Chronic Fatigue

Chronic fatigue is the name of a relatively new syndrome that affects millions of seemingly healthy people. Symptoms include constantly feeling tired and weak; inability to concentrate, and lack of short-term memory. Sleep disruptions or insomnia may also affect the sufferer. Mood dips, depression, and other mental problems can also be signs of chronic fatigue.

There is little agreement as to what exactly causes this syndrome, probably because there can be many causes. One source of chronic fatigue, however, is poor nutrient absorption caused by constipated bowel function. The bowel, or large intestine, is responsible for relaying nutrients from freshly digested food to the bloodstream. The blood then carries these nutrients throughout the body to the various muscles, bones, organs, and tissues to keep them alive and healthy.

Bowel Dysfunction and Chronic Fatigue

When bowel function is hindered, however, many nutrients become trapped in the colon, unable to pass through its permeable walls into the blood. In most cases, they can't pass through because these walls have become caked with, on an average, ten to 15 pounds of dry, hardened fecal matter. This matter is often the result of a poor diet and, in effect, becomes a barrier to normal, healthy digestion and nutrient absorption.

The effect of poor nutrient relay is essentially malnourishment of all systems of the body. This results in feelings of fatigue, "spaceyness" and a lack of focus. With a blocked colon, the body is in essence starving itself, little by little. It's up to the individual to get the colon cleaned out thoroughly to restore normal function and, with it, a normal and healthy way of life.