Tired of being tired?

A survey of 37,000 people in Britain revealed that the single most common health problem was tiredness.

• 81% complained of low energy level

• 76% said their energy was less than it used to be

The ONUK survey, hosted by Patrick Holford, found that various factors were common among those who suffered low energy levels.

The main culprits were over-consumption of:

1. caffeine

2. sugar, including soft drinks

3. refined foods

In Britain we drink around 300 million cups of tea and coffee every day - that's on average 5 cups for every person. Obviously it's even more than that, when we take babies and children out of the equation.

When we take these foods and drinks out of our diet, or at least substantially reduce them, and start supplementing one or two grams of Vitamin C, and a B Complex, plus some zinc, magnesium and chromium, we generally notice a profound increase in energy and wellbeing.

To ensure we get these nutrients it's usually best to take a multivitamin and mineral nutrient complex, plus some extra vitamin C). This should be the first line of advice to those who are tired too often.

After that, there are further avenues to explore if tiredness is still present.

For example, Co-enzyme Q10 increases energy, particularly for people no longer in their first flush of youth. (This is particularly helpful for anyone taking statin drugs, where 100mg per day is advisable)

To stabilise the stress hormone cortisol, you can use herbs such as ginseng, rhodiola and ashwaghanda.

If the adrenal glands are exhausted, due to long term stress, taking 1 or 2 grams of the amino acid tyrosine (on an empty stomach) can give a boost.

If you've tried all these, and it still makes no difference, then consider having your thyroid checked. Millions of people in Britain have an underactive thyroid to some degree or other, but it very often goes either undiagnosed or untreated.  If you are tired all the time, and are gaining weight, with sluggish digestion, and if you take a long time to get going in the mornings, then get your thyroid checked.

Don't be surprised though, if the test comes back 'normal' - you can have apparently 'normal' thyroxine levels and still have thyroxine deficiency. The Broda Barnes temperature test can be a good indicator.

Thyroxine is made from the amino acid tyrosine, with zinc, iodine and selenium required for the conversion of T4 to T3.

The next biggest factor involved in "TATT" - Tired All The Time - is lack of sleep.

22% of people in Britain sometimes suffer from insomnia, and many others simply do not allow sufficient hours for sleep. Follow the link to get some helpful suggestions for insomnia.

It's clear that in order to thrive, not just survive, this modern age of increased speed and long working hours in the UK, where we're tempted by sugar and caffeine at every turn, that we do need to have a change of heart, as a nation, and live by optimum nutrition principles.

As Dr Abram Hoffer, who at the age of 96 has a mind as sharp as ever , says: "It adds life to your years and years to your life".