Why am I always so tired?

You find it hard to get going in the mornings and struggle through until noon, then you hit an energy slump after lunch and fall asleep in front of the TV in the evening within just a few minutes: Sleep deficiency or poor sleeping quality are not always the cause of tiredness. 

Wrong breathing technique
Most people only breathe in the thorax – the breathing is particularly hectic and shallow during times of stress. Thus, the body does not receive a sufficient amount of oxygen. The used carbon dioxide is stored in the blood and that causes tiredness.
This helps: Try to breathe from the abdomen more often. While doing so, lay a hand on your stomach so that you can feel the respiration more intensely. If you become tired during the daytime, then take a few particularly deep abdominal breaths.

An overtaxed liver
Our detoxification organ, the liver, certainly has its work cut out. However, a poorly balanced diet, too much alcohol, medication, as well as environmental toxins, often combine to overtax the liver. This draws on our energy reserves and leads to tiredness. “When one often lies awake at night between one and three o’clock or if one feels a slight twinge or pain in the upper abdomen, this can be a result of poor liver values." Claim doctors and recommend a liver function test.
This helps: Detoxify your liver with milk thistle (Silybum marianum) in tea or capsule form. Or treat yourself to a liver wrap. In order to do this, simply wrap a hot water bottle in a damp towel and hold it in the area of the liver (just below the right costal arch - ribs).

Iron deficiency
Around 15 percent of all women suffer from iron deficiency, which is caused by loss of blood and iron during menstruation. Vegetarians are also often affected, because an especially high level of iron minerals is contained in meat. Iron not only cultivates blood, it also conductive toward the transport of energy-providing oxygen. Therefore, iron deficiency leads to energy deficiency.
This helps: Those who suffer from iron deficiency should eat red meat once to twice a week, as well as vegetables and fruit with a high level of vitamin C, in order to enhance iron ingestion. On the other hand, they should simultaneously abstain from drinking coffee and black tea, because these drinks inhibit the ingestion of the mineral.  You should consult a doctor before taking iron in the form of nutritional supplements. 

Insufficient liquid intake
Drinking an insufficient amount of liquid can also lead to tiredness. Due to the fact that the blood volume sinks, the heart has to work harder to pump sufficient amounts – this costs a lot of energy, which is why we suddenly feel tired.
This helps: One should drink approximately 1.5 litres (water, unsweetened tea) each day and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables that contain lots of water. The consumption of liquids should be spread throughout the day, so that the body can ingest them optimally.

Excessive stress
Stress is the biggest energy-sapping factor – it can lead to constant tiredness and, in extreme cases, even lead to a burnout syndrome.
This helps: Try to counteract stress by practicing endurance sports, because it is proven that endurance sport can reduce stress hormones. By the way, lack of exercise can also be a cause for tiredness.

Poorly balanced diet
The human body requires a regular supply of various vitamins, minerals and trace elements. A poorly balanced diet upsets our energy balance and makes us feel run down.
This helps: Ensure plenty of variety in your diet. Complex carbohydrates, such as those in wholemeal products, supply us slowly and continuously with energy. Magnesium and vitamin B6 are also very important for the energy metabolism.

Sleeping problems
Of course, sleeping problems or an insufficient amount of sleep can also be a cause of constant tiredness. Stress, noise, light, alcohol, eating too late, worries, the wrong temperature in the bedroom, as well as illnesses (e.g sleep apnoea), can inhibit restorative sleep.
This helps: Try to remove all disturbing factors from the bedroom. Upon suspicion of sleep apnoea, one should undergo examinations in a sleep laboratory, then the responsible physician can commence the necessary course of therapy.