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There are 5 types of tiredness

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Being tired is rubbish.

You want nothing more than to return to bed, but more often than not you have the whole day ahead of you. It's the worst.

However, it may not just be lack of sleep that's getting to you - the fuel you're putting into your body is just as important.

A nutritional therapist recently spoke to Cosmo Australia about the dietary needs of your body, and how you can help it feel well-rested and refreshed.

After all, a diet of junk food will lead to junk energy levels.

Jackie Lynch, a nutritional therapist, told Cosmopolitan Australiathat the five types of tiredness were as follows:

  • Energy highs and lows - Jackie attributes this to blood sugar rising and falling during the day, which can also irritate.
  • Emptiness - Jackie says this is defined by magnesium levels, which support muscle function and regulate the stress response. You may feel muscle cramps, headaches, twitches or palpitations.
  • Lacking stamina - In this case, Jackie says you're likely to be low in Iron, an essential part of haemoglobin. You'll feel very low and it can be common among women with regular heavy periods.
  • Reduced concentration - You may be lacking certain B vitamins, which help produce energy. Chronic stress or regular alcohol intake can deplete B vitamins, and you can boost them by eating more vegetables and steaming rather than boiling them.
  • Wired and fatigued - You've maybe had too much coffee but can't sleep. You'll be struggling to sleep and it may block the absorption of iron, aiding fatigue. Jackie advises one shot of coffee instead of the regular two and swap out caffeinated fizzy drinks. 

So, if you stick to a healthy diet and a good amount of regular sleep most nights, you'll probably fare a lot better during the day.

HT Her.ie

More: What yawning actually says about you (apart from being tired)

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