The surprisingly simple diet issues that can leave you feeling ‘meh’.

If you’re tired all the time, you’re not alone.

Even if you take good care of your health, there are lifestyle factors that can leave you feeling a little less sprightly and energetic than usual. We know good health and having energy and vitality comes down to balance but try as we might, we can all relate to the struggle to achieve that balance  most of the time.

The upside is that there are common causes that can contribute to that ‘meh’ feeling that you can act on that may improve the situation. Some reasons for losing your usual vim and vigour are medical but if your healthcare practitioner has ruled these out, then your lifestyle and nutrition may be the culprit.

You’re not getting quality sleep

It’s true that sleep quality can decrease with age, but habits that you didn’t give a second thought to may affect you getting a good night’s sleep, leaving you feeling sapped of energy.

With modern technology surrounding us, it can be hard to press the ‘off button’ on your brain! Using your tablet or laptop before bed could be stimulating your mind and preventing the relaxation you need to nod off.

But even too much sleep can cause sleepiness during the day. Anyone getting more than 11 hours a night could be at an increased risk of wanting to sleep during the day, so it’s worth looking at  your habits to see if they could leave you lacking get-up-and-go.

You’re not drinking enough fluid

A lack of water or other liquids doesn’t just make you feel dehydrated, it can also make you fatigued, give you a headache, have trouble concentrating and even impact your movement.

The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommends that older people drink plenty of fluids, and advises everyone to favour tap water over juices, soft drinks and tea and coffee. Although juices and soft drinks count toward your fluid intake, the acidity and sugar they contain can hurt your dental health and your waistline.

When it comes to caffeinated tea and coffee, it’s important to keep in mind fact that they have a stimulant effect, so consume these in moderation and don’t use them to make up your entire fluid intake each day.

You’re not getting key nutrients

When life gets busy, you may start to feel like your body isn’t keeping up with your lifestyle and this can also see healthy eating take a back seat.

If you’re lacking your usual vigour, eating well can be your first step to getting your energy and vitality back. That’s because at time like this you need to optimise your nutrition – falling short of key nutrients can easily make you feel overly tired and rundown.

Here are some nutrition tips on how to fuel your body to help get your stamina back and feel at your best every day:

• Start the day right by eating a nourishing breakfast as this sets you up both mentally and physically for your day.
• Power up the protein by including high-protein foods at mealtimes. Choosing red meat and chicken thighs, both high in protein, once or twice a week will also help you meet your iron requirements.
• Boost your B-groups. Foods with B vitamins help your body metabolise and release energy from food. Eat green vegetables, lean meats, fish, and eggs throughout the week and choose wholegrain versions of breads and cereals. Nuts and seeds are great too, but stick to only a small handful that’s equivalent to about 30 grams per day.
• Snack smart by having small, regular meals to help keep your blood sugar levels stable, releasing energy gradually across the day.
• Go low GI by fuelling up with slower releasing carbs for longer-lasting energy.

Of course, fresh food is best, but sometimes it can be challenging to eat well to meet your nutrient requirements and that’s where a nutritionally complete supplement that contains vitamins, minerals plus protein can help.

Sustagen® Hospital Formula Active is a quick, tasty and easy way to boost your nutrient intake.  Simply add three scoops to 200 millilitres of water in a shaker for a great-tasting drink that’s packed with 13.8g of high-quality protein, plus essential vitamins, including 50 per cent of your daily calcium requirements. Sustagen® Hospital Formula Active is also high in B vitamins to support energy function.

The strawberry-flavoured Sustagen® is perfect for when you don’t have time to make a breakfast smoothie, or there’s coffee flavour for a nutrient packed mid-morning boost.

Sustagen® is a versatile and easy way to add a nutritious lift to your diet to optimise your vitality and strength to help ensure you have enough pep in your step throughout the day.

Have you had times where you’ve had less energy than usual? What helped you get back your get-up-and-go?

Nutritional supplements can only be of assistance where dietary intake is inadequate. Please seek advice on your individual dietary needs from an Accredited Practicing Dietitian or your healthcare professional. Sustagen® Hospital Formula is a formulated meal replacement and cannot be used as a total diet replacement. Consume as part of a varied and balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.