Why do I feel tired all the time? 3 surprising things that cause fatigue and how to target them

Are you tired of feeling tired? You’d like to exercise more, or tick everything off your ‘to-do’ list, but don’t have the energy. Maybe you just want to keep up with your kids or grandkids, but a trip to the park wipes you out for the rest of the day. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone, one in eight UK adults feel tired all the time, according to a YouGov survey. And fatigue is so common the NHS has even invented an acronym for it: TATT (Tired All The Time)! But what can you do about it?

Once you’ve ruled out physical causes of tiredness like iron deficiency, an underactive thyroid, or being under/overweight, and you STILL feel shattered, what are you missing? Here are 3 surprising things that could be making you tired and how to tackle them:

You’re eating the wrong foods:

Feel tired all the time for no obvious reason? Make sure your diet contains enough nutrients. When you feel worn out, the takeaway menu or a ready meal can look tempting, but processed foods contain limited fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Nutritionists believe that not getting enough nutrients puts every cell in your body into stress mode – it’s no wonder you’re so tired!

To give your cells what they need, eat as much plant-based fibre as possible. Vegetables contain polyphenols and fibre which will power up the microbiome in your gut and lessen cell stress. And provide nutrients like vitamin A, B6, and B9, copper, and iron – essential for good cell health.

Alongside improving your diet, take a NAD supplement. NAD (or Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is a chemical that converts the nutrients absorbed by your cells into energy. Don’t have enough NAD and your cells won’t be able to produce energy efficiently. So you could eat all these goodies and you’ll still feel tired all the time – sigh.

Low levels of NAD are common. You’re born with a set amount of NAD once it’s gone, it’s gone and isn’t replaced naturally. But don’t panic, it’s easy to top up your levels with a supplement. Our super-effective NAD patch is the simplest way to do this, get yours here.

Your B12 levels are too low:

Lost your get up and go? How are your B12 levels? Like NAD, B12 plays a crucial role in transforming the nutrients you eat into energy. B12 works by breaking down the glucose from carbs you eat into ATP, a molecule that fuels your cells with energy. If your B12 is low you could have THE most nutrient-rich diet, but you’ll feel tired all the time.

B12 deficiency is fairly common as you get older (one in 10 people aged 75 have it) and if you don’t eat meat. So it’s well worth trying a supplement if this is you. Don’t have a B12 deficiency? B12 is still an excellent way to boost your energy levels and wave goodbye to TATT. It’s so effective that stars like Madonna, Katy Perry, and Rihanna swear by it to get through gruelling tours.

To get the most from your B12 supplement take it in patch form. This way more of the active ingredients make it into your bloodstream. You’ll have more B12 to help your cells make energy and feel energised faster. No more feeling shattered by lunchtime – hurrah! The B12 Energy Plus patch is here.

Too much caffeine is making you feel tired all the time

Can’t start the day without a coffee? If caffeinated drinks get you through the day, be warned: it’s only a short-term fix, and can make you even more tired. Excess caffeine can overwhelm your cells, adding cell stress and increasing that dreaded TATT feeling. Plus – you can develop caffeine tolerance and need to drink more and more to get any effect.

Excess caffeine sends your cells into overdrive and tires them (and therefore you!) out. You’re also much more likely to have to deal with unwanted side effects like feeling jittery, palpitations, and insomnia – none of which are going to help your energy levels!

Rather than using caffeine as a sticking plaster, try tackling the root cause of what’s making you feel tired all the time. NAD and B12 are great ways to pep yourself up instead. They help your cells to produce energy more efficiently, giving you the vitality you need to do more of the things you love. Your cells won’t go into stress mode, and there’s no caffeine ‘hangover’ to deal with either – what’s not to like?