Chronic Fatigue? Get The Best Probiotics for Energy
Scores of individuals have found themselves struggling with a modern-day dilemma: ongoing exhaustion. If you find yourself extremely tired after checking basic tasks off your to-do list; if getting out of bed is a struggle for you; or if you feel like no amount of sleep appeases your fatigue, you may need to take a closer look at your symptoms. While they may not appear acute enough for concern, millions of people are dealing with a debilitating condition called chronic fatigue syndrome, which makes normal day-to-day activities extremely difficult. We’re going to take a closer look at the links between chronic fatigue and the gut, and the potential benefits of taking probiotics for energy.
Chronic fatigue: the symptoms
Unsurprisingly, the number one symptom of chronic fatigue is an ongoing feeling of exhaustion that can’t be appeased by any amount of sleep. This primary symptom is supplemented by others, such as:
- Decreased ability to do things that weren’t difficult before illness
- A feeling of ‘crashing’ after engaging in regular physical or mental activity
- Sleep problems, like falling or staying asleep
- Impaired cognition, including memory problems, trouble concentrating and ‘brain fog’
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Muscle and joint pain
- Frequent sore throats
What causes chronic fatigue?
Experts are undecided on the cause of chronic fatigue. This elusive illness is often reported to appear after individuals have suffered from flu-type symtpoms, so some believe a viral infection may be to blame, while others believe that a bacterial infection like pneumonia may trigger its onset. Immune system issues are also considered to be a potential cause, since chronic fatigue syndrome and autoimmune disorders share characteristics such as increased inflammation. Stress and genetics are other possible triggers of chronic fatigue too.
Chronic fatigue and the gut
The gut has long since been considered to play an integral role in most of the functions in the body. More recent research shows that a link may exist between chronic fatigue syndrome and imbalanced gut bacteria. In a 2017 study:
- Scientists identified abnormal levels of certain gut bacteria in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Specific strains of gut bacteria were strongly associated with chronic fatigue syndrome, and the severity of chronic fatigue symptoms correlated with the relative abundance of these bacterial types.
- Researchers concluded that chronic fatigue syndrome may involve a breakdown in communication between the brain and the gut.
A closer look at the gut: the microbiome
A microbiome is the community of microorganisms living in our bodies – almost entirely in the gut. And since growing evidence highlights the importance of a healthy microbiome for overall well-being, it’s not surprising that chronic fatigue syndrome has been associated with the gut.
The microbiome is made up of many different types of bacteria, both helpful and harmful. When we’re healthy, these good and bad bacteria are balanced. But when something happens to upset this balance (like illness or a course of antibiotics) the microbiome can’t function optimally. If our levels of beneficial bacteria dip too low, harmful microbes may take over and lead to a microbiome that’s overrun with bad bacteria. And this imbalance is not good for our overall wellness.
SHOP: Balance Gut Bacteria with Probiotics
Everybody needs a healthy microbiome, but it is especially critical for those with chronic fatigue, since an imbalance of gut bacteria could be contributing to their condition. Probiotic supplements may help to support the microbiome, reduce symptoms of chronic fatigue and help boost energy. Here's how:
- Probiotics help repopulate the microbiome with beneficial microbes, restoring the balance between harmful and helpful.
- Sickness-causing pathogens are kept at bay, digestive processes are optimised and the immune system is able to function properly.
All supplements aren't created equally, so you need to take care when sourcing the best probiotics for energy. Our Beauty Greens and Naked Collagen +PLUS Beauty Gen collagen products include LactoSpore® probiotics, which survive their journey down the digestive tract into the intestine (where many probiotics may be broken down before they reach their destination). They then settle in the digestive tract and produce enough lactic acid and other antagonistic substances to inhibit the growth of bad bacteria.
The beauty of probiotics
Plenty of studies have explored and proven the benefits of probiotics, concluding that these supplements can help with a myriad of health problems. Here are some of the many conditions probiotics have been thought to treat and/or prevent:
- Diarrhoea
- Vaginal infections
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Urinary tract infections
- Eczema
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
Taking a probiotic to bring the microbiome back into balance may be a powerful way to reduce symptoms of chronic fatigue. And in general, probiotics can be a safe, natural and gentle addition to any chronic fatigue treatment plan. If you're looking for the best probiotics for energy, try our Beauty Greens 5-in-1 solution to combine the health-boosting benefits of Beauty Gen collagen, probiotics, omega-3s, vitamin C and superfoods, or choose a concentrated formula of Beauty Gen collagen, vitamin C and probiotics with our Naked Collagen +PLUS.