If you have had stress, fatigue is not far behind.  Sometimes, do you just feel tired all day, and feel like a shot of energy?  What do you do, a couple shots of espresso or wheat grass?  You cannot always rely on a short-term fix to get you through the day.  If you want to feel better and improve your energy, here are some tips:

• A diet broken down as follows:  70% complex carbs, fruits & veggies, whole grains and legumes; 20% protein from nuts, seeds, whole grains, low-fat dairy, fish and chicken; 10% fats from low-fat dairy, eggs, vegetable, nut and seed oils
• Magnesium-rich foods
• Iron-rich foods
• Vitamin B & C foods
• Reduce sugar
• Avoid caffeine
• Stay away from high-fat dairy
• Drink tea
• Drink 100% juices
• Eat Superfoods
• Exercise 3-5 times per week
• Walk daily
• Weekly massage if you can afford it
• Eight hours of sleep nightly
• No drugs of any kind
• No smoking
• Moderate alcohol – wine is best

In addition to eating a balanced diet, take the following vitamins, minerals, supplements and herbs:

• Ginseng
• Hawthorn
• Chromium
• Magnesium
• B complex vitamin
• B12 vitamin
• CoQ10
• Vitamin C
• Glutamine
• Zinc

	melsBuzz If you want energy and reduced stress, live an active lifestyle and embrace life.  Look for solutions to your problems and do not dwell on them

	melsAdvice Evaluate your life.  What could you be doing better? If you don’t like your job, try to find a new one If you are burdened with responsibility, try and find that one thing which will give you a smile Don’t write checks, trade stocks, or check income statements before going to bed Sometimes the anticipation is greater than the reality

	DidYouKnow? Fatique, irritability, poor concentration, anxiety and depression can all be signs of B vitamin deficiency Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a condition that has become common in the U.S., and the cause or causes are not yet fully understood.  It is not life-threatening, but it cannot be cured Food  is the foundation of Chinese preventive medicine When you eat too much or too little food, your body ends up with an unbalanced energy budget that needs to be constantly rebalanced Components of energy expenditure within your body include: your metabolism, physical activity and the effects of food

	melsTips If you want to rebalance your body, try going on a vegetarian diet for 3 weeks and cut out all dairy Don’t overeat.  Always maintain an optimal body weight If you are feeling overwhelmed and you just need a new perspective, take a long walk or soak in a bathtub in a darkened, silent room Eat lots of fiber and fresh fruits Energy bars, shots of espresso and energy drinks are not going to give you the energy that a whole food meal will

	melsQuiz Name at least 3 causes for lack of energy. Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome more common in women or men? Do some people believe that food is divided by Yin and Yang? A pound of body fat equals how many calories? True or False.  The feeling of energy is the same in everyone.

	melsQuiz Answers bad eating habits, lack of exercise, lack of proper nutrition, too much sugar, too much caffeine, drugs, alcohol, allergies, illness, stress Women by 3 times Yes 3,500 calories False.  All of us respond slightly differently to chemical reactions in our bodies