re eating. Really look at what you eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks plus your beverages. Is this your typical day:
- Breakfast – coffee only with lots of sugar and cream or maybe pick up one from a famous coffee shop (that has more sugar than a candy bar)
- Lunch – Eat a salad with only veggies and maybe a little dressing (since you are watching your weight) Or maybe you skip it because you’re too “busy”
- Dinner – Now you’re famished so you stop at a fast food drive-through on the way home because you have a meeting, your kids have practice/event, or you’re so exhausted you can’t even think about cooking. And then because you’ve been “good” all day, you decide to reward yourself with ice cream or candy while watching Netflix that night before crashing into bed. But then the ice cream/candy sugar load has now hyped you up so you cannot go to sleep. (Sigh!)
I hope that’s not you. But if it is, don’t be discouraged. Many of my clients are like that initially. It’s common. But it doesn’t have to be YOUR norm, right?
What if you instead try this experiment? Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner by adding in a protein, healthy fat, and complex carbs (not bread, pasta, cake, or candy). What if you decide to plan ahead by cooking a few times a week with enough leftovers for the following day for lunch or dinner? What if you thought about your food as medicine to help your energy levels and brain power and mood?
If you make just small healthy steps, what I call baby steps, each day for the next few months, you will probably have more energy, stamina, better moods, and be surprised how much better you feel. Most of my clients are amazed how better they feel after only a month or two using small, simple, consistent steps.
And if you’re looking for help to figure out why you’re having fatigue, brain fog, and weight issues, reach out to me. I’m a health and wellness coach, and we can set up a time to see if we will be a good fit to work together. I use nutrition and lifestyle modifications in one-on-one or group settings in person or online. You can contact me here.
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Leah Cheshire, MCD,CCC-SLP, NBC-HWC, is a national board certified health and wellness coach and a speech-language pathologist who works primarily with women who have fatigue, brain fog, weight issues, digestive issues, and autoimmune problems.
