Fatigue is a condition that is commonly associated with extreme fatigue. If excess weight is present it is always suspected as one of the causes of fatigue. Even ten or twenty pounds of excess weight can have an effect on Insulin Resistance (defined later) which can cause unexplained tiredness.

Obesity Defined

Obesity is typically defined as a person with a BMI (body mass index) over 30, because they are generally about 30 pounds over their ideal body weight for their height. (See note on BMI later on in this article.) An obese person is defined as a person who is "very fat, stout, or corpulent."

Obesity Effects - The Real Weight of Being Overweight

Fatigue and obesity are now known to be linked to a common abnormality - a condition known as Insulin Resistance. At a healthy body weight insulin facilities the transport of glucose into your body's cells where it can then be utilized for energy. Insulin Resistance desensitizes the cells of your body to insulin and impairs this process. As a result, glucose and insulin levels become unbalanced in your blood stream, which can later cause diabetes and other serious health risks.

The unbalance of glucose and insulin levels in your blood stream is one of the obesity effects that can be most life changing to an overweight person, yet it gets less attention than other obesity effects. Diabetes, the later effect of Insulin Resistance, is known as the sleeping killer of Americans because so many people are unaware and undiagnosed with this disease. Additionally, it is said that about 50% of people's Insulin Resistance is caused by genetics, while 50% is caused by lifestyle factors and choices.

Insulin Resistance, along with excess weight, both are causes of fatigue. Coupled together, the result is a double-whammy of tiredness.

Obesity and Its Relationship to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, the mysterious and often misdiagnosed illness that includes unexplained fatigue that lasts for 6 months or longer, has symptoms that are also often present in an obese person. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome symptoms include: Significant impairment in short-term memory or concentration, muscle pain, joint pain without swelling or redness, headaches, unrefreshing sleep and malaise that lasts for more than 24 hours after exertion. Additionally, a person with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome also exhibits sore throat and tender lymph nodes.

Severe obesity, as defined by a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 45, rules out Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a reason for experiencing these symptoms. The reason a severely obese person will not be diagnosed with CFS is because the symptoms of severe obesity is so similar to CFS. Doctors will always treat severe obesity first and if the symptoms of CFS persist, then after severe obesity symptoms are gone then it will be treated next. (Note: Body mass index values vary considerably among different age groups and populations. No "normal" or "average" range of values can be suggested. The range of 45 BMI or higher was selected because it falls within the range of severe obesity.)

Fighting Fatigue and Fighting the Causes of Fatigue

The best way to fight fatigue, especially when its due to obesity, being overweight or Insulin Resistance, is increased exercise. Increasing your exercise regiment is vital to improving Insulin Resistances and immediately reduces the causes of fatigue. Generally, Insulin Resistances starts to improve just days after a new exercise routine is begun - even before any significant weight loss occurs.

Next, eliminate causes of fatigue by beginning a sound nutritional plan. Seek nutritional guidance to help you find a healthy way of eating for you - not an extreme diet, but a healthy lifestyle change. You may consult a healthy living coach to help you in both the area of adding exercise to your daily routine and finding a new nutritional plan that works best for you.

Finally, consider supplementing your diet with herbs, vitamins and minerals which are meant to increase your level of energy and balance your body, as well as combat causes of fatigue. Again, a healthy living coach can help you find a balance of these nutrients that will fit your goals. Being inactive, whether weight gain is present or not, will always make one vulnerable to fatigue. The rule of thumb is when you don't feel like being active, that's the best time to do so.

For the month of May I would sneeze, weeze, itch intensely and sometimes could not breathe because of the pollen in the air. I started to get allergy shots twice a week to build my immune system. After one of these visits to the doctor, my throat started to tighten and I felt like I couldn't breathe. I had to run back into the doctors' office so that he could give me a shot of adrenaline and basically had to save my life. Turns out, he had injected me with a little too much and my throat was closing. After that day, I stopped getting shots.

As my allergies continued to worsen, the next option for me was over the counter allergy medications. You name it, I have tried it. Most of them made me so sleepy that it was difficult to get through the day. My allergies were controlled, to a point, but I never felt like myself and it is hard to live with no energy day after day. I had to make a choice, either suffer from the allergies or be sleepy all the time. So, I decided to go a completely different route, all natural.

Since I woke up every morning horribly sick from my allergies, my first step to fight them was to make sure my bed was allergy free. Most of us spend at least 8-10 hours a night breathing in all of the chemicals that make up our bed. I threw away all of my old linens and bought an organic sheet set and hypoallergenic pillows. A lot of people don't understand the importance of buying organic, but it is just like organic food, the cotton is grown naturally rather than with chemicals and pesticides, which creates a healthier environment, therefore healthier breathing. I felt the difference the first night I slept in my hypoallergenic bed and since then, I don't wake up sick anymore, it is amazing. In addition, washing your sheets at least once a week will keep them dust free.

While some foods can aggravate your allergies, a nutritious diet can help fight them off. Here are some foods that I started to eat that have been helped me fight off my allergies. An important anti-inflammatory, omega-3 fatty acids are essential and some examples of good sources are salmon, cod, haddock and flaxseed oil. I love fish, and eat it 2-3 times a week, but if you don't, start taking omega-3 fish oil supplements twice a day. You can get them in an odorless form and you will never know the difference.

A good source of antioxidants, which helps reduce inflammation, is fruit juice. I buy fresh juices from the refrigerator section at the store because they are healthier. You have heard it over and over again, but it is true, eat fresh fruits and vegetables daily, organic if you can as to eliminate the pesticides. Fruits also contain antioxidants, especially berries. I try to include a fruit and/or vegetable with every meal.

Another big change I made was increasing my fiber intake. A high-fiber diet keeps your colon healthy and flushes out disease. Any bread that you eat should be whole grain and high fiber. I also eat lots of nuts, especially almonds which encourage movement in the colon and good bacteria. When you don't get enough fiber through your colon, the bad bacteria can cause food allergies and chemical sensitivities. Another bacteria fighting food that I eat daily is yogurt. Choose one low in fat with less than 10 grams of sugar.

And lastly, green tea is essential in fighting your allergies naturally and has worked very well for me. It contains an anti-allergenic compound called EGCG, methylated epigallocatechin gallate, which blocks the cell receptor responsible for allergic response. Green tea also fights allergens and is best in loose form, but if you can only get bags, that is fine, just get it. I bought myself a beautiful tea pot, a few pounds of loose tea and started to drink 2-3 cups per day and my allergies were reduced dramatically within 3 weeks. If you stop drinking it, your allergies will come back, so you must maintain your green tea consumption to continue to fight off your allergies naturally.

Personally, I have been dedicated to exercising 5-6 days a week for the past 20 years and recommend that this also be a part of your healthy lifestyle. Combining all of these changes goes hand in hand with working your heart muscle and maintaining that mind and body connection. Positive thinking will take you farther than you can imagine and will directly affect your health, including your allergies.

Today, I live nearly allergy free and I believe it is because of these changes I made in my life. I no longer have to take any drugs and live each day full of energy. It certainly wouldn't hurt to incorporate these healthy, natural changes into your life. If you consistently eat well, drink green tea and surround yourself with anti-allergens, you will build a stronger immune system and will see a big difference, if not completely cure yourself of your allergies, naturally.

During teenage years many people suffer from acne or skin inflammations on face, nose, chin etc. Let us discuss few tips to maintain the skin acne free.

Though acne cannot be cured completely, one has to remember that there are various effective ways to keep this skin condition under control.

Balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins and essential minerals can boost overall health of the body. This can help to a great extent in keeping skin acne free. If one is not able to consume at least four servings of fruits and green leafy vegetables, he /she may go for vitamin and protein supplements, as guided by any dietitian.

Drinking plenty of water can help in detoxification of cells and blood. Sebum and oil secreted from cells get cleared by drinking water.

Citric fruits like lemon, orange etc have greater roles to play in helping to improve skin health. Not only they fight acne and skin breakouts, but also help to bring a natural glow on face. Even apples can help skin by providing the much needed vitamin A. In general dark and bright colored foods are rich in antioxidants which is extremely good for skin.

Acne may worsen during winter season when compared to summer. This may be due to the lack of vitamin D during winters. Consuming specific supplements for vitamins D and E can help a lot.

Steps have to be taken to see that life is stress free. Higher levels of stress can worsen acne. Too much work and lack of sleep can do a lot of harm to skin.